Archives of American Gardens

Historic gardens postcard collection, circa 1898-1995

Summary

Collection ID:
AAG.PTC
Dates:
circa 1898-1978
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
539 Postcards
black and white, color
Repository:
The Historic Gardens Postcard Collection includes over 500 postcards of historic views of various public gardens, parks, monuments, and buildings throughout the United States as well as Europe, Canada, Mexico and elsewhere. Some private gardens and estates and several sites in Washington, D.C. are also represented. Roughly half of the postcards were mailed; the remaining postcards were not written on or posted. Areas represented include Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. About a dozen cards feature various views of Smithsonian Institution museums along the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Arrangement note

Arrangement note
The collection is arranged according to geographic location, with a small number of postcards grouped by subject matter.

Administration

Author
Taylor Elyea and Rachel Hicks
Custodial History note
Postcards were compiled by Smithsonian Horticulture Services Division staff as part of a general reference collection. Most were purchased at yard sales or antique stores in the 1980s. Additional postcards were added to the collection in 2014 and 2022 thanks to donations made to the Archives of American Gardens.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Conditions Governing Use note
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Preferred Citation note
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Historic gardens postcard collection.

More Information

General

General
Few of the postcards indicate the year they were published. Specific dates provided in this finding aid come primarily from postmarks for those postcards that were mailed. Circa dates are provided for postcards that lack postmarks.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Gardens -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- Europe Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- Canada Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- Cuba Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gardens -- Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Historic sites Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Parks Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Monuments Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Buildings Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Washington Monument (Washington, D.C.) -- 1900-1910 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
White House (Washington, D.C.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Postcards Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives of American Gardens
P.O. Box 37012
Capital Gallery West, Suite 3300, MRC 506
Washington, DC 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-5840
Fax Number: Fax: 202-633-5697
aag@si.edu