The Dixie Philatelist began a few years prior to 1977 as an organ of the Southern Philatelic Federation. At that time, it was intended to promote stamp shows in the southeast. The membership was made up of stamp clubs rather than individual collectors. The idea was by working together the clubs could promote attendance and exhibits at smaller shows that were in easy driving distance.
In the beginning the journal was nothing more than a newsletter of one or two pages of information on upcoming events hosted by member clubs of the Southern Philatelic Federation. In 1974 Ben Chapman volunteered to edit an illustrated multi-page journal but it only appeared sporadically. The promotion of stamp shows continued to be the main purpose but occasionally an article on postal history was featured.
By 1977 membership in the Southern Philatelic Association expanded to include individual members. At the same time Dale Ferber and H. L. “Sonny” Hill took over as editors and the Dixie Philatelist became a regional postal history journal. The first issue under the new editorial team was the January 1977 issue which was an illustrated 22-page journal. By the early 1980s state societies began to form and start their own journals and interest in the Dixie Philatelist began to wane. With the Winter 1985 (Volume 19, Number 4) issue the Dixie Philatelist ceased publication.
Digital copies of Dixie Philatelist can be read by clicking on the volumes below