“Liberty and Justice for All” – circa 1940
October 27, 2022
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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
Postcard Categories
A Yosemite Christmas – San Diego, California (1919)
October 27, 2022
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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,
A Joyous Christmas to All – Arcadia, Nebraska (1909)
October 26, 2022
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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
Best Christmas Wishes from Rose – Gobleville, Michigan (1908)
October 26, 2022
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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
Ruby Sends Christmas Postcards to Her Pupils -Middleton, Michigan (1910)
October 26, 2022
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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
The Five Women – Circa 1905
October 26, 2022
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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
A Summer Hat for the Shore – Atlantic City, NJ (circa 1910)
October 26, 2022
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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
First Overalls for Lewis – Fayette City, PA (circa 1906)
October 26, 2022
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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
Naomi Krause is Growing Up – Adams Mills, Ohio (1911)
October 26, 2022
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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
The Young Men of Kalamazoo – circa 1910
October 26, 2022
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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
Archie “Spoilt Those Pictures” – Hastings, Nebraska (1914)
October 26, 2022
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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
“Today You are 35 Years Old” – Mifflinburg, PA (1916)
October 26, 2022
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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
A Chestnut for Edward – Cornwall, New York (1910)
October 26, 2022
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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
“I’ve Got Heart Trouble” – Oxford, PA (circa 1905)
October 26, 2022
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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
Looking for a Seat – York Springs, PA (1909)
October 26, 2022
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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.)
Oscar Sends a Pair of Lovers to Annie – Bismarck, North Dakota (1911)
October 25, 2022
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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
“One of the Family” – Marion, Indiana (1912)
October 17, 2022
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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
Young Ambrose Asks for a Visit – Ladora, Iowa (1914)
October 17, 2022
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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
“Best Birthday Wishes” to Bessie – DuBois, PA (1914)
October 17, 2022
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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.
Welcome to Baby “Mabel”- Boyertown, PA (1919)
October 17, 2022
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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
Oliver Receives a Sailboat – Voganville, PA (1908)
October 14, 2022
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Mr. Oliver Riehl lived in Voganville, a very small community in Earl Township – east of Farmersville and north of Groffdale. John Vogan, the Irish
Marita Sends a Scarf to Mayme – Emlenton, PA (1909)
October 14, 2022
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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
The Sentinels – Sequoia National Park (1939)
October 13, 2022
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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.
Judy Enjoys the California Hills – Washburn, Illinois (1930)
October 13, 2022
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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 Sends a Picture of Mount Shasta – Torrington, Wyoming (1926)
October 13, 2022
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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
Homer Hates to Wait – Wyoming, Iowa (1911)
October 13, 2022
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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
“Let’s Live in Clover” – Philadelphia (1905)
October 13, 2022
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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
“A Pointed Suggestion” – Aspers, PA (1906)
October 13, 2022
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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,
“Charlie, Stop That Fooling”- Parkesburg, PA (1907)
October 13, 2022
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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 “Servants” of Thomas Jefferson – Monticello (1928)
October 13, 2022
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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
The “President’s Salute” to Theodore Roosevelt – York, PA (1906)
October 13, 2022
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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
The City of Reading Celebrates 175 years – Reading, PA (1923)
October 13, 2022
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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.
The Jamestown Exposition – 1907
October 13, 2022
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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.
The Six-Horse Team – Greenfield Massachusetts (1922)
October 13, 2022
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This postcard relates to the advertising strategy of Wilson & Company, once one of the largest corporations in the US. The company began as the
Lula Orders Seeds or Plants – Salisbury, Missouri (1911)
October 13, 2022
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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
Improving Your Dairy Herd – Hood Farms (circa 1905)
October 13, 2022
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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
Little Girl with Rabbit – Minnesota (circa 1910)
October 8, 2022
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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
Marie in Minneapolis – Minnesota, circa 1910
October 8, 2022
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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
The Silver Anniversary – Gaylord, Minnesota (1911)
October 8, 2022
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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.
