Studio Portrait of Children – Reading, PA (circa 1910)
February 5, 2023
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Last year, I found and posted a photographic portrait of a young man that was made by the Fritz Studio in Reading, PA. In 1910,
Postcard Categories
The Temperance House – Niagara Falls, New York (1919)
February 5, 2023
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Before the proliferation of hotel chains, finding agreeable public accommodations could be unpredictable for travelers who were wary of public drinking. Many public houses and
The Singer Building – Vanished Landmark of New York
February 5, 2023
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The Singer Building, home of the world’s largest manufacturer of sewing machines, was the world’s tallest building for a brief period of 1908-1909. Located in
Camping in Yosemite – Souvenir of the Sesqui-Centennial Exposition (1926)
February 4, 2023
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In 1926, the city of Philadelphia hosted the sesquicentennial celebration of Independence (150 years). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesquicentennial_Exposition For this celebration, the US Department of the Interior, (which
Under the Umbrella – Bemus Point, New York (1907)
February 4, 2023
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Miss Dorie Russell lived in Sugar Grove, a borough in Warren County of northwest Pennsylvania. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Grove,_Pennsylvania In May of 1907, Miss Russell received a comic
Ruth Visits Buffalo – Buffalo, NY (1926)
February 2, 2023
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In July of 1926, Ruth was in Buffalo – the great manufacturing center and port city on Lake Erie. Ruth had “a lovely trip”, but
The Red Apple of California – Santa Cruz (1914)
January 23, 2023
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In the summer of 1914, May was in San Francisco. She sent a postcard to Miss Marie Hoffman in Santa Cruz – the city about
A Photograph of the High School – Elizabethtown, PA (1912)
January 23, 2023
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On January 4, 1912, Ed sent a postcard from Elizabethtown to Miss Annie Moyer at 633 West Chestnut Street in Lancaster. The postcard bears an
The Woolworth Building -Lancaster, PA (1929)
January 23, 2023
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In February of 1929, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fahnestock were wintering in Sebring, Florida. Friends of the Fahnestocks, Elam and Naomi, remained in Ephrata. During
Donegal Springs – Mount Joy, PA (circa 1939)
January 23, 2023
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In northwest Lancaster County, a thirsty visitor could (through the mid-twentieth century) take a draft from a cold-water spring. Near the historic Donegal Presbyterian Church
The Post Office & Annex – Reading, PA (1939)
January 23, 2023
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I admit that, in architecture, I am an anti-modernist reactionary. Yes, I acknowledge that “form follows function”, that these ornate buildings cannot accommodate equipment for
The Buck Hill Inn – Buck Hill Falls, PA (circa 1910)
January 22, 2023
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There are many celebrated resorts of the early 20th century (and 19th century) that have followed a similar trajectory. A lavish resort is built in
The Public Library – Reading, PA (circa 1910)
January 22, 2023
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This is not the grand Public Library building, funded by Andrew Carnegie, that was completed in 1913. The website of the Reading Public Library contains
US Representative Lafean & the Post Office – York, PA (circa 1910)
January 19, 2023
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I am posting this bit of political advertising as a sample of constituent services by a US Congressman circca 1910. Daniel Franklin Lafean was a
The Lincoln Monument in Chicago – Watertown, South Dakota (1908)
January 9, 2023
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There are six statues of Abraham Lincoln in Chicago, representing the enormous pride that the city expressed for the great man who built his political
The Statue of Massasoit – Plymouth, Massachusetts (circa 1922)
January 9, 2023
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The celebration of the tricentennial of the Pilgrim’s arrival in Massachusetts included the erection of a statue to Massasoit, great “Sachem of the Wampanoags”. The
The Lincoln Farm – Hodgenville, Kentucky (circa 1920)
January 9, 2023
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Abraham Lincoln grew up as the son of a poor, subsistence farmer. Kentucky had no reason to claim him before his extraordinary political career and
“Fine Orchards and Good Roads” – Portland, Oregon (1912)
January 7, 2023
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Mr. Frank Zinkie lived in Aurora, a city in northeast Illinois, now within the Chicago Metropolitan District. In August of 1912, Frank received a postcard
Frances Wants To Be in Florida – Otego, New York (1920)
January 7, 2023
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In December of 1920, Frances was teaching school or attending school in Otego. Otega is a town in Otsego County, in central New York State.
