Mr. Willoughby was a favorite teacher of mine during high school, and I still count him as a friend in adulthood. A former Army officer and veteran of the Vietnam War turned history teacher, he formed lasting relationships with his students. And, the giant bulletin board hanging at the rear of his classroom attested to his impact. It was covered in postcards sent to him by his current and former pupils, in some places the cards were several layers deep.
Postcard messages can be funny, mundane, sad, or even romantic, but they are always more or less brief. With the ability to instantly broadcast our life’s happenings through social media, they have become quaint and seemingly inefficient. Who has time for a one-to-one message that you physically have to drop in a mailbox? And the stamps–does anyone still carry stamps in their wallet? Though kept alive through niche hobbyists such as “Postcrossers” and collectors like myself, receiving or sending personal postcards has become increasingly rare.
The personal postcard was a great fixture of the 20th century. The rise of frequent and reliable mail service enabled quick, casual messages sent by post to proliferate. They could be an extremely practical, cheap way to send an update or holiday greeting. Many folks also collected them, either by purchasing cards directly or by encouraging their family and friends to send interesting ones while they were traveling.
Lost Greetings: A Postcard Blog, est. 2016
I have collected vintage postcards since 2016. The ones which interest me the most take a bit of patience to find, because rather than valuing the image, I seek the stories they can tell through the messages written on the reverse. These relics of an earlier time provide fascinating windows into individual lives and historical events. Both the significant and mundane correspondence can show a great deal about a person’s personality, circumstances, and lifestyle.
Here are some highlights from my collection for your enjoyment. Click an image to go to the related blog post. There you can read a transcription of the message, plus some information about the card’s context from my personal research.
Postcards Live On
I sent a few postcards to Mr. Willoughby myself, the most notable one from St. Petersburg, Russia. (It took special effort to make sure that one got in the mail, as I don’t speak Russian and had to purchase stamps.) I was proud to see it thumb-tacked to the bulletin board upon my return to class. Mr. Willoughby himself not only collected postcards from students, he also sent them. I still have a few he sent to me from his own travels.
On your next trip, consider dropping a postcard in the mail. It takes a small amount of planning, but it’s not that hard to bring a few with you on your next excursion. Don’t forget the stamps and your address book. The message you scrawl may help you reflect on your trip and will certainly brighten your recipient’s day.
Warmest regards,
Kate
Send Old Postcards in a New Way
You can combine the analog era with the digital one by sending a internet postcard using the Newberry Postcard Sender. The Newberry Library of Chicago has digitized much of their vast vintage postcard collection, most originally printed by prolific 20th century publisher, Curt Teich.
Find a quirky old card with a fitting message or use the “random postcard” button at the bottom of the page. It’s a great option for a last minute greeting or birthday wishes. Give it a whirl and let me know how it goes.
P.S. Do people still use bulletin boards? Or, have screens taken over those too?