The Barnes’ Children – circa 1915
October 8, 2022
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Sometime around 1915, three children named “Barnes” were carefully arranged for a photographic portrait. The three – Dean, Ralph, and Gladys – are all smiling
The Seltzers Tour the Mediterranean – Oxford, PA (1928)
October 8, 2022
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Mrs. John Hays lived on Pine Street in Oxford, a borough in southern Chester County, PA. ( in 1928, Oxford was still connected both to
Ethel Visits Quebec – Falconer, NY (1931)
October 8, 2022
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Alma, Mrs. W. O. Smith, lived in Falconer – a village in Chautauqua County of southwest New York. In August of 1931, Alma received a
A Special Meeting of the Bowling Club – New York City (1917)
October 8, 2022
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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 Has “Rough Sailing” – Havana, Cuba (1936)
October 8, 2022
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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
Feeding the Five Thousand – Sunday School of 1900
October 8, 2022
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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
A Bell for Rally Day -Lancaster, PA (1924)
October 8, 2022
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“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
Happy Birthday to Nelson in Shrewsbury, PA – 1935
October 8, 2022
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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
A Shrine in the Mountains – Orkney Springs, Virginia (1936)
October 8, 2022
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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
Sir Galahad – George Frederic Watts (circa 1910)
September 27, 2022
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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
Edwin and an Engraving of Moses- Fort Madison, Iowa (1911)
September 27, 2022
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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
Breakfast at 7:00 – Cleveland, Ohio (1907)
September 27, 2022
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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
The Order of Catholic Foresters – Biddeford, Maine (1908)
September 27, 2022
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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. Douglas Wants His Gun! – Visalia, California (1875)
September 27, 2022
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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
The Order of Owls – Ephrata, PA (1930)
September 27, 2022
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The past fifty years has seen a huge decline in the number of citizens participating in fraternal organizations and mutual aid societies. The Moose, the
“Soon Be In My Berth For Home” – New York City (1912)
September 27, 2022
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In September of 1912, Rebecca visited New York City. As she prepared to leave for home, Rebecca mailed a postcard to her friend, Florence Ashton,
Herbert Writes to GrandPop – New Hampshire (1914)
September 27, 2022
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Mr. George W. Johnson lived in Red Bank, a borough on the Navesink River in northern New Jersey. This area was settled by Dutch and
Lois Tours Massachusetts – Fawn Grove, PA (1935)
September 27, 2022
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Miss Evelyn Richardson lived in Fawn Grove, a borough in southern York County, on the Mason-Dixon Line. (I was unfamiliar with this place name and
The Denver Mint – Denver, Colorado (circa 1910)
September 27, 2022
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If you were a youngster who collected coins, you learned to scan dates for the tiny mint letters that denoted the origin of the coin.
The Wilbur & Martin Shoe Store (1910)
September 27, 2022
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In October of 1910, Mr. D. M. Eshelman was living in Quarryville, PA – a community in southern Lancaster County, not far from the border
Hem-Stitching on East Orange Street – Lancaster, PA (circa 1910)
September 27, 2022
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I found this unusual advertising card from the Singer Company, the largest manufacturer and purveyor of sewing machines in the world during the early 20th
Check Your Brakes! – Elizabethtown, PA (circa 1930)
September 27, 2022
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Weaver Brothers of Elizabethtown, PA distributed advertising cards touting asbestos brakes and reminding motorists of the need for brake inspections. The advertising cards bear no
Elizabeth Receives a Rose from her Mother – Mount Nebo, PA (circa 1910)
September 19, 2022
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Elizabeth Receives a Rose from her Mother – circa 1910 Sometime around 1910, Elizabeth Karr was living in Mount Nebo, Pa. Mt. Nebo is a
“The Loveliest, Most Scrumptious Time” – Hanover Junction, PA (1907)
