On April 10, 1900, University of Illinois benefactor Arnold Beckman was born in Cullom, Illinois. Fourteen years later this snowy scene of Beckman’s hometown was captured for postcard distribution. Cullom, 1914. No […]
Postcard of the Day, Part 9
Is this Illinois? With the wooded hills in the background, it’s reminiscent of a highway view in West Virginia This is an early 20th Century postcard of Savanna, Illinois, a Mississippi River town […]
Postcard of the Day, Part 8
In recognition of President Obama’s victory, today’s featured postcard is The University of Chicago in the city’s Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago, ca. 1935. Max Rigot Selling Co., Chicago (#272); C. […]
Postcard of the Day, Part 7
In 2009 we published Steven Ashby and C. J. Hawking’s book Staley: The Fight for a New American Labor Movement. Here’s a postcard view of Decatur’s Staley plant around 1940. The A. E. Staley Manufacturing […]
Chicago Reader features Picturing Illinois
The Chicago Reader reminisces while reading Picturing Illinois: Twentieth-Century Postcard Art from Chicago to Cairo. “Postcards used to be a common form of communication. Particularly with those of a certain era. […]
Postcard of the Day, Part 6
Yesterday the Chicago Bears demolished the Tennessee Titans 51-20 in Nashville. Next week Da Bears come home to Soldier Field to play the Houston Texans. Here’s a postcard of that […]
Postcard of the Day, Part 5
It’s the last weekend before the 2012 presidential election and neither candidate has spent much time campaigning in the State of Illinois, much less in the Press’ hometown of Champaign. 100 years ago William […]
Postcard of the Day, Part 4
Main Street, Galena, ca. 1960. Color-View Inc. (#63769-B), Rockford, Ill.; Ektachrome by Joe E. Clark; Dexter Press, West Nyack, N.Y. Taken from Picturing Illinois: Twentieth-Century Postcard Art from Chicago to […]
Postcard of the Day, Part 3
The West Street business district, Rockford, ca. 1960. Color View, Inc. (#6275-C), Rockford, Ill.; photo by H. Bruechner; printed by Dexter Press, West Nyack, N.Y. Taken from Picturing Illinois: Twentieth-Century […]
Author Megan Sweeney discusses what women read in prison (and why)
Megan Sweeney is an associate professor of English Language & Literature and Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan. She answered our questions about her new book The […]
Postcard of the Day, Part 2
Yesterday’s Picturing Illinois feature started with the northern part of the state. Today we reach far south to Cairo, Illinois. Ohio Street, Cairo, ca. 1910. International Post Card Co. (#550), […]
Postcard of the Day, Part 1
Today, October 29, 2012, is the official publication date of Picturing Illinois: Twentieth-Century Postcard Art from Chicago to Cairo, by John A. Jakle and Keith A. Sculle. Providing rich historical and […]