American Holiday Postcards, 1905-1915: Imagery And Context
by Daniel Gifford /
2013 / English / PDF
42.2 MB Download
In the early 20th century, postcards were one of the most important
and popular expressions of holiday sentiment in American culture.
Millions of such postcards circulated among networks of community
and kin as part of a larger American postcard craze. However, their
uses and meanings were far from universal.
In the early 20th century, postcards were one of the most important
and popular expressions of holiday sentiment in American culture.
Millions of such postcards circulated among networks of community
and kin as part of a larger American postcard craze. However, their
uses and meanings were far from universal.
This book argues that holiday postcards circulated primarily among
rural and small town, Northern, white women with Anglo-Saxon and
Germanic heritages. Through analysis of a broad range of sources,
Daniel Gifford recreates the history of postcards to account for
these specific audiences, and reconsiders the postcard phenomenon
as an image-based conversation among exclusive groups of Americans.
A variety of narratives are thus revealed: the debates generated by
the Country Life Movement; the empowering manifestations of the New
Woman; the civic privileges of whiteness; and the role of emerging
technologies.
This book argues that holiday postcards circulated primarily among
rural and small town, Northern, white women with Anglo-Saxon and
Germanic heritages. Through analysis of a broad range of sources,
Daniel Gifford recreates the history of postcards to account for
these specific audiences, and reconsiders the postcard phenomenon
as an image-based conversation among exclusive groups of Americans.
A variety of narratives are thus revealed: the debates generated by
the Country Life Movement; the empowering manifestations of the New
Woman; the civic privileges of whiteness; and the role of emerging
technologies.
From Santa Claus to Easter bunnies, flag-waving turkeys to
gun-toting cupids, holiday postcards at first seem to be amusing
expressions of a halcyon past. Yet with knowledge of audience and
historical conflicts, this book demonstrates how the postcard
images reveal deep divides at the height of the Progressive Era.
From Santa Claus to Easter bunnies, flag-waving turkeys to
gun-toting cupids, holiday postcards at first seem to be amusing
expressions of a halcyon past. Yet with knowledge of audience and
historical conflicts, this book demonstrates how the postcard
images reveal deep divides at the height of the Progressive Era.
