Mrs. N. D. Wright was living in Detroit, Michigan when she received a postcard from a friend who was traveling through Norfolk, Virginia. I cannot
Anna Mary Mann was a student at the Prospect Hill School. Her teacher was George W. Gamble. Sometime around 1910, Mr. Gamble presented a postcard
Miss Florence Dahm lived in Kinderhook, a lovely town in the Hudson Valley of New York State. As the name suggests, the town was first
Perhaps the greatest monument to the skill, idealism, passion, and craftsmanship of the Late Medieval Period is found on the Ile de La Cite, in
This is an interesting postcard for several reasons: Charlie and May are visiting the area of Germany where Charlie grew up; the hand-coloring of the
The Rev. Aaron Burtis Hunter and his wife, Sarah Lothrop Taylor, were notable representatives of the Episcopal Church and distinguished for their collecting of antiquarian
Master Dalzell Hartman was less than two years old when he received a postcard at his home on North Duke Street in Lancaster. The postcard
A few days ago, we looked at an ink drawing of chickens that had been mailed to Spring Forge, PA. (“A Few Scratches”) Soon thereafter,
This comic postcard, showing the stages of life identified by the articles of clothing on a clothesline, was copyrighted in 1905 by the Bicknell Manufacturing
Huldah was beginning a new school year in Sparta, a village about ten miles north of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She wrote to her friend, Elsie,
This comic postcard, depicting a tramp “driving” a dilapidated toy auto, was mailed to Mrs. Frank Oiler in August of 1909. Mrs. Oiler lived in
This postcard was not mailed. Because the card was printed near Leola, I assume that Bertha lived nearby. Leola is a “census-designated place” in central
Mr. Semons was in the army, and stationed at Fort Riley in north-central Kansas. The large Army Base had been established in the mid-19th century
Miss Blanche Overman lived in Wichita, the city on the Arkansas River in south -central Kansas. Now a center of airplane design and manufacturing (and
Columbia was an important transportation hub throughout the 19th century. When the state of New York opened the Erie Canal in 1825, and construction began
Views of the RR bridge at the old Water Works for Lancaster, PA are not rare, but I recently found this night view that I
In December of 1925, William Dutton received a postcard greeting at his home in Harrisburg, PA. The postcard was mailed from Norfolk, Virginia by Chas.
We may have forgotten that the blimp or zeppelin was once a contender as a mode of international travel, rivaling the airplane. The Empire State
I enjoy learning about the many photography studios that once operated in towns and cities across the country. This photographic portrait was made by “Wm.
In September of 1906, Aunt Sallie and “Chick” (?) were in Philadelphia “having a good time”. To celebrate the occasion, Aunt Sallie had a postcard
Sometime around 1910, Aunt Nellie sent a picture of a boy; the postcard photograph was probably enclosed in a letter- it was not mailed. On
In October of 1909, Miss Miriam Guhl was living in Florin, PA. Florin is a small community, northwest of Lancaster, that once boasted a stop
In June of 1907, Miss Mabel Hackman was living in Neffsville, Pennsylvania. At the time, Neffsville was a thriving village, much more than the place
Miss Clara Greer lived in Battle Creek, the city in south-central Michigan that had been a center of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and then the
John C. Bridgman was traveling through the West; he selected a postcard scene of the Colorado Rockies, wrote a message in Billings, Montana, and mailed
North of the city of Reading, near the Berks County towns of Hamburg and Lenhartsville, is an amazing geological formation. I learned about this place
There were appearances of two comets during the first half of 1910 which fueled a frenzy of interest in the night sky. The “Daylight Comet”
Miss Monira McIntosh lived in Rockland, the beautiful coastal city in southern Maine. In 1910, the railroads were bringing tourists to the area, diversifying the
Miss Louise Carlson lived in Erie, the port city on Lake Erie in northwest Pennsylvania. Louise was living with Mrs. Spiegel, but we aren’t made
Mr. And Mrs. Henry Goers were thrilled with their new baby, and they sent postcard announcements to their friends. The Goers family lived in Dundee,
Sometime in December of a year near 1910, Miss Bertha Myren received a postcard from her sister, Clara. Clara lived nearby, within the distance that
Mr. Volgarth Christensen was living in Akron – a growing industrial center in north east Ohio. In March of 1911, he celebrated his birthday. Volgarth
Roy Mill was living in Philadelphia, PA where he received a birthday postcard from his young nephew. In June of 1909, “Little Richard” was having
This long sliver of wilderness, along the Shenandoah River between ridges of the Blue Ridge Mountains, was created as a National Park by Franklin Roosevelt
For this hot Sunday in August, a refreshing view of Mount Eccles in southern Alaska. This peak is the highest in the range of mountains
Earlier postcard stories noted the role of the Fred Harvey restaurants and resorts in publishing postcard photographs of natural wonders. This “linen” postcard, circa 1935,
In 1932, Esther Groff traveled from Pennsylvania to her aunt’s home in Upland, California. On July 12, Esther sent a postcard to her friend, Mrs.