Arthur Sends a Postcard from Ansonia – Ansonia, Connecticut (1908)
January 7, 2023
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In the early years of the twentieth century, Ansonia was an industrial powerhouse on the Naugatuck River – 12 miles northwest of New Haven. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansonia,_Connecticut
The Birthplace of Governor Shulze – Stouchsburg, PA (circa 1920)
January 6, 2023
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In 1775, John Andrew Shulze was born in the parsonage of the Lutheran Church near Stouchsburg, a Pennsylvania-German community of Berks County (now, Lebanon County)
Coming Home from St. Louis – Ripon, Wisconsin (1936)
January 6, 2023
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Howard Krueger lived in Ripon, the city in south-east Wisconsin. In September of 1936, Howard received a postcard from close friends or family members who
Mrs. Douglas Receives a Photograph of St. Mary’s Convent – Taunton, Massachusetts (1917)
January 4, 2023
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Taunton was founded in 1637 by settlers from the Plymouth Colony; it is one of the oldest towns in the US. On land along the
The Schwenkfelders – Palm, Pennsylvania (circa 1920)
January 4, 2023
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One of the glories of Pennsylvania is its history of offering refuge and sanctuary to religious nonconformists, dissenters, and visionaries of many kinds. Among the
“Old Point Comfort” – Stony Creek Mills, PA (1910)
January 4, 2023
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Old Point Comfort is the extreme tip of the small peninsula that is the eastern extremity of Virginia. It was named for an incident involving
Christmas on the Rocks – circa 1914
December 29, 2022
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Maude and Will spent “part of our Xmas” with friends outdoors; the group seems to be bathing or swimming. The occasion was memorialized with a
Sheep from the “School-Ma’am” – Spring Valley, Minnesota (1912)
December 29, 2022
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Florence Rumsey was the “school-ma’am” for a school in Minnesota. (I cannot decipher the postmark.) In January of 1912, she sent a postcard to Mr.
The Baby in Chicago – Marion, Iowa (1909)
December 29, 2022
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Mrs. G. I. Robinson lived in Marion, a city in east central Iowa. In February of 1909, Mrs. Robinson received a postcard from “Guess Who”
A Walk in the Woods – circa 1910
December 29, 2022
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This charming quartet memorialized their woodland stroll with a postcard photograph. The postcard lacks any indication of place or time, or the identities of the
A Railroad Station from Her Teacher – Prospect Hill, PA (circa 1910)
December 14, 2022
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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
Sainte-Chapelle – Paris (circa 1910)
December 14, 2022
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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
The Railroad Station in Columbia, PA – 1912
December 5, 2022
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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
The Happy Baby – Columbia, PA (circa 1910)
December 5, 2022
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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.
Aunt Sallie Sends Her Picture – York, PA (1906)
December 5, 2022
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In September of 1906, Aunt Sallie and “Chick” (?) were in Philadelphia “having a good time”. To celebrate the occasion, Aunt Sallie had a postcard
Aunt Nellie Sends a Picture of “Alfie’s Boy” – circa 1910
December 5, 2022
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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
“Daddy Is Going on the Choo-Choo” – Butte, Montana (1909)
December 2, 2022
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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
The “Blue Rocks” Boulder Field – Berks County, PA (circa 1925)
December 2, 2022
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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
Mrs. George Gibble and the Firefall at Yosemite – East Petersburg, PA (1932)
November 30, 2022
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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.
