Postcards in the (home) archive 1946–48

Printed on picture side: Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C. 14436

Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES POST CARD

Written message: Feb. 19th My Dear Rigby, I love your beautiful Valentine!! Did you make it in school? You are certainly a small little girl and to think you’re only A-3rd grade. I think that’s splendid. I thought last Friday I was going to be able to ride down to see all of you for a few days but Thos. Culf who was going to substitute for me got word from her son. He would be in Norfolk most any day and couldn’t get off Love to all Waverly Sanitarium Grandmother B.

Postage stamp: 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938

Postmark: WASHINGTON, D.C. 12 FEB 20, 1946

Destination: Hampton, Virginia

Color type: Color

Dealer price: $2

Commentary: Gentle readers, you may have noticed something quite extraordinary and exceedingly rare. This is now the third postcard we have examined from Grandmother B. She wrote to the same address in Hampton, Va.––but to different people with the same last name––on Mar. 14, 1945 and Dec. 3, 1945 that we contemplated in the preceding post. Feb. 20, 1946 makes it 3 postcards within one year.

Shall we gather the clan together and see how many we have from messages and addresses for a family reunion? (1) Rebecca C. Barham, (2) Mr. M. R. Barham, (3) Mrs. M. R. Barham, (4) Miss Cordelia Rigby Barham, (5) E.G. Ann Barham.

Let’s compare the 3 address sides? Grandma has changed pens, for the worse. Xmas has come and gone. The first postcard is sent (I think) to Granny’s children, while the second to her grandchildren. Both cards show signs of a leaky fountain pen or splotches of water. Someone told Granny not to cut into the family heritage by sticking a 3c stamp on a postcard while the going rate was 1c. Now she gets it.

Printed on picture side: W7 THE FOLGER SHAKESPEARIAN LIBRARY, WASHINGTON, D. C. H. H. RIDEOUT

Printed on address side: THE FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY, an important addition to the culture of the nation was the gift of the late Henry C. Folger. The collection includes more than 70,000 volumes, as well as pictures and other relics of the famous poet’s life and work. CAPAITOL SOUVENIR COMPANY, WASHINGTON, D.C. A CAPASCO PRODUCT POST CARD

Written message: 3/23/46 Dear Lani –– Well we finally got here. Gee whizz but the trees are lovely. Wish you could have come too. What have you done “play forget” Why don’t we rate your company anymore. Love, Florence.

Postage stamp: 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938

Postmark: WASHINGTON, D.C. 15 MAR 4, 1946

Destination: New York -27 New York

Color type: Color

Commentary: Oh my, I haven’t heard the exclamation “Gee Whizz” since, well, about 1948. The expression is “designed to arouse wonder or excitement or to amplify the merits or significance of something.” Florence is giving Lani a hard time.

Printed on picture side: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C. 14436

Printed on address side: PUB BY GARRISON TOY & NOVELTY CO. WASHINGTON D.C.
14436 A COLOUR PICTURE PUBLICATION, CAMBRIDGE MASS, U.S.A POST CARD

Written message: Sat. June 29 ’46 Dear folks, Today I attended Congress. Sat in gallery and heard House Roll Call vote of Amended O.P.H. Bill. We heard the Senate filibuster of O’Daniel Thurs. Yesterday heard Dean Acheson who received us at the State Dept and last night heard Senator Pepper from Fla. talk on the Labor Problem. We’re busy every minute. I’m glad you had a good trip home. I had a couple of notes from Janet this week. I’m fine and tell Eulala I’m learning my way around better. Love, Opal

Postage stamp: 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938

Postmark: WASHINGTON DC 12 JUN 30, 1946

Destination: Waynetown, Indiana RR2

Color type: Color

Dealer price: $1

Commentary: Rare instance where a Folger postcard describes the correspondent’s attending a Congressional session, in addition to hearing Secretary of State Dean Acheson speak at the State Dept. Conveys vivid details about the political topics of the day.

Two readers of my Folger blog posts occasionally sleuth postcard correspondents I have mentioned on their own. In this case, I learned that Opal (Opal Humphreys Endicott) was a school teacher. Thank you for providing context!

Printed on picture side: Nothing

Printed on address side: POST CARD The Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington Administered by the Trustees of Amherst College The Reading Room, general view Photograph by Horydczak THIS SIDE FOR CORRESPONDENCE Printed by THE MERIDEN GRAVURE COMPANY, Meriden, Conn. THIS SIDE FOR ADDRESS

Written message: None, but rubber stamped: PROPERTY OF WILLARD O. MISHOFF.

Postage stamp: None, but a red-and-white gummed label is placed where a postage stamp would normally be.