One is accustomed to seeing images of buffalo (or bison) across the Great Plains of the United States; we may forget how widely these large
Blue Bonnets of Texas -circa 1945 I made many business trips to Texas over the past 20 years, visiting Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Angelo
Miss M. Holman lived in Buffalo, New York. In December of 1931, Miss Holman received a Christmas postcard from friends in Canada. Joe and Jeannie
Mrs. J. Oliver lived in Hawleyville, an unincorporated community near Danbury in southeast Connecticut. At Christmas, in a year around 1910, Mrs. Oliver received a
In December of 1911, Miss Lila Hurst was living on the Ed McClain Ranch near Fallon, Nevada. Fallon is a city, south of the Carson
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Marsh had been living in Bellows Falls, Vermont. In December of 1922, a Christmas postcard sent to them there was forwarded
Miss Sarah Kelley lived in Spring Forge (now Spring Grove), a borough on the Codorus Creek in York County – between Hanover and York. This
This comic postcard was copyrighted in 1905 and published by J. Murray Jordan of Philadelphia. We met the publisher and the same three figures (photograph
This comic postcard was intended for Valentine’s Day – which suggests that the celebration of Romance and Love was not free of tension related to
It may be hard for us to imagine the financial insecurity that underlay most lives of the 19th century. Disease and accidental death could be
Ed Harrison was born in Ireland in 1886, but was working in California by the early 20th century. His ability to sustain long dives made
I found this tax notice at a postcard exhibit, and noted immediately that the amount paid was 57 cents. Having just paid (early) my 2020
This is the second (and last) of the advertising postcards celebrating margarine that I acquired this year. In the earlier postcard story, we considered how
I am an episodic consumer of magazines and journals; have been an erstwhile subscriber to “The Atlantic Monthly”, the “New Yorker”, “Harper’s”, “National Geographic”, “The
Miss Emma Smith lived in McGregor, a small city in central Texas, southwest of Waco. In December of 1910, Emma received a Christmas postcard from
For Veteran’s Day, a reminder of the citizens who resisted the depredations of a hostile army. On the placid green expanse of the Commons in
M.F. Sutter lived in Erie, the port city on Lake Erie in the northwestern corner of Pennsylvania. In May of 1912, Mr. Sutter sent a
Mr. Melvin Lackley was visiting Harbert, a beautiful beach area on Lake Michigan – about 70 miles from Chicago. Melvin left his mother at home
Because most of them have disappeared, the sanitarium is not well-known to most people today. In the early 20th century, tuberculosis or “consumption” was a
Norfolk has been an important port city since the beginning of the 18th century; it hosts the largest naval base in the world and is
Gertrude Duff lived in Jersey City, a city on the Hudson River (west of New York City) in northeastern New Jersey. Gertrude exchanged postcards with
Mr. Felix Sturm lived in Viropa, an unincorporated coal town in Harrison County, West Virginia. The town is located in the northwest corner of the
It was still November of 1908 when Mr. G. V. Musser received a Christmas postcard from his friend, Vera McFarland. Vera, like Mr. Musser, lived
Benjamin Stauffer was born in 1900, so he was about 10 years old when he received the Christmas postcard from his cousin, Anna. We may
The only good thing that emerged from the Great Fire of London (September of 1666) was the improvement of streets and the erection of magnificent
“Camel Driver” is not an exact translation of “chamelier”; it might be better to say, “camel man”, as in the English word, “horseman”. I found
This hand-colored postcard was published by a firm (Valentine’s) in Dublin, circa 1910. The illustration is one of a series of scenes from Valentine’s, which