Buffalo Herd in the Northwest – Spokane, Washington (circa 1920)
November 30, 2022
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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
“When your heels hit hard, and your head feels queer” – Comic Postcard (1905)
November 18, 2022
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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
The “Minute Men” – Boston, Massachusetts (1910)
November 13, 2022
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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
Gertrude Sends a View of Newark Bay – Jersey City N.J. (1908)
November 13, 2022
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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
The Bedouin Camel Driver – Beirut (circa 1910)
November 10, 2022
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“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
Threshing with Horses – Orillia, Washington (circa 1905)
November 9, 2022
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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,
Proud Papa – circa 1910
November 1, 2022
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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
On the Porch -circa 1910
November 1, 2022
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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
Ollie & Eva Visit Atlantic City – circa 1910
November 1, 2022
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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
The Happy Children – circa 1920
November 1, 2022
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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
The Girls’ Outing – York County, PA (circa 1910)
November 1, 2022
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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
Gina, Francis, and Me (circa 1910)
November 1, 2022
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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
The Cutest Girl in West Virginia – Wheeling, West Virginia (1909)
November 1, 2022
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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
Archie is Five Years Old – Harlowton, Montana (circa 1910)
October 31, 2022
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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
Alma and Zennie – May 9, 1925
October 31, 2022
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This postcard photo was taken at an unknown location on a specific date, May 9, 1925. A thoughtful person recorded the names of “Alma +
Young Folks of York County – Pennsylvania (circa 1910)
October 29, 2022
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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
The Group of Scholars – 1912
October 29, 2022
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“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)
The Tasseled Hat – circa 1910
October 29, 2022
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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
Papa Writes to His Son at Prep School – Mercersburg, PA (1907)
October 29, 2022
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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 Union Stock Yards -Lancaster, PA (circa 1930)
October 29, 2022
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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
Looking for News of Bernice – White Pigeon, Michigan (1908)
October 29, 2022
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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,
Remembering Coney Island – New York, NY (1907)
October 28, 2022
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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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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 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
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 “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
“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
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
“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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
“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,
Miss Parker Sees the “Wild & Wooly” West – Sioux Falls, South Dakota (1933)
July 15, 2022
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Miss L. V. Parker lived in York, Pennsylvania. She had a friend, “B”, who was traveling through the west. In December of 1933, Miss Parker
The Solar Salt Beds – Syracuse, New York (1908)
July 14, 2022
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One learns interesting facts from the collecting of vintage postcards – in this case, that central New York State was the nation’s leading producer of
Martha works at the Y – Baltimore, Maryland (1925)
July 14, 2022
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In January of 1925, Martha Randall was on her Christmas Break from school. Unexpectedly, Martha had received a postcard from another young woman she had
Fannie Sends Birdland to Her Aunt – Des Moines, Iowa (1907)
July 14, 2022
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Mrs. H. Stryker lived in Chicago, Illinois. In June of 1907, she received a postcard greeting from her niece, Fannie. Jammie mailed the postcard from
Reginald is Planning a Picnic – Woodbine, Illinois (1907)
June 28, 2022
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Lizzie Baumgardner lived in Fulda, a small city on Lake Fulda in southwest Minnesota. The town is known as the “Home of the Wood Duck”.
Roy Sends His Picture to His Sister – Mansfield, Ohio (1910)
June 28, 2022
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Although Roy identifies his address in Dayton, he was in the bustling city of Mansfield, Ohio when he mailed a postcard photograph to his sister.
