An archive of over 1,100 early 20th-century postcards from one family. One new postcard every day.
Back — Well it’s raining to beat the band and I have. got a half mile to go to school will write a letter some of the days H. L. B.
Back — Write [main message:] I suppose you thought I would never send the rest of these cards. we beat Red Cloud 8 to 4 [?] in the foot ball Friday. H H T
Back — I am still going to school am going to play foot-ball to morrow will write if I ever get time H.H.T,
Back — Rec’d your postal some days ago was glad to hear from you, did you enjoy yourself while in L.H.? I did not was on the bum all day just rec’d a card from H. B. [?] he says he is doing fine and likes N. Dak. O.K. So Elva was in town [?] was she you tell her I believe she stayed clear of me on purpose.
Back — Write mon. [?] Write Still sewing. Are you planning to come down over Labor Day? I can be ready to come home if you are and my car fare will help. You wouldn’t have to come here for me. Only a suggestion so write me details if you plan anything. Going to K— [?] for more goods now. Raymond came home again last eve so I rented Lizzies room. Add. Co Elva. ma.
This tree-lined walkway in Keokuk, Iowa — sent by “ma.” in a card postmarked from Keokuk — shows the mature park infrastructure the city had developed along its blufftop grounds by the early twentieth century. Keokuk’s parks benefited from its position above the river: the elevated terrain that made the city strategically important also gave it unusually dramatic views and the kind of naturally varied topography that parks commissions found easy to develop. Pearl’s mother was in Keokuk regularly — the city was about 30 miles from Fort Madison and 50 miles from Carthage.
Denhart Hall — the building shown in this hand-colored white border postcard — appears to be an academic or institutional building of the type common to small Midwest college towns in the early twentieth century. The three-story brick construction with multiple windows suggests a dormitory or classroom building. Carthage College, founded in 1870 and located in Carthage, Illinois until it moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1962, maintained several buildings in this style on its campus. The college’s presence made Carthage more than just a county seat.
Back — This card belongs to a set of six, when addressed it made a slip [?] and put the last first Why don’t you answer my last card? I notice you did not come to Dallas Sun eve, what can the matter be? Yours as ever, Verlie [?]
Back — Dear Pearle:- Rec’d your po- stal today, thought I would write while I had time, hope you had a good time in H. Two of my cousins are here, ~~also Miss Motley~~ ~~of Carthage, she~~ ~~is one of the girls~~ ~~sister met while in Carthage~~, is going to be
Back — Rec’d your card, many thanks for same. how does the wea- ther strike you – to hot here for me. suppose you enjoy the sunny days latly. the writer. Bess.
Back — Friend Pearle:- Rec’d your letter and card O. K. would of ans sooner but am harvesting now and as busy I can [illegible] [illegible] Did you enjoy yourself when H. B. and E. H. were there, wish I could of been there but could not [continued on top margin:] V. H. [?] H. B. or Eva have not gone yet still is going for social.
Back — ] Mayme. ] Ans. soon as conv. My ring is real nice. [main message:] Rec’d your postal Sat. night & was glad to hear from you. How is this for warm weather? I am almost melted. I was up to Wever Sat. & Sun day night. Saw Annie & Fay [?] there too. Most everybody around here is busy threshing but we. We didn’t have any threshing to do & I’m glad of it. But wait til next yr. Oh, my.
This second real photo postcard of the Carthage Post Office shows the building from a slightly different angle than card 1089, suggesting both cards were made at around the same time by someone systematically documenting the city’s public buildings. The Carthage post office was the hub of Pearl’s correspondence — every card in this collection passed through it at some point, either arriving or departing. It processed Harvey’s railroad postcards from Fort Madison, Elva’s cards from Hawaii, Marnelle’s cards from Chicago, and Frank McMinimy’s cards from France.
The Carthage, Illinois Post Office occupied a brick building that served the city’s federal postal needs in the early twentieth century. As the county seat of Hancock County, Carthage received its federal buildings — courthouse, post office — through the same process of federal investment that gave small county seats their civic permanence. Pearl’s correspondence arrived and departed through this building for most of her life at 318 N. Fayette Street.
Back — "Hello" Pearl, Rec’d your postal, all O.K. & am "answering" "soon or sooner" as you can see. Mamie & Alda came up yesterday afternoon. Alda & I went to Harve & Mamie stayed with Verge. We stopped a-while & visited with Anne You sure can bet I cer-tainly had a fine time the 4th. I went to Burlington the next evening & to [illegible] [illegible] write soon. with love and violet. for me.