Bertha Esbenshade lived in Atglen, PA, a borough in Chester County. (This European settlement grew up along a trail made by the indigenous people of
(This image was first posted to another internet group on Christmas Day.) This postcard greeting was not mailed at Christmas, but it is a fitting
With the arrival of Autumn, many Protestant Churches planned a “Rally Day” to celebrate the beginning of the Sunday School year. Dick Brown lived in
This Sunday School card was published by the Sunday School Board of the Reformed Church which was located on Arch Street in Philadelphia. The illustrations
In February of 1905(?), Bessie Hill (Hile?) was in Orillia, Washington. Bessie sent a postcard to her friend, Josephine Resch, in Marietta, PA. The postcard,
Milford Logan lived in Royal Center, a town in northwest Indiana. The town was formed when the first railroads reached the territory in 1846. In
Mrs. Henry Fiedler lived in Winona, the lovely city on the Mississippi River in southeast Minnesota. In 1910, hundreds of steamboats landed at Winona each
On Sunday, January 22, 1939, visitors (probably from Nogales, Arizona) mailed a postcard from Nogales, Mexico to celebrate their visit. (The reverse of the postcard
Young Charlie Zimmerman lived in Plumville, a small borough in a mountain valley about 62 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The community was named for an
Elwood was a conscientious nephew who remembered the birthday of Aunt Anna. For the occasion, Elwood selected an exceptionally well-made postcard, beautifully colored and gilded.
Dennis Sullivan lived in Paradise, the charming town in eastern Lancaster County, PA. Sometime around 1902, Dennis was given a postcard greeting; the face featured
In 1912, Franklin lived in Philadelphia; he sent Christmas greetings to his relatives. On Christmas Eve, Franklin mailed a Christmas postcard to his young cousin
Miss Bessie Weaver lived in Juniata County, a picturesque area of wooded Appalachian foothills and farms in central Pennsylvania. In December of 1922, Bessie received
Miss Mary Hallowell lived in Pendleton, a town in central Indiana. On December 23, 1907, Mary received a Christmas postcard from her old friend, A.
I have a large collection of postcards and greeting cards sent to Mary Reeser; her album of saved greetings was sold by a dealer in
Flossie Wager lived in Hancock, a town in the Taconic Mountains of western Massachusetts. (Throughout the 19th and early 20th century, there was a Shaker
I found an unusual postcard image of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Marietta. The image is not an hand-colored photograph, but an artist’s drawing. The
The Anglican Church was established by the crown in colonial Virginia, so it is not remarkable that the oldest church in continuous use in the
This phrase from “the Lord’s Prayer” reflects the longing and the aching of many people who hope to see the world set aright. I am
The oldest church in Richmond, this parish was formed from the consolidation of smaller parishes as the city replaced Williamsburg as the center of political
For Sunday, a reflection on saying Grace. The custom of giving thanks before meals, whether by invocation of the Deity or a general acknowledgement of
New Freedom is a community in southern York County, on the Mason-Dixon Line. It was originally called “Freedom” until the discovery of another town by
In 1916, Mr. Clayton Stehman was living at 528 South Queen Street in Lancaster. During September of that year, Anna was visiting the city of
Jerusalem, the city sacred to three monotheistic faiths, is pictured here in a postcard circa 1910. It is a sad indictment of human nature that
The artist, Gustav Richter, was born in Berlin in 1823. He studied there, and in Paris, and in Rome. (He died in Berlin in 1884).
