From Pirates to Passports: A Timeless Commitment to Service
“From Pirates to Passports: A Timeless Commitment to Service” Exhibition Opens at the United States Diplomacy Center
From May 2019 – July 2019, the United States Diplomacy Center is hosting the Bureau of Consular Affairs exhibit, “From Pirates to Passports: A Timeless Commitment to Service.” On May 28th, Secretary Mike Pompeo spoke in the Diplomacy Center at the opening of an exhibit by the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
He highlighted that the exhibition “tells the story of our timeless commitment to serving the American people. Consular Affairs’ mission spans across the globe and the centuries, dating from before the signing of the U.S. Constitution down to today.”
This exhibit celebrates the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Bureau of Consular Affairs and the long history of consular service to the American people. The exhibition, includes photos, stories, and historical artifacts showcasing the evolution of consular affairs from its inception to its global presence today. Later this year, a digital version of the exhibit with expanded interactive content will be available to the public.
On display are the stories of consuls from the earliest days of the republic to the present, and of the citizens they helped, including in crisis. U.S. passports trace the transformation of the iconic document from a written memo requesting safe passage to the state-of-the-art, secure passport book produced today. Similarly, the exhibit follows the evolution of visa regulations over centuries to adapt to an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
Specific artifacts within the exhibition include passports of famous persons; a logbook from U.S. Consulate General Marseille documenting the consulate’s passport services to hundreds of U.S. citizens, including Gertrude Stein and Varian Fry, fleeing Nazi-controlled Europe during World War II; and historic “tools of the trade” used to produce visas, including a visa machine, visa plates, and wax seals. (Source: Bureau of Consular Affairs Press Unit)
For me, it was a fantastic experience to be part of this event by assisting the exhibition with my knowledge and pictures from my collection. I am looking very much forward to seeing the upcoming online exhibition. It’s not every day you receive a thank-you letter from the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs. Truly appreciated!
Tom, you have been a great partner for the State Department team all through the preparation of this exhibit. I wish you could have attended the reception! Stay tuned for the online version of the exhibit. -Karin Lang, Director, Bureau of Consular Affairs, US State Dept-
I also had the privilege of visiting the United States Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, where I met with Consul General Timothy Scherer and Aja Stefanon (ACS). During our conversation, we explored the history of consular service and passport collecting, and I was deeply honored when they presented me with an official U.S. State Department Award in recognition of my contributions to the exhibition in Washington, D.C.
I shared the remarkable story of William Palfrey, a reminder that in the early days of consular service, accepting such a post could come at great personal risk. Palfrey was lost at sea while traveling to his assignment, and as a result, Thomas Barclay of Pennsylvania was appointed Consul to France on October 2, 1781, and dispatched in his place. It was not until that year that American consuls formally began their service.
Aja Stefanon also offered me a fascinating glimpse into the passport processing operations at the embassy, viewed through the lens of the customer experience. A heartfelt thank you goes to Karin, without whom none of this would have been possible. Allyson Berri from the Diplomatic Courier also published a wonderful article covering the exhibition.
Later in 2019, I had the pleasure of presenting my book, Let Pass Or Die, to everyone involved in making this journey possible.
The United States Diplomacy Center tells the story of the history, practice, and challenges of American diplomacy. Through exhibitions and programs, we inspire the American public to discover diplomacy and how it impacts their lives every day. The United States Diplomacy Center is a museum at the U.S. Department of State currently under development.
The glass pavilion at the 21st Street entrance to the Department is the beginning of what will become a dynamic space fully open to the public with permanent and guest exhibitions and education programs.
Tom Topol | Passport History Expert & Author.
Featured in media incl. CNN, BBC, Newsweek. Awarded by the U.S. Department of State.
"Want to go deeper? My book Let Pass or Die covers the full 500-year history"
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