September 19, 2022
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In July of 1907, Florence sent a postcard to her friend, Carrie Quickel, who lived at 1308 North George Street in York. Florence reported that
“The Horses Are All Right” – New Hall, Iowa (1919)
September 19, 2022
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In January of 1919, Mrs. Mary Gingery was living in Shellsburg – a small city in east central Iowa, not far from Cedar Rapids. it
Kauffman’s Park in Manheim, PA -circa 1924
September 19, 2022
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Manheim is a town in Lancaster County, PA – about eight miles north of Lancaster City. I have driven through the charming town of Manheim
The River View Hotel at Pequea, Lancaster County, PA (1907)
September 19, 2022
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The Susquehanna River forms the western border of Lancaster County, PA. The river-front community of Pequea grew up where the Pequea Creek empties into the
Alice Takes An Auto Trip of 325 miles – York, PA (1924)
September 19, 2022
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In August of 1924, Alice K. (presumably, Alice Knox) was visiting York, PA. Alice was traveling with Mr. and Mrs. Lidiger (?) and family. The
A Promenade on Mount Penn Boulevard – Oley, PA (1909)
September 19, 2022
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It is not hard to find early postcard photographs of the boulevard that winds up the side of Mount Penn in Reading, Pennsylvania. This is
Getting Candy from Airville – Woodbine, PA (1910)
September 19, 2022
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In August of 1910, Ruth was in Woodbine where she was very busy- making hay, visiting the Wild West Show, finding elderberries, getting red feather
The Sister House of the Ephrata Cloister – Hopeland, PA (1906)
September 19, 2022
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Several months ago, I shared a postcard with an hand-colored photo of the Brother House at the Ephrata Cloister. In the postcard story, voiced my
The “Brother House” of the Ephrata Cloister – circa 1910
September 19, 2022
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I love the Ephrata Cloister – the preserved buildings, the museum, the grounds, and the sacred history of the place. “The Cloister” was established in
Miss Esther Martin at Martin’s Drug Store – 1907
September 10, 2022
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Martin’s Drug Store was located on East Chestnut Street in Lancaster, PA. (This handsome building has now been subdivided into eight apartments.) Miss Esther Martin,
Miss Herr Gives Thanksgiving Greetings to John K. Hershey – circa 1915
September 10, 2022
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The Thanksgiving postcard was far more common in the early twentieth century than it is today. Many postcard greetings, some blending patriotic and harvest images,
A Glittering Portrait of Washington -Lancaster, PA (1906)
September 10, 2022
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Many of us remember when the birthdays of Lincoln and Washington were celebrated as distinct national holidays. Our grade school classrooms were decorated with construction
“The Returned Soldier” – Columbia, PA (1928)
September 10, 2022
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On May 30, 1928, this statue of a standing soldier was erected within the Locust Street Park in Columbia. A little more than seven feet
A Monument to the Pioneer Mother – Kansas City, Missouri (1928)
September 10, 2022
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In July of 1928, Joe was in Kansas City, Missouri. He mailed a postcard to his mother, Mrs. George J. Bankert, in Westminster, Maryland. Westminster
Monument to Thaddeus Stevens – Lancaster, PA (1909)
September 10, 2022
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One of the greatest orators and political leaders of the Civil War Era, Thaddeus Stevens, had a long career in law, industry, education, and public
A Poppy to Anna – Bausman, PA (1909)
September 10, 2022
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Mother sends a postcard to Anna in Bausman – 1909 On October 27, 1909, Mother mailed a postcard to her daughter, Mrs. Anna Rambo, at
“Come Away With Me” – circa 1908
September 10, 2022
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“Come away with me, Lucille, In my merry Oldsmobile…”. Circa 1908 The automobile changed the lives of Americans in dramatic ways. While some made fun
“The Pennsylvania Special” – Circa 1908
September 10, 2022
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The Pennsylvania Railroad was the largest railroad company in the United States and operated hundreds of named trains. (The budget for the Pennsylvania Railroad was
Ruth and Frank Tour St. Augustine – Hackettstown, NJ (1925)
September 8, 2022
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In March of 1925, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cole were still awaiting the coming of Spring in Hackettstown, New Jersey. (Hackettstown is a town in
The Light at Portland Head – Chebeague, Maine (1928)
