Postcard Diaspora: Eagle Nest, NY, 1950

Postcard mailed from Eagle Nest [Blue Mountain Lake], New York, to Princeton, New Jersey, on August 8, 1950. Message: Bernedette & Jane up at E. Nest but don’t like it like Keene Valley. We will stay 3 weeks more. All are well. Hope you got a nice place. I don’t hear any news. I hope Rose your two children are well. Has the baby come yet. Come to see me in the city. Love, Kathleen & Bernadette Galligan. I'll mail this to the Princeton address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Springfield, OH, 1973

Postcard mailed from Stratford-upon-Avon, England, to Springfield, Ohio, on July 13, 1973. Message: Dear Marsha, I hope you got to go on your trip. We have had some varied & exciting experiences – some good, some wonderful, some “pretty bad.” On the whole wonderful, but not enough time! Tonite we saw As You Like It. [illegible] wonderful! Love, Ruth. P.S. If you don’t collect cards, please save this for my collection. R. I'll mail this to the Springfield address today. The review I link to of the production that the writer saw is worth reading.

Postcard Diaspora: S. Portland, ME, 1960

Postcard mailed from Cleveland, Ohio, to S. Portland, Maine, on April 4, 1960. Message: Dear Sis! Did a big slate grey handbag get into that big box of stuff I sent you? I bought one because mine was getting seedy. Yesterday I turned the apt upside down & couldn’t find it. My only theory is that it got into your box by mistake. Please let me know. I'll mail this to the S. Portland address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 1971

Postcard mailed from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on February 25, 1971. Message: Russ appointment for tooth extraction not until March 10. Will call you that weekend sometime when I know what’s what. Polly. I'll mail this to the Ft. Lauderdale address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Miami, FL, 1986

Postcard mailed from Pembine, Wisconsin, to Miami, Florida, on August 11, 1986. Message: Sylvia: Gramma loves her balls! She’s teaching me to cut a turkey out of a plastic milk jug to show you. Such excitement! Don’t know how much longer I can take it. Love, Kirk. Do I sense an edge of sarcasm? I'll mail this to the Miami address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Rockford, IL, 1953

Postcard mailed from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to Rockford, IL, on July 23, 1951. Message: Dear Grandma & Grandpa – I’m having a good time up here so far this week & I know I will the whole time. I have 11 girls who are all real swell. Right now they are having a pillow fight. The weather is O.K. but it looks like rain again today. See you soon. Love, Marolyn. I'll mail this to the Rockford address today.

Postcard Diaspora: New Britain, CT, 1960

Postcard mailed from Eglin AFB, FL, to New Britain, Connecticut, on November 3, 1960. Message: Dear Mar, Hi. You having snow up there? Its hot & sunny down here. I’m really getting bored down here away from Lois & the girls. How’s the job. Haven’t been any where down here but to Fort Walton Beach & City. The South really stinks. Northern Florida here is just like Geo. S.C. Ala. etc. rotten shacks and scrubs. It’s warm but that’s all. Bye for now. Love, Den. I'll mail this to the New Britain address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Rockford, IL, 1969

Postcard mailed from Oak Park, Illinois, to Rockford, Illinois, on January 15, 1969. Message: 8:00 AM Wednesday morning. Dear Mom: Get well soon! I think about you all the time. Sure hope you start feeling better real soon. This is the restaurant where Sylvia took me Saturday. I had a real good steak dinner at Marilyn's last nite. Love, Mar. [In margin]Den called last night to see how you were. [Sender circled "Aged Prime Rib of Beef" in the postcard text and wrote, "Delicious!" I'll mail this to the Rockford address today.

Trashball 091013: Lead Head Fred

Tiny lead head I dug up with a metal detector in Bethesda.

Trashball 091013: An Appointment Claustrophobes Would Want to Miss

Mysterious note found on Sentinel Drive in Bethesda.

