Welcome! This blog, which I intend to update at least occasionally, will highlight the history behind selected postcards--fun tidbits about the place or image featured, and maybe even information about the people writing and receiving the cards.
I've collected contemporary postcards for many, many years. Vacation spots, museum photos... I have a pile of them. But my collecting of vintage postcards came later. For me, postcards are a way of capturing history; not only pointing out what landmarks and other places were considered important at that time, but also the messages written on the back of the cards captures daily life. I see my collection as a way of preserving that history, which takes me to what history has meant in my life (a bit lengthy, so you're more than welcome to skip to the next paragraph to read about postcards).
I've collected contemporary postcards for many, many years. Vacation spots, museum photos... I have a pile of them. But my collecting of vintage postcards came later. For me, postcards are a way of capturing history; not only pointing out what landmarks and other places were considered important at that time, but also the messages written on the back of the cards captures daily life. I see my collection as a way of preserving that history, which takes me to what history has meant in my life (a bit lengthy, so you're more than welcome to skip to the next paragraph to read about postcards).
My interest in history was an inheritance from my mom. She wanted to major in history in college and become a professor of American history (she's a fan of the colonial era and early republic), but my grandmother was far from supportive. So mom chose another path. While I loved history, I also chose another path--architecture. In the third year of architecture school, I came very close to switching my major to history. Ironically, my mom convinced me to stay the course--I had gotten a new expensive laptop specifically for running drafting and 3D modeling programs, so I was told in no uncertain terms that I would finish. And I did, along with a minor in history to quench my thirst of exploring the past. All this was before the 2008 crash, so it was no problem for me to find a job in architecture. But you know what--I really didn't like it. Sure, I loved being creative. But I worked at a corporate firm, and my department specialized in commercial speculative projects. Let me tell you, that work really lit me on fire (not really). While the 2008 recession claimed my job and ultimately my career in architecture, it provided me an at-the-time unseen path toward turning history from a hobby into a career. After about two years of looking for architecture positions, I turned my attention to apply to graduate schools. I had wild aspirations of becoming a professor of French medieval history, specializing in the study of Gothic cathedrals. A conversation with a professor in that field quickly turned me away, since it essentially was dead end unless you pursued coursework at a select group of colleges that graduated more PhDs than were needed each year. So I chose a different path--public history. The local university had a program that would result in my graduation with my masters in history with the concentration in public history. I specialized in historic preservation, which was a perfect combination of my knowledge and skills in architecture and history. Now I do consulting work--people pay me to do research! On history and architecture! It's pretty much a dream job. So that's me, now back to the postcards...
The postcard featured above was my first vintage purchase. I found it at an antique store in the town where I attended college. This card is from the Court of Two Sisters restaurant in New Orleans. Over the years, I've gathered a few more postcards from this restaurant, an amusing fact when you consider I've never eaten there. I was attracted to both its ombre color and the pen-and-ink drawing. I remember sifting through the boxes of postcards, finding this one, and thinking, "Wow, that's pretty." Deep reason for buying a postcard, huh? Regardless, I probably won't ever let this one go since it kick-started my collection of vintage postcards. So let's learn a little about this New Orleans restaurant.
The Court of Two Sisters is named for Emma and Bertha Camors, former owners of the restaurant's location at 613 Rue Royale. The building, constructed in 1832, claims as former residents governors, judges, and a future President of the United States. The Fein family now owns and operates the property. The Court of Two Sisters is known for its daily jazz brunch as well as its beautiful courtyard.
References
The Court of Two Sisters website.
Dorothy Violet Gulledge Photograph Collection, New Orleans Public Library.
The postcard featured above was my first vintage purchase. I found it at an antique store in the town where I attended college. This card is from the Court of Two Sisters restaurant in New Orleans. Over the years, I've gathered a few more postcards from this restaurant, an amusing fact when you consider I've never eaten there. I was attracted to both its ombre color and the pen-and-ink drawing. I remember sifting through the boxes of postcards, finding this one, and thinking, "Wow, that's pretty." Deep reason for buying a postcard, huh? Regardless, I probably won't ever let this one go since it kick-started my collection of vintage postcards. So let's learn a little about this New Orleans restaurant.
The Court of Two Sisters is named for Emma and Bertha Camors, former owners of the restaurant's location at 613 Rue Royale. The building, constructed in 1832, claims as former residents governors, judges, and a future President of the United States. The Fein family now owns and operates the property. The Court of Two Sisters is known for its daily jazz brunch as well as its beautiful courtyard.
References
The Court of Two Sisters website.
Dorothy Violet Gulledge Photograph Collection, New Orleans Public Library.