September 8, 2022
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Charlotte was visiting Chebeague Island, one of two hundred islands in Casco Bay, 10 miles northeast of Portland. Since the late 19th century, the area
President Harding Visited the Club – West Palm Beach, Florida (1925)
September 8, 2022
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In February of 1925, Alverta Meck was in Palm Beach. She was having “a nice time”, but found the weather “awfully warm”. Alverta mailed a
Hazel Works for the Gravel Company – Palmyra, N.Y. (1913)
September 8, 2022
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Hazel Penoyer lived in Palmyra, a village on the Erie Canal, just south of Lake Erie and east of Rochester, NY. An early transportation and
Aunt Gertie Is Back at Home – Pittsfield, Massachusetts (1934)
September 8, 2022
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Aunt Gertie lived in Pittsfield, the city in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts. By 1934, this agricultural area of streams and mills (once a
“Everybody Having a Hot Old Time” – Albany, New York (1906)
September 8, 2022
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Miss Stevie Moxley lived in Kingston, Canada. Kingston, the first capital city of Canada, lies at the eastern end of Lake Erie- at the mouth
Easter Greetings to Norbert – Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1908)
September 7, 2022
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Master Norbert Dittmer lived on Fond-de-Lac Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; his grandma and grandpa lived nearby. From the form of address, we may assume that
New Year’s Greetings between Two Ediths – Philadelphia, PA (1907)
September 7, 2022
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On December 31, 1907, “Edith” mailed a postcard from Philadelphia to Miss C. Edith Yoder at 322 Pine Street in Lancaster, PA. The writer, Edith,
“Better Than in the Country” – Lancaster, Pa (1909)
September 7, 2022
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Nathan Groff lived in Bareville, a small rural community northeast of Lancaster, PA. In December of 1909, Nathan received a postcard greeting from Lottie, in
“A Boy, a Girl, and a Hammock” – Utica, NY (1911)
September 7, 2022
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Fred Boardman lived in Utica, a city on the Mohawk River at the foot of the Adirondack Mountains in central New York. Utica became a
“Dear Hattie; Are you still living?” – Wilmington, Delaware (1909)
September 7, 2022
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Louise lived in Wilmington, Delaware and had not heard from Hattie Adair for some time. Hattie lived in Chester Springs, a community in Chester County,
“You Should Come to Meet Me” – Bismarck, North Dakota (1911)
September 7, 2022
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We met Annie Robidou in an earlier postcard which bore the illustration of a maiden carried piggyback at the lake. I mentioned that I had
Will the Suit Fit? – York, PA (1907)
September 7, 2022
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Mr. George Rauth sold clothes and/or did tailoring at his business, 113 North George Street in York, PA. Mr. Robert Conner of 59 South Pine
Postcard Painting of Lake George – Prudential Company (circa 1905)
September 7, 2022
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Lake George lies on the eastern border of New York State; it is a long ribbon of water that is now within the enormous Adirondack
Advertising Oleomargarine – Swift & Company (1914)
September 7, 2022
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Oleomargarine, an emulsion of fat with evenly-distributed water molecules, was first produced in France – to win a scientific competition to meet the war needs
Wiest’s Dam – York, PA circa 1905
September 5, 2022
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In 1772, a dam was first built on the west branch of the Codorus Creek near York, PA Dams were one of the first “infrastructure”
June Sees Movie Stars in Philadelphia – 1921
September 3, 2022
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Very early in the history of motion pictures, film stars captured the interest and enthusiastic embrace of the public. “Celebrity culture” around movies assumed a
The Boys High School of Reading, PA – circa 1920
September 3, 2022
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The city of Reading established a school for boys in 1852. In 1857, girls were admitted to the school. This is almost fifty years before
The Bon Ton Store in York, PA – 1919
September 3, 2022
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In 1898, Samuel Grumbacher (and son, Max) opened a one-room millinery store on Market Street in York. The store eventually filled a handsome building on
Ada Sends a Valentine to Mr. Burger – Etters, PA, 1908
September 3, 2022
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This romantic tale straddles the Susquehanna River in south central Pennsylvania. Ada lived in Steelton, Pennsylvania, a borough in Dauphin County, not far from Harrisburg.