In September of 1915, George Glick was living at 528 North Queen Street in Lancaster. George received a postcard from his Sunday School teacher, C.J.
To one raised in a conservative Protestant environment, the Roman Catholic devotional practices related to the veneration of the Virgin Mary and of the Saints
One of the significant changes in community life during my lifetime has been the sharp decline in weekly church attendance. Like membership in civic organizations,
Over the past few years, I have found at various antique stands several cards illustrating phrases of the “Lord’s Prayer”. Convinced that I could assemble
Several years ago, there was a popular book entitled, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”. I don’t recall ever reading it,
This very thin and fragile paper was printed as an advertisement for Star Soap. The reverse has a familiar English bedtime prayer that most readers
For Ash Wednesday, I am posting another Sunday School lesson from the Reformed Church-this one published in 1901. If you were in Sunday School in
Because of the circumstances in which I acquired this postcard photograph, I believe that the location is Saxton, PA. Saxton, in Bedford County (south central
I am sure that every new parent is dazzled by the marvelous creature that is born into the family. This father is so young that
We cannot know what event was celebrated by this photograph, but it appears to be a family gathering on the porch. It may have been
Photographic portraits from Atlantic City are not rare; millions of visitors flocked to the shore each summer. Hundreds of thousands had photographs made at Boardwalk
It is very unfortunate that the two winsome children, whom I assume are a brother and sister, are not named. The picture appears to have
Sometime in the very early twentieth century, a group of young women celebrated their outdoor picnic by making a picture postcard. The picture is not
Three friends were captured in a photograph about 1910. The women are standing with linked arms in front of a structure with wooden siding. Each
Mrs. S. Bell lived in New Castle, Ohio, an unincorporated community in eastern Ohio. New Castle is close to the Ohio River and the border
Sometime around 1915, two young women had a photographic portrait made at the studio of the Eastern Photo Post Card Company in Kansas City. (It
The city of Harlowton lies on the Musselshell River on a high plain between the mountains of central Montana. It was an ancient hunting ground
This postcard photo was taken at an unknown location on a specific date, May 9, 1925. A thoughtful person recorded the names of “Alma +
Postal regulations permitted the mailing of unusual and odd-shaped items in the early 20th century. In the past year, I have found a few hand-made
It was the birthday of Mrs. Kate Moyer of Adamstown. Adamstown is in northern Lancaster County, very close to the border of Berks County. On
In the early twentieth century, hand-crafted postcards were constructed of a variety of materials and sent through the mail. I have posted samples of hand-painted
In May of 1915, Mrs. Harrison Baker (Ellie?) lived in Salunga, a community west of Lancaster, PA. Mrs. Baker received a postcard from her sister,
This postcard photograph was made by the Penn Park Studio which operated at locations in York and in Hanover. Sometime around 1910, a group of
“A normal school is an institution created to train high school graduates to be teachers by educating them in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum.,,”(Wiki)
I recently acquired a postcard photograph, circa 1910, of a stylish young woman wearing a broad-brimmed hat with a tassel. An admirer of hats, although
Like motivational posters of the late 20th century (or the inspirational memes of today), mottos and quotations were popular themes of postcard illustration in the
Miss Angie Park lived in Shinglehouse, a town of Potter County in north-central Pennsylvania. The community was named for a landmark shingled Inn near the
Rifling through a box of old paper memorabilia, I was attracted to the brilliant colors of this postcard. I was surprised to find that the
This postcard languished in a box of 25-cent cards until I found it at a postcard exhibition. It is interesting in two ways: the photograph
The extent of the Lancaster stockyards was apparent to anyone who traveled to Lancaster by train from Philadelphia through the 1970’s. As the train slowed
We met Bernice Blue in an earlier postcard story, in which an admirer sent a postcard illustration entitled, “Maiden Meditation”. Bernice lived in White Pigeon,
Frank lived in Buffalo, the industrial and transportation powerhouse on Lake Erie in northwest New York. Frank had a friend, Sara, who lived in the
In an earlier postcard story, we met the prolific photographer and publisher, J. Murray Jordan. (“Let’s Live in Clover”) Based in Philadelphia, Jordan published in
Miss Jenina Greer lived in La Grande, a city east of the Blue Mountains in northeast Oregon. La Grande had been a stopping point on
My first understanding of the impact of Coney Island on the imagination of New York City residents came from reading the short stories of O.