Postmark: None, but date stamped APR 20 ‘47

Destination: None

Color type: Black & white

Dealer price: $1

Commentary: A postcard such as this is extremely rare to come across. I purchased it on eBay from a postcard dealer in Tatum NM. I have found out online that the San Jose State University Special Collections & Archives have held the Mishhoff Collection since 2010. Their Finding Guide indicates that “Willard O. Mishoff (1896–1980) pursued a career as an academic and research librarian. From 1938 to 1943 he served as director of the University of Central Missouri Library, and from 1943 to 1958 he served as a library specialist for the U.S. Office of Education. Later, he worked as a faculty member in the library science program at Mississippi State College for Women. From 1962 to 1966 he taught classes in reference and bibliography at San Jose State College.”

I have shown this same Meriden Gravure Co. postcard in a 2019 Collation post (https://collation.folger.edu/2021/06/folger-postcards-1935/) sent to Port Jarvis NY on Sunday, April 21, 1935. Some of you may look at the northern and southern walls and notice something missing. Where are the tapestries? Therein lies a story. On Jan. 20, 1944 Amherst College treasurer, Paul D. Weathers––whom I knew––wrote a check for $5,000 to the Cleveland Museum of Art for the purchase of what were called the “Parmelee Tapestries.”

Tapestry 1: Warriors on Horseback, Flemish early 16th c.
Tapestry 2: the Repast, Flemish or North French late 16th c.
Tapestry 3: the Betrothal, Flemish or North French late 16th c.
Tapestry 4: Antique Poet, Flemish late 17th c.

Who was Mrs. Parmelee? Alice Maury Parmelee was Emily Folger’s closest friend in her last years. On Dec. 3, 1936, Mrs. Parmelee wrote the Folger director Joseph Quincy Adams, “What I would like would be a clever person to read aloud to me Shakespeare’s plays as dear Mrs. Folger did.” (Folger Archives Bo).

Printed on picture side: FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY. WASHINGTON, D.C.

Printed on address side: PUB. BY GARRISON TOY & NOVELTY CO., WASHINGTON, D.C. THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES “COLOURPICTURE” PUBLICATION CAMBRIDGE, MASS. U. S. A. ©TENSCHERT POST CARD THIS SPACE FOR ADDRESS ONLY

Written message: Honey I am fine Have you noticed the Difference in Aurora since I took over here. Harry Invites you up, any time. Wish you were here now. Love Louise. be home soon.

Postage stamp: 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 19381c green Washington, coil stamp from a roll.

Postmark: WASHINGTON, D.C. 11 AUG 8, 1947

Destination: Aurora, Illinois

Color type: Color

Dealer price: 25c

Commentary: Charles is Louise’s honey, She wishes he were in Washington with her. Louise thinks she has made a difference when she took over, but we are left to guess what she might have taken over.

Another coil stamp, with two imperforate edges. Meant for dispensers or vending machines.

A lot of postcard vendors at shows have a box marked “25c,” where this card might have been found. In the trade they are referred to as “quarter cards.”

Printed on picture side: FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY. WASHINGTON, D.C. 14436

Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES “COLOURPICTURE” PUBLICATION BOSTON 15, MASS. U. S. A. POST CARD

Written message: 8-17-46 [sic] Greetings: Hope this card can be added to your collection and if you care to exchange with me sure would like some from Maine. Sincerelly [sic] James A,. Vimm, 1117-11th St. N.W. Wash, 1 D.C.

Postage stamp: 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938

Postmark: WASHINGTON, D.C. 12 AUG. 18. 1947

Slogan cancel: SAVE THE EASY WAY BUY U.S. BONDS ON PAYROLL SAVINGS

Destination: Portland, Maine

Color type: Color

Commentary: James could use a little help. The postmark states AUG 18 1947, but James writes 8-17-46. Notice the writing in a new hand at the bottom of the address section, “sent observation 8/19/47.” Maybe Maurice pointed out to James it was more than time to ring in the new year.

Printed on picture side: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C.

Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY THIS SP[ACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES “COLOURPICTURE” PUBLICATION BOSTON 15, MASS. U. S. A. POST CARD

Written message: Dear Daddy – Hope you are OK. Sure miss you. Will be glad to see you on Wed. nite. Say Hello to Butch. Love, Stinkie.

Postage stamp: 1½ c light brown Martha Washington, Scott #805 Presidential Issue 1938

Postmark: WASHINGTON, D.C. 26 DEC 28, 1947

Slogan cancel: SAVE THE EASY WAY BUY U.S. BONDS ON PAYROLL SAVINGS

Destination: Farmingdale L.I. New York

Color type: Color

Dealer code: 1-20-84 11457

Commentary: An inclined writing on the message section straightens out in time.