“With Best New Year Wishes” – York County, PA (1910/1911)
September 3, 2022
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Mr. Roy Stouffer lived in Hanover, PA, a city southwest of York and not far from the border of Maryland. In 1910, Hanover was a
Happy New Year to Amanda Weaver – 1912
September 3, 2022
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On this site, one can find a Christmas postcard given to Amanda Weaver by a classmate circa 1910. In December of 1912, Amanda received a
Jennie Invites Melvin to the Spelling Bee – York County, PA (1911)
September 3, 2022
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Melvin Myers lived in Thomasville, PA, an unincorporated community about 6 miles west of York, PA. His friend, Jennie, lived about 7 miles further west
Easter Greetings to Clifton Thomson of York
September 3, 2022
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Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Lindemuth were in Los Angeles. On March 30, 1920, they mailed an Easter postcard to Clifton Thomson. Clifton lived on West
“Glucklich Reise dir Deine Freunde” – circa 1910
August 31, 2022
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We have seen several postcards related to blimps or zeppelins – the wonders of the sky in the early 20th century. (Other postcard stories featured
A Spiffy Roadster on Marietta Avenue – Lancaster, PA (circa 1915)
August 31, 2022
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Here is an hand-colored, postcard photograph of Marietta Avenue, still a lovely drive westward from the city of Lancaster. The postcard was postmarked in Lancaster
The Dazzling Air Shows of Walter Brookins – Chicago (1910)
August 31, 2022
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Accustomed as we are to all manner of flying airships, it may be hard to imagine the mania that gripped the country with the appearance
“Grandpa Shot a Chicken Hawk” – Dallastown, PA (1907)
August 31, 2022
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(I have shared this postcard to other sites because I cannot decipher the name of the town that is inscribed on the face -it ends
Meet Aunty at the Train! Phillipsburg, PA (1909)
August 29, 2022
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In September of 1909, young Mac Fryberger was living in Phillipsburg, PA, a borough in Centre County – not far from State College. Mac received
Bertha Writes from Put-in-Bay, Ohio (1906)
August 29, 2022
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Put-in-Bay is a small village on South Bass island in Lake Erie, about 35 miles east of Toledo and 15 miles northwest of Sandusky. The
Aunt Lizzie Answers Her Nephew – circa 1910
August 29, 2022
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Ralph Johnson had written to his Aunt Lizzie, but had received no reply. At length, Aunt Lizzie responded with a postcard greeting to Ralph. The
“I Could Not Find Churches” – Whitehall, NY. (Circa 1910)
August 29, 2022
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The wings of a swan are embossed so deeply on this postcard that the postmark is not entirely legible. Addressed to Mrs. Herbert Baily (sic)
“You Can Use the Old Mast” – Terre Haute, Indiana (1909)
August 27, 2022
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Arthur Sutton was in Seaville, an unincorporated community in Cape May County, New Jersey. Arthur wanted to sail, and wrote to the Brooks about an
Friendship Across the Atlantic – New York, NY (1907)
August 27, 2022
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Marcel Lebree (?) lived on West 25th Street in Manhattan. At the time Marcel lived there, this working-class neighborhood included the flower markets (now, almost
Mr. Hartman’s Son Visits Amsterdam – Waynesboro, PA (1928)
August 27, 2022
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Mr. B. F. Hartman lived in Waynesboro, a borough of Franklin County in south central Pennsylvania. The borough lies in the Cumberland Valley, only two
On the Porch – circa 1910
August 25, 2022
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This postcard photograph was not mailed, and it lacks any identification of the two boys. I assume that the two are brothers or otherwise related
Aunt Anna with Buddy & Lucille – circa 1910
August 25, 2022
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This postcard photograph was not mailed, so we cannot determine the location of this mother and her children. Sometime around 1910, a photograph was taken
Grace and Iva – Walhonding, Ohio (1908)
August 25, 2022
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Walhonding is a crossroads near the geographic center of Ohio. A small community had grown up there when the Walhonding Canal (a short feeder to
Florence Lombard and Canadian Friends – circa 1910
August 25, 2022
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This postcard photograph was not mailed, but a message is inscribed on the reverse. The postcard may have been enclosed with a letter. Florence Lombard
Miss Osborne Writes to Hila – Rose Hill, Iowa (1910)
August 25, 2022
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Miss Osborne had six more weeks of teaching in the school year at Rose Hill, Iowa. Rose Hill is a very small city (population 157)
Curtis Gives a Weighty Greeting to His Aunt – Muddy Creek Forks, PA (circa 1910)
August 25, 2022
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Mrs. Henry Alloway lived in Muddy Creek Forks, a village in southern York County of central Pennsylvania. (Muddy Creek Forks was on the narrow-gauge railroad
“Home Folks…Good and True” – Reno, Nevada (1911)
August 25, 2022
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Mr. And Mrs. William Sutherland lived in Reno, the city on the Truckee River on the border between Nevada and California. Reno began when subsistence
Bessie Has Another “Social” – St. Louis, Missouri (1909)
August 25, 2022
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Miss Bessie Ruden lived in Jefferson Barracks, the historic military outpost on the Mississippi River, south of St. Louis. In April of 1909, Bessie received
Everything O.K. in Lancaster, PA (circa1910)
August 25, 2022
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In addition to the proud postcard memorials to local monuments or scenic splendors, plus the enormous variety of seasonal and holiday greetings, a large number
“If You Can’t Be Good, Be Careful” (1907)
August 25, 2022
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This comic postcard, published by Bamforth & Company, was printed in England. Other comic postcards of Bamforth (the large moustache, the forgotten purse) have been
“Meet Me Downtown on Saturday Night” – Mount Pleasant, PA (1916)
August 25, 2022
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Miss Leeanna Truxell lived in Mount Pleasant, a borough 45 miles southwest of Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania. Between 1910 and 1920, the area was a
Kissing is the Rage – Webster Springs, West Virginia (1913)
August 25, 2022
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In the early 20th century, Webster Springs was a resort town to which visitors flocked to experience the curative powers of the salt sulfur springs.
