Knowles Postcard Collection
Scope and Contents
The Knowles Postcard Collection consists of over 100 color and black-and-white postcards of Chicago scenes dated between circa 1890 and circa 1967. Areas of focus include scenes of Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue, the Water Tower, and O’Hare Airport. The collection includes postcards that are both stamped and addressed with a short note, and others which are blank, as well as three postcard booklets.
Dates
- circa 1890 – circa 1967
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.
Biographical / Historical
The Knowles Postcard Collection was formed by separating 129 postcards depicting Chicago scenes from a larger collection of 8,000-10,000 postcards.
Extent
2 Linear Feet (in 2 boxes, including 129 postcards)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection includes 100 postcards with scenes of Chicago.
Arrangement
The postcards are arranged by subject, then alphabetically by date. Subjects include: Business Establishments, Clubs and Organizations, Municipal Agencies, Museums, Parks, Religious Organizations, Residences, Schools, Streets, Transportation, and World Fairs. The postcard dates are taken from the print date of the postcards when possible, or from the postmark if no publication date is known.
Custodial History
Sarah Kathlane Baxter McCool and her daughter, JoAnn Baxter Zeisel, formed the original collection, which numbered between 8,000 and 10,000 postcards. K. Johnson and Catherine Knowles inherited this collection in the 1990s and gave over 100 postcards that depict scenes of Chicago to Chicago Public Library.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the Chicago Public Library by K. Johnson and Catherine Knowles in the 1990s.
- Chicago (Ill.)--pictorial works Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Postcards -- Illinois -- Chicago Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Source
- Knowles, Catherine M. (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Knowles Postcard Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Original author unknown. Processed 1990s. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Johanna Russ, 2021.
- Date
- 1990s
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Unit at Harold Washington Library Center Repository
Harold Washington Library Center, 9th Floor
Chicago Public Library
400 S. State Street
Chicago IL 60605 United States
(312) 747-4875
specoll@chipublib.org