Referring to the slogan cancel, it is interesting to note that by the middle 1940s American companies and the public sector facilitated savings by deducting amounts from salary payments when requested by employees.

Is anyone surprised to see a woman on a stamp in the 1940s? A woman in her bonnet who was not president but in the prestigious “presidential series” of U.S. stamps? Martha Custis Washington appeared in earlier series, on an 8c black stamp issued in 1902–1917 and on a brown 4c stamp issued in 1922–32. The first woman to appear on a U.S. postage stamp (5c brown) was Queen Isabella of Spain in the Colombian Exposition issue in 1893.

Printed on picture side: Folger Shakespearian Library, Washington, D.C.

Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY. East Capitol and 2nd Streets. This important addition to the cultural wealth of the nation was the gift of the late Henry C. Folger. The Collection includes more than 70,000 volumes, as well as pictures and other relics of the great poet’s life and work. The library has a $10,000,000 endowment fund, administered by the trustees of Amherst College. William A. Slade is librarian, and Joseph Q. Adams director of research. COLORCHROME WNC WASHINGTON, D.C. POST CARD

Written message: Meant to write sooner – letter received O.K. But why all the rush? Glad to hear all are O.K. Some warmer here – but just getting rid of the snow since Xmas!! Saw most of the movie stars in lobby of Carleton Hotel – Jan. 30. Tallulah Bankhead here this week. Well, so long and give my regards to all – Harry.

Postage stamp: 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938

Postmark: WASHINGTON, D.C. 8 FEB 10, 1948

Destination: Nashua, N.H.

Color type: Color

Commentary: Handsome, disciplined hand from Harry to Anna. India ink, no? Harry’s excited about seeing movie stars in the lobby of the Carleton in Washington, D.C. where he stayed for a prolonged period. Stage actress Tallulah Bankhead was a piece of work. She was fond of embarrassing young starlets by picking up a phone on stage and improvising, “Dahling, it’s for you.”

Printed on picture side: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C. I4436

Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES “COLOURPICTURE,” BOSTON 15, MASS. POST CARD

Written message: Dear Baby: Sissy & Baby Doris are going to the zoo today & see a lot of animals when you get big, we’ll take you too. Be a nice girl for Grandma. Mamma will see you soon. Love Mamma, Doris & Charles

Postage stamp: 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938

Postmark: WASHINGTON D.C. 14 APR 9, 1948

Destination: Steubenville, Ohio

Color type: Color

Dealer price: 25c

Commentary: Touching family-centered message from a mother from Ohio visiting Washington, DC with her older children, leaving Grandma to care for the youngest at home who will look forward to a trip and a zoo visit when she gets big.

Printed on picture side: FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY. WASHINGTON, D.C. 14436

Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES “COLOURPICTURE,” BOSTON 15, MASS. POST CARD

Written message: Dear Folks – Well here I am came, all safe. Got In by bus right on time. Love & best wishes. Mrs. Swift.

Postage stamp: 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938

Postmark: FALLS CHURCH, VA. OCT 25, 1948

Destination: Binghamton, N.Y.

Color type: Color

Commentary: Perhaps Mrs. Swift was staying in Falls Church, Va., where the card was posted.

Discoloration on two parts of the address side I cannot explain.

The address was written in ink over pencil.

Printed on picture side: Nothing.

Printed on address side: POST CARD The Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, Administered by the Trustees of Amherst College. The Fountain, with the figure of Puck by Brenda Putnam. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, “LORD, WHAT FOOLES THESE MORTALS BE!” Printed by THE MERIDEN GRAVURE COMPANY, Meriden, CONN. Photograph by Horydczak

Written message: This is from the S’peare Library in Washington which Shep and I went through. I always did appreciate Puck’s philosophy! Love ya so lots! Sister 12-7-48

Postage stamp: 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938

Postmark: RICHMOND 2, VA DEC 7, 1948

Destination: Orlando, Florida

Color type: B&W

Commentary: Sister’s entire message is devoted to her tour of the Folger, on the 7th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She selected a postcard of the Puck fountain and commented on that particular view, unusually rare for a Folger visitor. She uses a rare abbreviation (S’peare) for Shakespeare. We note that another Meriden Gravure Co. postcard was sent by a Folger visitor in 1935, indicating a substantial shelf life of 14 years.

24 receiving states 1934–48
12 NY
6 OH
6 PA
5 WI
5 VA
5 WV
4 CT
4 MD
4 NJ
3 IN
3 MA
3 ME
2 IL
1 CA
1 DE
1 FL
1 GA
1 KS
1 MI
1 MN
1 NC
1 NH
1 SC
1 TN

Receiving country:
1 France

N = 74