Collection Summary
- Dates: ca. 1850-1980
- Size: 300+ historic postcards, housed in four archival postcard binders
- Media: Paper
- Language: English
- Subjects: Canal Era; Steamboat Era; Recreational Era; General Lake Champlain scenes
- Related Publications: n/a
- Access and Use: There are no restrictions on access and use for this collection
Scope and Content
The Postcard Collection consists of several hundred historic postcards showing various ports, buildings, and vessels relevant to the broad arc of Lake Champlain history. In general, the earlier postcards are illustrations while the later ones feature photographs. Among the collection are scenes of harbors and port towns shown at several points in time, depicting the growth of those communities. Communities along the lake’s shorelines in Vermont and New York are represented.
Also of note are several dozen postcards which document early steamers and canal boats traversing the lake and its tributaries. The majority of postcards in the collection have handwritten messages and postage stamps, providing more information about both the people who sent them to friends and family, and the dates and provenances of the postcards themselves.
These postcards were collected and purchased at various auctions or yard sales around the area by Museum employees, including the Museum’s co-founder, Art Cohn, to support research and exhibits at the Museum. The Museum also holds additional postcard collections assembled by single donor, including the extensive Crosby Collection.
Citation Recommendation
Postcard Collection, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT.
Keywords
Postcard; Lake Champlain; steamboats; canal boats; historic sites; scenes;