The Postcard and a Poem

Illustrated colored drawing of how the 1939 New York World's Fair looked, from the painting by John Wenrich

Nancy removes a postcard and a folded piece of parchment paper from the backpack. You carefully look at the postcard while Nancy unfolds the parchment.

"The postcard has a birds eye view of the New York World's Fair," you explain.

"It was held in New York twice, in 1939 and 1964," replies Nancy. "What's on the other side?"

Back of postcard with typed words and numbers

"Who are the people in the address line?" you ask.

Nancy shrugs. "I'm not sure. The parchment has a poem on it."

Brown torn parchment paper with poem Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson written on it

You do a quick online search and tell Nancy, "Augusta Savage was commissioned by the 1939 New York World's Fair to create a sculpture symbolizing the musical contributions of African Americans. She was inspired by James Weldon Johnson's poem Lift Every Voice and Sing and spent two years completing her sculpture, The Harp, which was prominently displayed in front of the Contemporary Arts building. So there's the connection!"

While you were talking, Nancy reads the back of the postcard and whispers, "These numbers look like an Ottendorf cipher."

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