“In Pastures Green” – Camden, New Jersey (1907)
August 25, 2022
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Miss H. Davies lived at 10th and Locust Street in Philadelphia, “in care of Shannons”. According to an on-line list of druggists in 1911, Shannons
Fishermen Come Ashore – circa 1910
August 25, 2022
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I scanned this postcard illustration of fisherman at a time when I was reading about the threats to traditional fishing villages in Western Europe. The
The Baby and the Anthracite Mine – Wilmington, Delaware (1911)
August 25, 2022
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Mrs. Richard Webb lived in Wilmington, Delaware and she had a baby. In May of 1911, Mrs. Webb received a postcard from Alma in Scranton,
The Approaching Storm – Jacksonville, Florida (1929)
August 25, 2022
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Miss Mollie Scott lived in Brooklyn, New York. In September of 1929, she received a postcard from friends in Florida. The postcard was mailed from
“Merry Christmas” to Tomahawk – Tomahawk, Wisconsin (1914)
August 21, 2022
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Sadie, Mrs. Harry Tiffany, lived in Tomahawk – a small city in northern Wisconsin, in an area that was still hunted by Ojibwe peoples until
Hugh Sends a Cooling Stream – Wilmington, Vermont (1907)
August 19, 2022
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Wilmington is a small town (with a wonderful historic district) in the Deerfield Valley among the Green Mountains of south-central Vermont. In the winter, this
Mr. Berryman Camps in Yellowstone – Gardiner, Montana (1914)
August 19, 2022
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The Wylie Camping Company was the first (and the longest-lasting) enterprise that accommodated tourists in rustic camps within Yellowstone Park. Mr. V. L. Berryman was
Greetings from Sonnenberg, Ohio – 1919
August 19, 2022
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In the summer of 1819, a group of Anabaptist refugees from Sonnenberg, Switzerland settled a tract of land in northeast Ohio. The group of families
Bella Summers in the Catskills – Phoenicia, New York (1930)
August 19, 2022
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The Catskill Mountains of Ulster County, hunting grounds of successive tribes of indigenous peoples, were not settled by Europeans until the mid-18th century. The best
“A Joyous Yuletide” from Belle – Glastonbury, Connecticut (1919)
August 19, 2022
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Miss Lucy Rose lived in Worcester, an industrial city 40 miles west of Boston, Massachusetts. The city became a trading and transportation center for central
Christmas Wishes from Grace – Lancaster, PA (circa 1920)
August 19, 2022
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This postcard was not mailed, so we cannot know certainly when it was presented. But the design is similar to many other Christmas postcards that
The Great Earthquake of San Francisco – April 18, 1906
August 17, 2022
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Just after 5:00 AM on the morning of April 18, the growing city was struck by the largest earthquake in the history of California. A
The Death of Mrs. Esser – Heron Lake, Minnesota (1909)
August 17, 2022
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There is a story of great sadness behind this postcard featuring the drawing of a mischievous kitten. Tillie was elsewhere in Minnesota when she wrote
A Player Died from Injuries Last Game – 1913
August 17, 2022
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I have not discovered any statistics related to sports deaths in the early 20th century, but this is not the first vintage document I have
The Flood of 1933 – York, PA
August 17, 2022
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In June of 1972, I experienced first-hand the devastation of Hurricane Agnes in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. During that summer flood, I saw the covered bridge