The English Girl – circa 1910
June 28, 2022
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Grimsby is an English town in Lincolnshire, on the North Sea. Built on the estuary of the Humber River, the site was once occupied by
The English Boy – Putney (London) circa 1910
June 28, 2022
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Leslie was two years and four months old when his mother held him for a studio portrait. The photograph was made at the Ideal Studio
Mrs. Cora McGuigan of York – circa 1910
June 28, 2022
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This beautiful picture of mother and child was created at the photography studio of Simon & Murnane in York. The Studio was located at 227
Katherine Sends Her Church to Emma – Kenton, Ohio (1908)
June 28, 2022
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Katherine S. lived in Kenton, a city in west-central Ohio. The site was first settled as Fort McArthur, one of a series of fortifications erected
Mountain Railroad of Klapperthal Glen
June 20, 2022
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At the end of the 19th century, a number of hotels, resorts, and taverns were erected on Neversink Mountain, one of the peaks overlooking the
Railroad Advertisement and National Parks
June 20, 2022
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In his documentary about our great National Parks (2009), Ken Burns noted that the railroads were great boosters of the efforts to create and maintain
The Western Maryland Railroad at York – 1909
June 20, 2022
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The story of the Western Maryland Railroad illustrates how local railroad companies created an incredible network of rail connections across the United States. (I consider
The Almshouse of York – 1912
June 17, 2022
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On-line, one can find other photographs of this imposing building along with other York County structures that exist no longer. Beginning in the Middle Ages,
Looking Up the Allegheny River – Pittsburgh (1923
June 17, 2022
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The City of Pittsburgh grew up at the confluence of two great rivers, the Allegheny and the Monongahela. Together, these rivers form the Ohio River
“The Little Church Around the Corner” – Manhattan (1910)
June 13, 2022
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The Church of the Transfiguration was founded as an Anglo-Catholic parish of the Episcopal Church in 1849. Built in a Early English Neo-Gothic Style, the
Ada and the View of Toronto – Mt Nebo, PA (Lancaster County), 1913
June 6, 2022
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Miss Ada Brubaker lived in Mount Nebo, a populated place in southwest Lancaster County. It is not far from the Holtwood Dam on the Susquehanna
Huron College – Huron, South Dakota (circa 1900)
June 3, 2022
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Before South Dakota became a state, a group of Presbyterian leaders founded a college in Pierre. In 1883, this was the first college to grant
“You Have Waited Too Long” – Hazlehurst, Mississippi (1908)
June 3, 2022
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Bessie lived in Hazlehurst, a small city south of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. (Hazlehurst was developed as a stop on the Jackson-New Orleans Railroad,
Daisy Sends a Church to Emma- Marysville, Ohio (1907)
May 25, 2022
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We met Emma Hankel in an earlier postcard story; Emma collected postcard photographs of churches sent by her many fellow-collectors. Emma lived in Galion, a
Along the Codorus -1907
May 25, 2022
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On September 11, 1907, a postcard was mailed from York, PA to Lloyd Weinhold of Denver, PA. This postcard, printed in Germany, bears a hand-colored
Escape to Sun Valley, Idaho – circa 1940
May 20, 2022
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While we are quarantined at home, the prospect of a railroad journey to a scenic retreat has great appeal. This linen postcard was published by
“Beauties of Spring on the Ancestral Acres” – Brookfield, Connecticut (1912)
May 20, 2022
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I.G.F. lived in The Brick House of Brookfield, Connecticut. Brookfield is a town in Fairfield County, in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains that rise
Zillah Reaches California – Los Angeles (1913)
May 20, 2022
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Mrs. Abbie Eshelman lived in Strasburg, the charming town southeast of Lancaster, PA. In July of 1913, Abbie received a postcard from Zillah L. who
The Philadelphia Navy Yard -circa 1920
May 16, 2022
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When I was a child, one could still be impressed by the various ships anchored or in repair at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The enormous
“Where All the Swells Go” – Scranton, PA (circa 1910)
May 9, 2022
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It is an unfortunate fact that the congregations of many Churches in the early 20th century reflected specific socio-economic or racial subsets of the population.
