Wish You Were Here: Some Brief Notes on the History of Postcards 

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Title: Wish You Were Here: Some Brief Notes on the History of Postcards 

• Description: In the years before the telephone and then the Internet transformed our communication systems, postcards were an efficient and fun way to connect with friends and family.  Postcards were not only encouraged while traveling away from home for work or leisure, it was a way to inexpensively send notes to people just to let them know you were thinking about them.  Along the way, it became a very important means of communication throughout the 20th Century and into the 21st.  This presentation shares the history of the postcard in the United States and beyond, while looking at many examples of the different types that were available to send.  We will explore both the images on the front and the messages on the back - a fun way to take yourself back in time for the price of a stamp. 

• Key Takeaways:

  • Learn about the history of postcards

  • See examples of postcards through the years

  • See examples of the different types of postcards that were produced as printing and photography production changed over the years.

  • See the different subjects that adorned the front of postcards.

  • See the use of postcards as a communication tool.

• Format: In-person or virtual

• Length: 60 minutes plus time for questions

• Available July 2026

• Program Information

  • This Digital Image Program is available originally for libraries, but can be for any interested group (including historical groups, cultural organizations, camera clubs, camera stores, etc.)  

  • There will not be a charge for Michigan libraries or nonprofits.  There may be a modest charge for other groups.

  • Available for virtual presentations or in-person if close to Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, Michigan area.

  • This program is updated regularly to reflect the continually changing landscape for photographic storage.

  • If interested - please write Corey at coreyseeman@gmail.com.