A Train Derailment on Thanksgiving Day – 1907
August 17, 2022
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I found recently this postcard photograph of a train wreck at New Providence, Pa. Searching a database of Pennsylvania railway accidents, I was unable to
Cyclone Destroys Columbia Bridge – 1896
August 17, 2022
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In 1896, a late-summer storm destroyed the covered bridge between Columbia and Wrightsville. I found a postcard photograph of this devastating event. The photograph was
Singing and Yelling for the “Scrap” – West Lafayette, Indiana (circa 1920)
August 14, 2022
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Ethel Bradshaw lived in Oxford, a small town in western Indiana, northwest of Indianapolis and southeast of Chicago. Ethel received a postcard greeting from her
The Girls Are Coming Over – Gap, PA (1912)
August 14, 2022
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Miss Alice Martin lived in Kinzer, an unincorporated rural community in eastern Lancaster County, along the original Philadelphia & Lancaster Turnpike. In July of 1912,
Uncle John Sends “Best Wishes”- Andover, N.J. (1908)
August 14, 2022
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Mr. Hampton Pullis was in Andover, a small borough near the northern-most tip of New Jersey. Andover once boasted an iron forge, but the industry
“The Good Times I Had at Your Place” – Bart, PA (1915)
August 14, 2022
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Mrs. James Irwin was celebrating a birthday at her home in Bart, Pennsylvania. Bart us a rural township in southeast Lancaster County. Louisa Graeff, a
“My Wife Won’t Let Me” – Camden, New Jersey (1908)
August 14, 2022
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This comic postcard was copyrighted in 1907 by “U. Company” of New York. (I believe it might be the Ullman Lithographic Company.) A rat is
“Did My Ancestors Come From Monkeys“- circa 1910
August 14, 2022
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This comic postcard from the Bamforth Company touches on a topic that was not always humorous to audiences of the early 20th Century. Although 15
Aunt Jennie Thanks Her Niece – Red Oak, Iowa (1908)
August 13, 2022
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Aunt Jennie lived in Red Oak, a small city in southeast Iowa. The city was founded when the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad arrived in
The “Telephone Girl” and the Forest Ranger – The Dalles, Oregon (circa 1910)
August 12, 2022
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This comic postcard, featuring a telephone operator making a date for lunch, was not mailed – it was “enclosed”, probably within a letter. It was
Too Tired to Write – Denver, Colorado (1908)
August 12, 2022
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This comic postcard was illustrated by D. Hillson – who was introduced in earlier postcard stories. Copyright in 1907, the illustration shows a yawning figure
Uncle Dave Receives a Postcard – Billings, Montana (1908)
August 12, 2022
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Mr. David W. Van Houton lived in Prescott, Iowa. Prescott is a small city in southwest Iowa. Mr. Van Houton had mailed several postcards to
The Horse Show at Madison Square Garden -1903
August 12, 2022
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The second Madison Square Garden was a beautiful Beaux-Arts structure designed by Stanford White at Madison Square. (Not the tasteless monstrosity now atop Penn Station
Summer in the Ozarks – Noel, Missouri (1935)
August 12, 2022
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Charles Blakey lived in Kingfisher, a small city in central Oklahoma. Today, Kingfisher is mostly a “bedroom community” for workers in Enid and Oklahoma City.