Milly wants “All the News” from Wisconsin – Bismarck, North Dakota (1939)
May 9, 2022
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In September of 1939, Milly was living temporarily in Bismarck, North Dakota. She sent a postcard to her friend, Nora, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Milly
Traveling the “Dixie Highway” – Melrose, Florida (circa 1922)
May 9, 2022
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Dr. Harry W. Ryman lived in Summit, New Jersey, a prosperous city on a ridge within the Raritan Valley and Rahway Valley of northern New
The Methodist Church – Arkansas City, Kansas (1915)
May 2, 2022
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On a Sunday in March of 1915, Mrs. Neill was visiting Arkansas City, Kansas.Arkansas City, in south central Kansas, is built on the site of
The Pastor Celebrates Four Years – Springfield, Ohio (1905)
May 2, 2022
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In October of 1905, the Rev. Marion Baker celebrated the beginning of his fifth year of service at HighStreet Christian Church.The church was located in
Don McNeil and the Breakfast Club -circa 1948
May 2, 2022
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Don McNeil was born in Illinois, but grew up in Wisconsin (he was a first cousin to Casper Weinberger, with whom I would not have
Mr. and Mrs. Baker Took the Train – Norwood, Massachusetts (1906)
April 26, 2022
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In recent years of this century, I have ridden on Amtrak through the station at Norwood.Thus, I was excited to find this view of the
The Trolley Center – Westfield, Massachusetts (1910)
April 26, 2022
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Some weeks ago, we looked at the Train Station in Norwood, Massachusetts- from which friendsdeparted after a visit to that town.Westfield is a community, adjacent
Corning, New York (1909)
April 25, 2022
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Soon after Christmas in 1909, Miss Ermina Schroeder received a postcard from her friend, Hallie.The postcard photograph of Corning, New York was published by S.H.
“Save a Setting of Eggs” – Union Deposit, PA (1908)
April 25, 2022
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We met members of the Bashore family in earlier postcard stories.Mrs. S.S. Bashore lived in Union Deposit, a community in southeast Dauphin County of centralPennsylvania.The
Something is Happening in Catlettsburg – Catlettsburg, Kentucky (1919)
April 5, 2022
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Catlettsburg is a small city on the Ohio River in northeastern Kentucky, where Ohio and West Virginia meet the border of Kentucky. The area was
The City at Night – Macon, Georgia (1908)
April 5, 2022
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Mrs. R.S. Giles lived in New London, a village in north central Ohio. (The name reflects the Connecticut roots of the early settlers, and the
Take the Roadster to Portsmouth
April 5, 2022
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Traveling in the Roadster – Portsmouth, New Hampshire (1911) We met Ermina Schroeder a few weeks ago; she was living in Hamilton Heights (Manhattan) and
Home of President Grant – circa 1925
March 15, 2022
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I have long been a fan of General Grant, resenting the defamation he endured at the hands of “Lost Cause” sympathizers and Confederate apologizers. Now,
Kit Carson – circa 1936
March 15, 2022
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Any collector of vintage postcards is likely to find numerous examples of lovely linen postcards printed by Fred Harvey Restaurants. What Howard Johnson’s restaurants were
The Rebels Burn Chambersburg – 1864
March 15, 2022
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I don’t know how many Pennsylvanians are familiar with the destruction caused by Confederate General, Jubal Early, in the month leading up to the Battle
The Longfellow House in Cambridge, Massachusetts (circa 1935)
March 15, 2022
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The works of Longfellow (1807-1882) are far less familiar and beloved than they were a hundred years ago. Well-educated (he was the first American to
The Trolley Park at York Furnace, Lancaster County
February 22, 2022
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Because there is a “York Furnace” community in York County, I mistakenly assumed that this postcard photograph represented that place. I learned, from York County
The Wanamaker Store of Philadelphia-circa 1910
February 22, 2022
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Wanamaker’s, the gigantic department store filling an entire city block near City Hall, dominated the commercial landscape of Philadelphia for several generations. I did not
The Majestic Hotel on North Broad Street – Philadelphia, circa 1920
February 22, 2022
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Looking at North Broad Street today, it is hard to imagine the grand buildings and private mansions that were erected there in the late nineteenth
The Two Young Women – circa 1920
February 22, 2022
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This postcard photograph lacks any indication of time or place; the identities of the women are also unrecorded. They are dressed similarly, and have some
Naomi Dick – York, PA (circa 1915)
February 22, 2022
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In the early years of the twentieth century, the photography studio of Simon & Murnane was located at 227 West Market Street in York, “At
Ed Hille – Wisconsin or Indiana, circa 1910
