An archive of over 1,100 early 20th-century postcards from one family. One new postcard every day.
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.
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.
Back — ] W. J. Howell Lomax Ill Hello Pearl. How is everybody? I was over to Burlington the 4th but had a dandy time. say if you are over to La Harpe this Fall come over and see us. I should say so. I look for you to come over sure this Fall & see us. hope to see you soon. A good many of the Lomax folks are down in Okla. ] W. K. D.
Back — Hello Pearle I will write you a few lines to let you know that I been sick had such a cold and sore throat couldnt speak above a whisper. good by will write more some other time. ] Julia.
Black Hawk Heights, on the Fort Madison riverfront, takes its name from the Sauk leader Black Hawk, who led his band across this stretch of the Mississippi in the spring of 1832 in what became known as the Black Hawk War — the conflict that effectively ended Native American resistance in the upper Mississippi valley. The brick building with the tall smokestack visible in the background suggests the industrial character of Fort Madison’s waterfront by 1908. Julia, writing from Burlington, had just recovered from illness and was catching Pearl up on her news.
Back — ] Here is one of the cards I told you about for the evening of the 31 of Oct. wishing you many Happy Returns, — M. S. W. C. ] m. s. w. c.
Back — Jean
The stone circular colonnade — a monopteros — at Rand Park in Keokuk is visible from some distance on the bluffs above the Mississippi. Rand Park was named for a Keokuk family whose philanthropic gifts developed the grounds in the late 19th century. The park’s elevated position made it a natural viewpoint: on a clear day, the river curves toward the Illinois shore and the distant bluffs of Missouri are visible to the southwest. Jean, writing in 1909, sent this card signed just with her name.
Back — Leota
Rand Park in Keokuk, Iowa sits on the bluffs above the Mississippi River, looking out over the foot of the Des Moines Rapids — the stretch of river that made Keokuk strategically important for generations. The city was once among the most powerful on the upper Mississippi; Samuel Clemens piloted steamboats past these bluffs in the 1850s, and Keokuk was briefly considered as a possible capital of Iowa. By 1909, when Leota sent this card, Keokuk was still a substantial city, though the completion of the Keokuk Dam in 1913 would transform both the river’s character and the town’s identity.
Back — Hello Kid Say but this is a fancy postal Put this up in garrett so no one can see it Your Friend Stuart Hoover 719 Exc St [?] Keokuk Iowa
Back — Arrived all ok Roy missed me but we found the place all right Have had a fine time but am all in down & out. Hiram & [illegible] are going to stay here tonight. Saw H.U. D.M. & La Harpe operator was on the train & [illegible] [illegible] on the train & went [?] with me to Dallas Pearle
The Old Methodist Church in Carthage — the earlier building replaced by the large brick structure shown in the linen-era card — represented the congregation’s first permanent home in the city. Carthage was settled in the 1830s and its Protestant congregations organized quickly; the Methodist and Presbyterian churches were among the first institutions the settlers established. Pearl sending this card from Burlington suggests she was traveling and found a card of her own neighborhood church at a store — or that someone mailed it to her while she was away.
Front — ] Mayme.
