Class Description
This three-session course will delve into the history of postcards, from their humble beginnings to their peak popularity in the twentieth century. We will examine postcards as both artistic expressions and historical documents, analyzing their imagery, messages, and the social and cultural contexts in which they were created. Through lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities, participants will gain a deeper understanding of these miniature messengers and their enduring legacy. We will explore the Newberry Library's collection of postcards, particularly the Teich Postcard Archives, and use them to analyze changing travel trends, social customs, and artistic styles. We will also analyze postcards (from the collection of the instructor) sent by tourists visiting Chicago from 1910-1970. Whether you are a seasoned collector or simply curious about this unique form of communication, this course offers a captivating window to the past.
Dr. Jen Adams is currently Professor of Communication and Theatre at DePauw University. She is an award-winning educator with over twenty-five years of experience in higher education, teaching a variety of courses in speech and relational communication. Dr. Adams studies slow communication and historic discourses including letters and postcards.
What to Expect
Format: In Person
Class Capacity: 18
Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged
Materials List
Required
- Instructor-Distributed Materials
First Reading
Please read the following short materials for our first session (these will be sent by the instructor one week before class):
- Smithsonian Institution Archives (website) Postcard History Website: http://siarchives.si.edu/history/featured-topics/postcard/postcard-history
- Meikle, Jeffrey L. “They Do Say it’s Real:” An Introduction to Linen Postcards” in Postcard America: Curt Teich and the Imaging of a Nation 1931-1950. (University of Texas Press, 2016), pp. 1-12
- Maclean, J. Kennedy. (January 1906). “Picture Post Cards: The story of their rapid rise into popularity” Quiver, p. 168-172.
- Excerpts from The Stationery Trades Journal
- “The Present State of the Post Card Trade” by E.W. Richardson (April 1902)
- “The Triumphal March of the Pictorial Post Card” by E.W. Richardson (June 1903)
- “The Purpose of the Post Card Pictorial” by E. W. Richardson (July 1903)
- “News of the Post Card Trade” (Chicago Ban on Bad Cards, Dec 1903)
- Excerpts from The Bookseller ad Stationer Journal
- “Post Cards and Holiday Novelties” (1909)
A Brief Syllabus
- The Birth of the Postcard: History and Evolution of Mail
- Picturing the World: Exploring the Teich Postcard Collection
- Postcards from Chicago: An Ethnographic Exploration
Cost and Registration
3 Sessions, $175 ($157.50 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($175), Community Supported ($160), and Sponsor ($185). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
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