There are many other archival collections in the GRPL Archives which contain postcards. These provide a graphic history of Grand Rapids, and sometimes provide other insights to the lives of individuals through the notes on the cards.

This small collection of postcards has been organized first by the names of those corresponding, rather than the graphics, though a graphic index has been provided to access the images. The index includes broad subject terms and descriptions from the scenic views, as well as a geographic index to the real scenes.

About half of the postcards are views of Michigan sites, with four cards for out of state sites. Only a few cards are of Grand Rapids, with Kalkaska being the community represented by the most number of view cards. The Kalkaska cards include images of three different fires in that community, with one as late as 1940.

Graphically, two primary types of images are found:

A. Views, including many real photo views, of various locations in Michigan. B. Graphics, including floral, holiday theme or comic card.

Some of the graphic cards have signed illustrations, though these are often comic themes, rather than an artistic view. Perhaps most interesting among the graphic cards are the five cards from Oscar Berry to Mary Holzworth. One card has a three dimensional nature, and all have a tactile feature, using a velvet or other raised surface material in the physical creation of the card.