Postcard collection, 1893-2010s

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Collection is open for research.
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Summary

Creator:
Durden, Robert Franklin
Abstract:
Collection contains postcards acquired at various times by the Rubenstein Library at Duke. Collection is organized into three main categories--International, United States, and Miscellaneous. The International postcards are arranged by country and include cards from France, Italy, Canada, England, Germany, Japan, Spain, and Russia. The collection includes a set of early 20th century postcards from Thessaloniki (also known as Salonica and Selanik), Greece. The United States postcards cover many states, with large numbers from North Carolina and Virginia. The Miscellaneous category contains postcards with different subjects, including modes of transportation, food, tourism, agriculture, wars and battles, heads of state, flowers and plants, advertising, love and friendship, Confederate memorials, poetry, and animals. There are cards intended to be humorous, as well as cards depicting racist stereotypes and caricatures of African American and Native American people. Also included is a series of postcards with images relating to European artists.
Extent:
87.5 Linear Feet
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.01041

Background

Scope and content:

Collection contains postcards acquired at various times by the Rubenstein Library at Duke. Collection is organized into three main categories--International, United States, and Miscellaneous. The International postcards are arranged by country and include cards from France, Italy, Canada, England, Germany, Japan, Spain, and Russia. The collection includes a set of early 20th century postcards from Thessaloniki (also known as Salonica and Selanik), Greece. The United States postcards cover many states, with large numbers from North Carolina and Virginia. The Miscellaneous category contains postcards with different subjects, including modes of transportation, food, tourism, agriculture, wars and battles, heads of state, flowers and plants, advertising, love and friendship, Confederate memorials, poetry, and animals. There are cards intended to be humorous, as well as cards depicting racist stereotypes and caricatures of African American and Native American people. Also included is a series of postcards with images relating to European artists.

Acquisition information:
The Postcard collection was assembled by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library through gifts and purchases from 1939 to 2022.
Processing information:

Processed by Rubenstein Staff

Encoded by Noah Huffman, October 2012

Accession(s) described in this finding aid: 1939, 1998-0133; 2000-0223; 2000-0371; 2002-0166; 2002-0167; 2019-0017; 2019-0183; 2019-0199; 2020-0042; 2021-0004; 2021-0039; 2022-0002.

Processing note: In April 2020 a file titled "Negroes, See also: Agriculture, Humor, or Southern Scenes" was removed and reprocessed. These cards are now filed under "People" and divided into two categories: "African Americans" and "Racist and Stereotypical Depictions of African Americans."

The Robert Durden Postcards, previously described separately, were moved to the Postcards Collection at the request of the Curator of Collections in 2023. They are listed as Acc. 2000-0371.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Postcard Collection, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m18m0z