Postcard Diaspora: Marietta, OH, 1973

Postcard mailed from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to Marietta, Ohio, on October 1, 1973. Message: Made it to Gettysburg early. Staying at “Heritage Motor Lodge.” Real nice. Rain all the way. Dalsie just dried her pant suit. Took her picture. [signed] The bad kid. I'll mail this to the Marietta address today.

A Craig Shergold Postcard

I had no idea who Craig Shergold was until I came across this postcard in a bulk lot I bought. The sender mailed the postcard on July 11, 1990, and writes, Hi Craig, I hope you'll get your wish today. Love, Larissa Robins.

Postcard Diaspora: St. Petersburg, FL, 1964

Postcard mailed from Ouray, Colorado, to St. Petersburg, Florida, on April 15, 1964. Message: No I did not know that [illegible] was in hospital, I knew she was not well. Might it be good for both of you to come to the mountains? We still have lots of snow, but I walked on green grass on south side of house to-day in beautiful sunshine. We followed TV through McArthur services and Anchorage reports. Wilbur Morris (Walter’s cousin) lives in Anchorage. He visited us last summer. Ruth had written us, is to marry a friend of hers June 6, and she asked him to plan to spend a few days with her before the wedding. He was not hurt but would be very busy. Love, Walter and Ada. I'll mail this to the St. Petersburg address today.

Pizza Nostalgia

I'm no fan of Pizza Hut pizza, but I certainly was when I was a kid, and this postcard I came across shows a PH restaurant just as it was when I used to go to the branch on N Main St in Dayton, OH, in the 1970s. You have the long-lost "Pizza Hut Pete" (they really ought to bring him back), the checkered tablecloths, the wooden seats and even the "beer barrels" that stuck out of the wall, housing the beer taps. This image really took me back!

Postcard Diaspora: Portland, OR, 1973

Postcard mailed from Pompano Beach, Florida, to Portland, Oregon, on October 1, 1973. Message: Beloved Self, Nice to hear from you again. At present our inventory of books is inadequate to attempt a N.Y. Times ad. Perhaps someday. It’s a good idea! You might try Banyen Books, 2715 W. 4^th Ave, Vancouver, B.C. for “Temples of Tibet” by BHAVANS. Love and pranams. Ladene and Stephen Wilard. I'll mail this to the Portland address today. Note the street name: Failing.

Postcard Diaspora: Beaver Falls, PA, 1990

Postcard mailed from Esmond, North Dakota, to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, on June 12, 1990. Message: Yesterday we went to this place. Dolores & I are at her sister’s farm in North Dakota. Howard died of pneumonia last Thursday and the funeral was yesterday. I’ll tell you more when I see you – going to Minnesota this coming weekend. See you soon. Hi to Bet. Hi Dolores. I'll mail this to the Beaver Falls address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Chicago, 1971

Postcard mailed from Cameron, Wisconsin to Chicago on August 23, 1971. Message: Here you see all of us girls wading in Red Cedar River! Actually, I spent 2 hours floating down the river on an intertube [sic] and walking back to the starting point and floating down again, etc. Finally Jon joined me. Then we persuaded Dave he could do it without drowning (it was only waist deep). Last night Jon sang & played at the Free Church. All of us were invited out for coffee. Our host played his violin and Gladys Ora and I tried a trio. Take care now. Love, Shirley. I'll mail this to the Chicago address today.

Trashball 090413: Sunsmear

Found photo from the late 60s, taken in the Holy Land.

Postcard Diaspora: Belmont, MA, 1940

Postcard mailed from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Belmont, Massachusetts, on February 16, 1940. Message: Mama dear, Sonny and I drove up here yesterday, and going back sometime to-day. We have had a fine trip. This is an attractive city, but very smoky from the soft coal. Will write soon. Love, Dorothy. I'll mail this to the Belmont address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Dayton, KY, 1962

Postcard mailed from Ashland, Virginia, to Dayton, Kentucky, on May 1, 1962. Message: Hi Corene, (Wait till I put my glasses on), Now I can write better! Here is the legend of the dogwood we talked about. It's quite a story and I thought you would be interested in it. The hills here are beginning to look green. Wish you were here to see them. "88" Russel. I'll mail this to the Dayton address today.

