Postcards collection, ca. 1893-[ongoing].

  • Collection ID Postcards composite collection
  • Title Postcards collection [graphic].
  • Dates ca. 1893-[ongoing].
  • Physical description
    • ca. 10,000 photomechanical prints : postcard ; 5 x 8 in. or smaller. (Series 1).
    • ca. 3,000 photomechanical prints : postcard ; 5 x 8 in. or smaller. (Series 2-4).
  • Collection arrangement Arranged by series in 15 drawers: Series 1 -- Chicago (Ill.), by topic; Series 2 -- Illinois, by placename; Series 3 -- United States, by state; Series 4 -- Outside of United States, by country.
  • Collection summary
    • Collection primarily contains commercially distributed color postcards with views of Chicago (Ill.) arranged by topics. Major groupings include office, commercial, and civic-ceremonial buildings; churches and other religious buildings; hotels and restaurants; museums and art galleries; hospitals; stockyards; street scenes (filed by address); parks and beaches; the Lake Michigan waterfront, lake steamers, and other vessels. Also includes categories of people, such as ethnic groups; entertainment and sports; stadiums; Riverview Park and White City amusement parks; zoos; railroad stations and street transportation, such as the subway and the elevated railroad system (the "El"); and businesses, including department stores. Many views show the Century of Progress International Exposition (1933-1934), and a few cards show the World's Columbian Exposition (1892-1893) and other events. Some images were used as advertisements for businesses. Also includes some viewbooks of multiple images. A few images are in black & white.
    • Some postcards are duplicates or show varying issues of a single image. Some postcards have manuscript messages and cancelled stamps.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related collections at the Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include many collections with postcards, but most notably the Charles R. Childs postcard and photograph collection (1980.0186 Postcards).
  • Finding Aids Note List of topics available online and in the Research Center.
  • Acquisition information
    • Acquired through gift and purchase from various sources.
    • Many postcards of the Century of Progress and patriotic themes were a gift of John Bagel in 1979 (1979.0042); originally in album.
  • Names
    • Riverview Amusement Park (Chicago, Ill.)
    • World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.)
    • Century of Progress International Exposition (1933-1934 : Chicago, Ill.)
  • Subjects
    • Beaches Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Civic-ceremonial buildings Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Commercial facilities Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Elevated railroads Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Exhibitions Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Galleries & museums Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Hotels Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Office buildings Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Parks Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Railroad stations Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Steamboats. lctgm
    • Stockyards Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Streets Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Subways Illinois Chicago. lctgm
    • Vessels. lctgm
    • Waterfronts Illinois Chicago. lctgm
  • Geographic coverage
    • White City (Chicago, Ill. : Amusement park)
    • Chicago (Ill.) Buildings, structures, etc.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Pictorial works.
    • Illinois Pictorial works.
    • Michigan, Lake Pictorial works.
    • United States Pictorial works
  • Genre
    • Postcards. gmgpc
    • Cityscape prints. gmgpc
    • Novelty works. gmgpc
    • Photomechanical prints. gmgpc
    • Photomechanical prints Color. gmgpc
  • Finding aid URL Inventory online http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/PHC/postcards.htm