One of the best ways to extend genealogical research to a collecting interest can be found in old town view postcards.
Although it may seem incomprehensible to believe that you'll ever find a postcard your great-grandmother once held in her hand, it's not a notion that's too far fetched. Since mail was a main source of communication at the turn of the last century, penny postcards became very popular.
These inexpensive forms of communication were printed on card stock with vivid inks, the illustrations were entertaining and families enjoyed collecting them in specially designed albums. Unlike many letters of the period, postcards have survived a century of wear and tear for today's budding genealogist to discover.
When paper dealers sort postcards, they often group them by town. So if you were looking for a family from a Texas town, you'd simply leaf through the cards for that vicinity seeking familiar names.
Early 20th century postcards look much like modern cards on the back, with a spot for a short note on one side and the address on the other. Be sure to read both sides to make sure you don't miss an important name on your family tree.
The purveyors of this type of historical paper often keep cards from other areas of the country as well, but they may be grouped only by state unless the dealer travels extensively. If you don't see what you're looking for, always ask.
The wandering show seller may only display a large selection of Texas cards when in the Lone Star State, but if he's originally from Pennsylvania, he'll have a stash of those out in his trailer or in storage back home. And be sure to mention photos as well.
Dealers often peddle photographs right along side postcards and other types of paper memorabilia. Although they're a little harder to identify in many cases, old pictures do hold a few clues to keep in mind.
The main thing photo scavengers will want to look for is a town name associated with the photographer's mark. These are usually found in the lower right corner of the portrait, so be sure to look closely if the picture remains framed. Once you've found a familiar town, then check the back.
While some ancestors actually did have the forethought to write the name and date on the back of each portrait in the family gallery, most did not. It's always a good idea to take a peek at the back, however, just to make sure. Often in pencil the marking may be faint, so be sure examine each photo carefully.
The best resource for finding these types of collectibles is a paper show where all the dealers there carry mainly books, cards and other items of this nature. Antique malls and large general shows follow for personal browsing. And, of course, there's always the Internet.
Tons of paper dealers have made the leap into cyberspace for online selling, so a simple search with any major engine will reveal a host of sites to browse. You'll even find items of this nature listed in online auction sites, so be sure to check them as well.
With persistence and determination, and it might take a lot of both, you'll soon discover a few family treasures longing to make the trip back home.
Photo of an unidentified ancestor photograph by Pamela Wiggins
Previous
Features
| 