February 22, 2022
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This well-preserved postcard photograph lacks a studio identification, suggesting that it was processed in a small, local shop. It is a very good photograph, so
Anna Hess Shaub (circa 1915)
February 22, 2022
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Rifling through a box of postcards at a recent exhibition, I was charmed by the bright, inquisitive face of this peering child. On the reverse,
Monument to General Reynolds
February 14, 2022
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The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the American Civil War, and the largest military engagement that has ever occurred in Pennsylvania. One
The Grave of Johnny Appleseed – Fort Wayne, Indiana (circa 1935)
February 14, 2022
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The American colonies, with an expanding frontier, offered a congenial home to many “characters”, some of whose eccentricities are captured in historical accounts and embroidered
A Monument to the Leg of Benedict Arnold – Saratoga, NY (circa 1935)
February 14, 2022
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Benedict Arnold, whose name is now synonymous with “traitor”, was once a hero in the fight for American Independence. His daring exploits for the Colonial
Conrad Weiser – Reading, Pennsylvania (circa 1910)
February 14, 2022
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Today, the Episcopal Church commemorates Conrad Weiser, colonial peace-maker, city planner, administrator of justice, and Lutheran churchman. Although Conrad Weiser was not part of the
Mrs. Rieber Visits Wildwood, New Jersey (1912)
January 31, 2022
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In August of 1912, Mrs. Rieber visited Wildwood, New Jersey – joining hundreds of thousands of other visitors who flocked to “the shore” on each
Jennie Sends a Postcard from Bethune – Bethune, South Carolina (1925)
January 31, 2022
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Jennie was traveling in the southern US, but she did not forget Norman Carpenter who lived in Rothsville, PA. While in Bethune, SC, Jennie mailed
For the Friends of “Farmer Boy” – Malone, NY (circa 1920)
January 31, 2022
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For those who grew up reading the stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the town of Malone, New York is remembered as the childhood home of
The Club Convention on Mackinac Island – Galesburg, Illinois (1913)
January 31, 2022
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In April of 1913, Hiram Morey received a postcard reminder of the upcoming Club Convention on Mackinac Island. The address is typed. Perhaps a secretary
Ella Hears from the “Old Country” – Berlin, Germany (circa 1905)
January 31, 2022
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Ella Bluhm lived in Deer Creek, a small city (population of 322) in west central Minnesota. The city is very close to the bordering states
Sara Hopes to see Allen – Lebanon, PA (1907)
January 31, 2022
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Sara lived in Lebanon, a city in the Lebanon Valley of south central, Pennsylvania – 26 miles east ofHarrisburg and 28 miles west of Reading.
Taking the Train to New York – Allentown, PA (circa 1905)
January 31, 2022
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Harry S. may have intended to mail this postcard featuring a hand-colored photograph of the railroad terminal in Allentown. The photograph was made and published
The Sally Ann Furnace – circa 1920
January 27, 2022
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One forgets how important iron ore was to the growth and development of eastern Pennsylvania. Although the much larger and deeper deposits of iron ore
The York Manufacturing Company, York, PA (circa 1925)
January 27, 2022
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York was a center of the air-cooling and air conditioning industry in the early decades of the 20th century. Founded in 1874 as an ice-making
The Railroad Station at Mount Gretna
January 11, 2022
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Robert H. Coleman, iron magnate and once the richest man in Pennsylvania, was largely responsible for the development of Mount Gretna. The lovely spot was
The Pennsylvania Railroad Low-Grade Bridge at Martic Forge- circa 1910
January 11, 2022
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The low-grade line across southern Lancaster County is one of the marvels of the Pennsylvania Railroad. I found this image with a lot of old
Visiting by Buggy -circa 1910
January 11, 2022
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In south central Pennsylvania, where one still sees the grey buggies of conservative religious sects, it may not be as hard to imagine how ubiquitous
The New Union Station in Baltimore – 1913
January 11, 2022
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This handsome Station in the Beaux Arts style was erected in 1911, so it was the “new” station when this postcard was mailed in 1913.
Entering Chester on the Boston & Albany RR
January 11, 2022
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Those of us who love to travel by train are often overcome by a deep longing to experience the days in which all major towns
The Old Port Railroad – circa 1905
January 11, 2022
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I found this postcard, an uncolored photograph without attribution of the photographer, in an antique shop in Columbia, PA. Historians in the Facebook Group, “Trolleys,