Postcard Diaspora: York, PA, 1943

Postcard mailed from Camp Breckingridge, KY to York, Pennsylvania, on February 19, 1943. Message: Well Dad I'm ok and I hope you are the same. I don't know how soon I'll see you. I'm only 120 miles away. I might see you in about three or four month. It is a new camp. I think I'll like it. Write soon, your son RUSS. I'll mail this to the York address today. 

But here's why I doubt I'll hear back from this address.

Postcard Diaspora: Washington, DC, 1908

Postcard mailed from El Reno, Oklahoma to Washington, DC, on January 20, 1908. Message [front of card]: Hello old boy how are you getting along. On the S Canadian. [Back of card]: Received your card and thank you for it. W.V. I'll mail this to the DC address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Delray Beach, FL, 1956

Postcard mailed from New Orleans to Delray Beach, Florida, on December 8, 1956. Message: Dear Ones:- Is about 4 o'clock. I have been up town or down. Saw inside this church. Lady on train from Baton Rouge told me how to get there. Met another gal down there in front or in lobby of Monteleone Hotel, were on Canal St & Royal, French qtr. Shopped some. Skipped tour as began to rain so came back to Depot. Enjoyed eats so much yesterday. Have some of course for rest of trip. Thanks so much for everything you did. Also for two things I failed to mention. My brain that fails to work, the things I should say, when I'm blank. Hated so much to leave you. Hope Mama was not worse today. Love to all, Pearl. [In margin] Will stretch out a little tonite, I hope. No room between seats on Gulf Wind either. Got reservation O.K. Middle of coach. It was just on the way. I'll mail this to the Delray Beach address today.

Postcard Diaspora in One Place

To see all of the Postcard Diaspora entries, click here or on any of the "postcard diaspora" labels.

Postcard Diaspora: Akron, OH, 1966

Postcard mailed from Jacksonville, Florida, to Akron, Ohio, on May 25, 1966. Message: Hello George. We arrived here this morning. We were on the bus all day and nite auffuly tired. Love Elsie. I'll mail this to the Akron address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Kent, OH, 1959

Postcard mailed from Purvis, Mississippi, to Kent, Ohio, on September 30, 1959. Message: We are staying here tonight - Bill is too sick to get out of bed - food poisoning. Hope he is able to travel tomorrow. We are 160 miles from New Orleans yet. Love, Lois. I'll mail this to the Kent address today

Postcard Diaspora: Ravenna, OH, 1970

Postcard mailed from Copenhagen, Denmark to Ravenna, Ohio, on August 29, 1970. Message: Hi folks. Weather is fine here. The plane did not make me sick. Love, Helen. Also, next to the caption, which reads "Our Savior's Church. Tower can be climbed on outside staircase," Aunt Frances wrote, "We didn't." I'll mail this to the Ravenna address today.

By the way, here is the note that I enclose with every postcard I mail back:

Hello, I’m an artist and writer based near Washington, DC. I’ve long been fascinated by often overlooked everyday objects that nevertheless have their own specific history.
 With this in mind, I purchased old postcards in bulk to re-send to their original destination as a way for current residents to connect their home to the past. Postcards are so often thrown out and ephemeral; I enjoy the frozen moments in time they provide, no matter how banal the messages they bear may be. I hope you don’t mind receiving the enclosed postcard. I encourage any feedback you might have, so please email me at [my email] or write to me at [my address].

Postcard Diaspora: Gardena, CA, 197?

Postcard mailed from Turkey to Gardena, CA, in 197?. Message: So far we have had a very nice time. Rained yesterday but nice today. We have seen 6 of the 7 churches. Tomorrow we go to Ephesus, etc. Feeling fine so far but am very tired tonight. Dr. Estep gives us an hours lecture tonite. Trust all is well at home. Love Mom. I'll mail this to the Gardena address tomorrow.