The Women Petition the Bishop – Akron, Ohio (1920)
August 10, 2022
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In 1892, Akron was a booming center of industry and the population was growing in areas surrounding the city. A group of women in West
The Merry-Go-Round List – Marietta, Ohio (1945)
August 10, 2022
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Marietta, the small city on the Ohio River in the southeast corner of Ohio, was the first settlement in the Northwest Territory gained in the
The Church Attacked by Cannon Fire – Norfolk, Virginia (1910)
August 10, 2022
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The Virginia Company, chartered by King James the First, was established to colonize the east coast of North America. The spread of English civilization meant,
The Beautiful Church Built from Grief – Lebanon, PA (1915)
August 10, 2022
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Robert Habersham Coleman, great-grandson of the founder of the Cornwall Iron dynasty, was once the richest man in Pennsylvania and one of the wealthiest in
“Peace of Mind and Strength of Soul” – Lafayette, Indiana (1921)
August 10, 2022
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Mr. W.G. Marks lived in Lafayette, a city on the Wabash River in west-central Indiana. Lafayette is about 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis. West Lafayette,
Ruth Forgets to Answer – Marietta, PA (1911)
August 10, 2022
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Miss Elizabeth McFarland lived at 319 North Lime Street in Lancaster. Her small brick house, built in 1865, is still occupied on the site. The
“I Once Had a Friend” – Warren, N.Y. (1910)
August 10, 2022
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Mr. John Parker and his family lived in Westfield, a town in Chautauqua County, in the southwestern tip of New York Stare. Westfield borders Lake
A Postcard from William Studebaker – New Paris, PA (1910)
August 10, 2022
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Mr. Grant Snyder lived in New Paris, a small borough in Bradford County of south-central Pennsylvania. The borough lies on the west side of the
Joseph Sends Easter Joy – 1923
August 10, 2022
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Easter fell on the first of April in 1923. Sometime near that date, Lawrence Butt (Laurence Butts?) received an Easter postcard from Joseph Weber. The
Loving Easter Wishes to Grandma – 1916
August 10, 2022
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Elizabeth Goetz lived in Tiffin, a city on the Sandusky River in northwest Ohio. Tiffin is the site of Fort Ball, a military depot of
Glad Easter Greetings from Pearl – Painesville, Ohio (1911)
August 10, 2022
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In the Spring of 1911, Mr. Hugh Barman was living on Walnut Street in Painesville, Ohio. Painesville, a city on the Grand River, lies 27
Valley Forge and the Struggle to Endure- Postcard Photograph (circa 1945)
August 10, 2022
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On the Fourth of July, a pause to remember the hardship of the War of Independence. Valley Forge was not the site of an important
Uncle Hiram Sends a Christmas Cat – Circa 1910
August 10, 2022
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I believe that Jacob K. Bechtel was a boy when his Uncle Hiram gave to him a Christmas postcard. The illustration of a cat surrounded
A Christmas Wish from California – Kent City, Michigan (1921)
August 10, 2022
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Mr. and Mrs. N. L. Barrett lived in Kent City, a village in southeast Michigan, about 20 miles north of Grand Rapids. In December of
Sailing on the Jersey Shore – Atlantic City (1912)
August 10, 2022
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Before motor-powered boats crowded the sea lanes near New Jersey, there were sailboats in the marinas that still line the bays and inlets of the
Mary Shaw Leader -Intrepid Reporter of 1863
August 8, 2022
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I had never heard the interesting tale of Mary Shaw Leader. At 23, Miss Leader was a news reporter for the Hanover Spectator, which was
The Monument to McKinley – Reading, PA (1906)
August 8, 2022
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The 1901 assassination of William McKinley at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, NY shocked the nation. This was a time of optimism in American
Louise Goes to Binghamton – Binghamton, N.Y. (1910)
August 8, 2022
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Miss Annie Evans lived in Scranton, the booming industrial city in northeast Pennsylvania. (We looked recently at another postcard related to Scranton – the “Electric
The Leafy Suburb – Roselle Park, New Jersey (1908)
August 8, 2022
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Although I have lived most of my adult life in cities, I love the tree-lined streets of mature suburbs. Roselle Park is a borough in
Love from Harry, Hal & Emma – circa 1915
July 27, 2022
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Sometime around 1915, a small family shared their photograph by postcard. The picture was taken on the porch of a home, but (probably) was developed
Elva Sends Her Picture to a Friend – Clinton, Iowa (1908)
July 27, 2022
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Elva (age 13) and her sister, Cecile, (age 6) lived in Clinton, Iowa. Clinton is a city on the Mississippi River in east central Iowa.
Four Friends in Winter – circa 1915
July 27, 2022
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In this postcard photograph, the men are seated, the woman stand behind – a traditional pose in photographs of the early twentieth century. These two
Father Drinks from Shasta Spring – Shasta Springs, California (1906)
July 15, 2022
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Shasta Springs was a popular summer resort on the Upper Sacramento River in Northern California. The resort was on the main line of the Southern
“Launching” on the Black River – South Haven, Michigan (1910)
July 15, 2022
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South Haven is a port city in southeast Michigan, where the Black River flows into Lake Michigan. A center of transportation of passengers and freight,