Saint Patrick’s Day – 1908 Ethel must have been busy or forgetful as she mailed her St. Patrick’s Day postcard on March 19, 1908. Illustrated
Miss Susanna Ramsey lived near Gap, a community in eastern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.in Gap was named for a pass through the Nickel Mountain ridge. The
In December of 1907, Miss Elsie Martin lived outside of Hanover, PA (Rural Free Delivery Route #4). Hanover is a prosperous town in York County,
On July 4, we recall the noble aspirations of our nation. We don’t always live up to the high standards we espouse, but we are
Mrs. E.J. Rockwood had been living in Castle Creek, a hamlet north of Binghamton in south-central New York State. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Creek,_New_York At Christmas of 1919, however,
Mrs. E. A. Easterbrook lived in Arcadia, a village in central Nebraska. The community was platted in 1885 with the coming of the railroad. In
Mrs. Maud Jacobs lived in Gobleville, a small city in south-west Michigan. The city was named for the Goble family who erected the first buildings
Harold Chambers lived in Middleton, an unincorporated community in central Michigan. Harold was a pupil in a class taught by Ruby. It is not clear
This postcard photograph was not mailed. I was glad to see the legible names inscribed on the reverse, but there is no indication of the
During the quarantine, when I could not rifle through boxes of old paper at antique malls, I purchased a collection of vintage postcard photographs on
Lewis Mansfield was born in the early years of the 20th century and lived near Fayette City, PA. Fayette City, at that time, was a
Chas was in Akron, Ohio. On September 6, 1911, he sent a postcard to Mrs. James Balo of Adams Mills, Ohio. Adams Mills is a
I am not sure what occasion is memorialized in this picture, perhaps a groom and best man at a wedding celebration. The postcard photograph was
Miss Luella McDonald lived in Hastings, a city in south-central Nebraska. Hastings had grown up around the juncture of two railroad lines, but experienced a
Mother & Grandmother Send a Birthday Gift This postcard-sized greeting accompanied a gift to an unnamed son and grandson on his 35th birthday. The card
There were an estimated four billion chestnut trees in the US at the turn of the 20th century. The nut was a source of food
Miss Rachel Morton lived in Oxford, the lovely borough in Chester County that was a center of industry before the slow demise of the railroads
Alice Cleaver lived in York Springs, a resort community in Adams County. (We met Alice in an earlier postcard story about attending the York Fair.)
We met Annie Robidou in earlier postcard stories; Annie inspired or collected many postcard illustrations related to courtship or love. In January of 1911, Annie
Mrs. James Houser lived in Port Trevorton, a census-designated place of northern Snyder County in central Pennsylvania. Port Trevorton had once been a small city
Mrs. M. A. McCann lived in Ladora, a very small city (population less than 300) in east-central Iowa. In April of 1914, Mrs. McCann received
Miss Bessie Criswell was celebrating a birthday. She received a postcard greeting from her friend, Sarah. Bessie lived in Emlenton, a borough in northwest Pennsylvania.
Mabel Moyer was an infant when she was greeted with a postcard celebrating her arrival in 1919. The colorful illustration on face of the postcard
Mr. Oliver Riehl lived in Voganville, a very small community in Earl Township – east of Farmersville and north of Groffdale. John Vogan, the Irish
In January of 1909, Marita mailed a postcard to her friend Mayme. The postcard, printed in Germany, is embossed and gilded. Two doves greet one
Miss A. B. Thomas lived in an apartment on Park Avenue in Minneapolis. In May of 1939, she received a postcard from her friend, Mamie.
