An archive of over 1,100 early 20th-century postcards from one family. One new postcard every day.
Back — Hello Pearle, How many eggs did you eat Easter. I didn’t count mine. I didn’t have as good a time this Easter as I did last. Did you, How are you getting along. I am as mean as ever. As Ever Alda / ] Alda
Front — ] Bertha
Back — ] hello Pearle, how are you dear?. was in Ft. Madison today, wish you could have been there too. Saw the -and- -irons that belonged to Jo. Smith the morman who [continued on left edge and top:] was killed in Carthage jail, -also saw the chest in which he kept his Bible, they are owned by Mrs. Campbell.
The Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, Iowa was commissioned in 1839 — seven years before Iowa achieved statehood — making it the oldest continuously operating prison west of the Mississippi River. The stone walls and cell houses visible in this photograph defined the city’s eastern skyline for more than a century. Fort Madison would eventually take on a second identity connected to pens of a different kind: in 1913, a Fort Madison jeweler named Walter A. Sheaffer would patent a lever-fill mechanism for fountain pens and found the Sheaffer Pen Company a few blocks away, giving the city its durable nickname, Pen City.
Back — Hello Pearle Recd [?] your card a while Back and was glad to hear from you. there is a box supper and Ice cream social in Wever to night But I am not a going But would like to. as ever your friend Caroline
Back — How is Ferris? Have you got over that fit you had that Sunday eve? ] From C.H.
Back — ] Junior Robbins Harris Seward Harold Salisbury Stuart [illegible] Leon [illegible] Karl [illegible] Laurence [illegible] Rich Owings Harvey Sights Earl [illegible] Frank Johnson Clarence Talbot. Chester Clarke. Paul Whitehouse Carthage High School Football 1908 Team ] Carthage Football 1908
Front — July 8, 1907. Love no boys, except your brother If girls must love, love one another Jean. Hry[?]
Front — Oct.23.07. Dear Pearl. many thanks for your card. If nothing prevents I will be in your town Friday I hope I can see you. ANNIE
Back — Hello Pearle I am watching for the rest of that set of cards and I hope you will not keep me waiting very long. When are you coming over here in this country to see me. anser soon yours Ray. W.
Front — ] A.E.T.
Back — ] Dear Pearl: Could not find any card of the telephone office but will send you one when they get some more in. Everything perfectly lovely here. how is [crossed out] is sister? Write sooner. Alley.
Front — I wonder how many long, hot, tiresome days I have spent in each of these buildings
Back — Am looking for some occupation to keep me out of mischief. Please excuse pencil as I am too lazy to go to the desk. As ever E.P.B.
Back — The Plastics party has been definitely set for nov. 13. on mon. nite. all come that can. I think Mary wd like to come with you. John goes to school that nite. I think Arvetta may want to come with you too. not sure yet if she can come at all. but mary can talk to you all between now & starting time. Hope all can come Love Mae [?]
Back — Before 1910
Long Creek near Carthage appears in the collection multiple times across different decades — Harvey sending a card of it from La Harpe before their wedding, Pearl’s mother sending a view later, and now this hand-colored landscape postmarked from Carthage in the linen era. Long Creek was the natural feature closest to both of their hometowns: it ran through the farm country between Carthage and La Harpe, and it was the kind of creek people knew by name because they crossed it regularly. This unsigned card was sent by an unsigned sender — the creek speaks for itself.
Back — 10/28/09 Just a line to say I will be in C. about 9 or ten this morning. Hope you have had a fine time at the party. H.R.S.
Long Creek runs through the countryside near both Carthage and La Harpe in Hancock County, Illinois — it was familiar ground to Harvey, who grew up in La Harpe, and to Pearl, who lived in Carthage. Harvey signed this card “H.R.S.” — his initials — and sent it from La Harpe in October 1909, just over a year before their wedding on October 6, 1910. The note is brief and practical: he’ll be in Carthage around nine or ten in the morning. The creek in the illustration looks peaceful in autumn light.
Back — Hello Kiddo: How are you. well this is all good by alma Hows (—)?