Mr. Bloom Faw lived in Washburn, an agricultural village in north central Illinois. In August of 1930, Bloom received a postcard from Judy. The face
Jane Cushing was on a camping trip to the mountains. While in Torrington, Wyoming, Jane sent a postcard to Mrs. Sherman Scofield in Denver. (Torrington
Miss Edna Bender lived in Wyoming, a small city in east-central Iowa, not far from Cedar Rapids. Sometime around 1911 (the postmark is badly-applied), Edna
J. Murray Jordan was a prolific photographer and publisher in Philadelphia. Murray’s work included a wide range of subjects – from the comic and frivolous
Mrs. D. A Long lived in Shippensburg, a borough on the border of Franklin and Cumberland Counties in south-central Pennsylvania. In the early 20th century,
This comic postcard was published by the Royal Publishing Company of Philadelphia in 1906. A young woman sits demurely on a bench while her suitor
The legacy of slavery continues to trouble our nation. Many institutions have struggled to find an appropriate response to historical wrongs. (This is not a
On October 4, 1906, cannons were fired in York, Pa for the “President’s Salute”. An Internet search reveals that President Theodore Roosevelt visited the city
Between September 30 and October 6 of 1923, the citizens of Reading, PA held a week-long birthday party. This commemorative postcard was copyrighted by C.
To celebrate the 300th anniversary of the first English colony in the New World, citizens of Norfolk, Virginia organized a campaign for a national exposition.
This postcard relates to the advertising strategy of Wilson & Company, once one of the largest corporations in the US. The company began as the
Mrs. Lula M. Rucker lived in Salisbury, a small city of about 1800 citizens in north central Missouri. The town was booming at the end
Charles Hood was born in Vermont in 1845, where he grew up to work in his father’s apothecary shop. In early adulthood, Charles Hood moved
This photograph does not identify the plump little girl with bright eyes. The girl is sitting before a wall of tongue-and-groove molding, and she is
There are several websites devoted to the photography studio of Gerlach which operated on South Washington Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Gerlach Studio made thousands
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Maass were celebrating 25 years of marriage. In honor of the event, family members gathered at their home in Gaylord, Minnesota.
Sometime around 1915, three children named “Barnes” were carefully arranged for a photographic portrait. The three – Dean, Ralph, and Gladys – are all smiling
Mrs. John Hays lived on Pine Street in Oxford, a borough in southern Chester County, PA. ( in 1928, Oxford was still connected both to
Alma, Mrs. W. O. Smith, lived in Falconer – a village in Chautauqua County of southwest New York. In August of 1931, Alma received a
Mr. Aug. Eimer lived at 205 Third Avenue in Manhattan. In 1917, this neighborhood (between 18th and 19th Streets) still had remnants of the large
Belle was at sea on April 16 when she composed a postcard to Helen (Mrs. Samuel Weiss) of Philadelphia. The postcard, printed in the United
I have posted several examples of Sunday School materials from denominational publishing houses. The example today is from the David C. Cook company. Founded in
“Rally Day” was the special celebration to open the Sunday School year in many Protestant Churches. The Rally Day program often involved the introduction of
In January of 1935, Nelson Godfrey lived in Shrewsbury, PA in the household of H.S. Godfrey, whom I assume to be his father. Shrewsbury is
On the Feast of the Transfiguration, a brief story about an act of devotion at the foot of the Great North Mountain in the Shenandoah
A painter and sculptor, G. F. Watts (1817-1904) poses Sir Galahad as a fearless innocent pursuing a tangled path. A late development within the Arthurian
In June of 1911, Addie wrote “a few lines” to Katherine. Katherine, in Fort Madison, Iowa, seems to be a relative or close family friend
I found recently this “Sunbonnet” illustration from the series, “Hours of the Day”. On the face of the postcard is an illustration of a boy
Until I spent months working in New England, during seven of the last 25 years, I did not appreciate the influence of French-Canadian people in
Mr. E.C. Douglas lived in Visalia, a city in the rich agricultural area of the San Joachim Valley. In 1874, Mr. Douglas ordered a gun
Tellings stories from the past.