Meyer postcard collection
Scope and Contents
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.
Dates
- 1908-1968
- Majority of material found within 1908 - 1912
Creator
- Meyer, Evelyn B. (Person)
Biographical / Historical
Little is known about Joseph or Evelyn Meyer. Joseph lived in Grand Rapids on Major Court. At one point, he worked at the Grand Rapids Notion and Crockery Company on Ionia Street, possibly as a salesman. He had a sister named Lena who lived in Colorado with her family. Evelyn was the wife of Joseph. Her mother and father were Mary Holzworth Berry and Oscar Berry. They lived on Godfrey Avenue SW.
Extent
0.21 Linear Feet (One box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Meyer postcard collection contains 72 postcards belonging to Evelyn B. and Joseph Meyer. The Meyers resided in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The postcards were exchanged between the Meyers and their family and friends. The correspondence provides insight into a circle of acquaintances and into communications in the early 1900s. The postcards also provide access to early 20th century images and illustrations.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Estate of Evelyn B. Meyer, accession number 1992.003
Geographic Index
Borculo, Mi.(Ottawa Co.)- Box 1, folder 1
Bravo, Mi. - Box 1, folder 1 (2)
Burnips, MI- box 1, folder 1(3)
Cheboygan County, Mi. - Box 1, folder 11
Duluth, Minn. Box 1, folder 3
Dutton, Mi.- Box 1, folder 1 (See Bridge St. Ferry card)
Fennville, MI- box 1, folder 1(2)
Flint, MI- Box 1, folder 2
Genesco, Il. - Box 1, folder 8
Grand Rapids, Mi. -Box 1, Folder 1 (See Bridge St. Ferry card) ; Box 1, folder 2; Box 1, folder 5; Box 1, folder 7
Hamilton, MI- box 1, folder 1
Holland, Mi. - Box 1, folder 8
Kalamazoo, Mi. - Box 1, folder 1(2)
Kalkaska, MI- Box 1, folder 2 (4) ; Box 1, folder 3 (3 cards, 2 images, i.e. Same image sent twice)
Macatawa Park, Mi. - Box 1, folder 6
Mackinac Island, Mi. - Box 1, folder 2(2)
Muskegon, Mi. - Box 1, folder 8
New Richmond, MI- Shady Drive, box 1, folder 1
Niagara Falls, N.Y. - Box 1, folder 2(2)
Onaway, MI- Box 1, folder 11
Pullman, Mi. - Box 1, folder 1
Saugatuck, Mi. - Box 1, folder 1
Spring Lake, MI- box 1, folder 8
St. Ignace,Mi. - Box 1, folder 10
Sunfield, MI- box 1, folder 1
Traverse City, MI- Box 1, folder 8
Wayland, MI- box 1, folder 1
Graphic Index
Scenic Views, Michigan
Berkey & Gay Factory, Grand Rapids – See Grand River ... Box 1, folder 2
Bridge Street Ferry, [Grand Rapids, Mi.? Card is mailed from Dutton, Mi.] - Box 1, folder 1
Bridges
See St. Ignace, Mi.
See Grand Rapids. Concrete Bridge over Grand River
Churches
See Burnip
See Kalkaska
Court Houses
See Kalkaska
Cut River Bridge, 24 miles west of St. Ignace, Mi. - Box 1, folder 10
Docks
See Mackinac
Edward’s Hospital, Insane Asylum, Kalamazoo, Mi. - Box 1, folder 1
Feed Mill, Burnips, MI- Box 1, folder 1
Fires
See Kalkaska. Larson. M.N. Lehner. July 5, 1908.
See Kalkaska. Ruins. Apr. 1910. Beebe
See Kalkasla. July 20, 1940. Beebe
Fish - Box 1, folder 3
Forts
See Mackinac Island
Gashorn Lake- Box 1, folder 1
Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island - Box 1, folder 2
Grand River, New Grand Trunk Depot and Concrete Bridge, Grand Rapids, Mi.- Box 1, folder 2
Grand Trunk Depot, Grand Rapids, Mi. - Box 1, folder 2
Hospitals
See Kalamazoo. Edward's Hospital
Hutchins Lake Camping- Box 1, folder 1
Indian River, Cheboygan County, Mi. - Box 1, folder 11
Jails
See Kalkaska
Lakes
See Bravo. Scott Lake
See Fennville. Hutchins Lake
See Kalamazoo
See Onaway, Mi.
See Saugatuck, Mi.
See Spring Lake
See Traverse City
M.N. Lehmner fire in Kalkaska, Mi. - Box 1, folder 2
Macatawa Park - Box 1, folder 6
Main St., North, Borculo (Ottawa Co., Mi.) Box 1, Folder 1
Main Street looking West, Sunfield, Mi. - Box 1, folder 1
Main Street Path, Kalkaska, Mich. Ferguson. - Box 1, folder x
McKinley Statue in Muskegon, MI- box 1, folder 8
Mills
See Burnips.
Monroe & S. Division St., Grand Rapids, Mi. Bosselman - Box 1, folder 5
Oakwood Park, Boat House and Lake, Kalamazoo, Mi - Box 1, folder 1
Old Fort and Dock, Mackinac Island - Box 1, folder 2
Post and Drier’s Store, Burnips, MI- Box 1, folder 1
“Puritan” Steamer, Holland, Mi. (Lake Michigan?)- Box 1, folder 8
Railroads
See Flint. Railroad yards
See Grand Rapids. Grand Trunk Depot.
See Kalkaska. Main Street ... with railroad tracks
Kalkaska. Complements from ... station house
River View and Railroad Yards, Flint, Mi. - Box 1, Folder 2
Road to Kezis Mokesa, Traverse City, Mi. - Box 1, folder 8
Shady Drive, New Richmond, Mi. - Box 1, Folder 1
St. John’s Orphan Asylum, Grand Rapids, MI- Box 1, folder 7
Schools
See Kalkaska
Scott Lake, Bravo, Mi. - Box 1, folder 1
Statues. McKinley.
See Muskegon
Steamers
See Puritan, Holland, Mi.
Stores
See Borculo
See Bravo
See Burnips
See Fennville
See Hamilton
See Pullman, Mi.
See Sunfield, Mi.
Street Scene, Pullman, Mi. - Box 1, folder 1
Tents
See Fennville
Trout Fishing on Rapid River, Lyon & Son - Box 1, folder 2
W.A. Nash General Store, Bravo, MI- Box 1, folder 1
Waterfalls
See Niagara Falls
Scenic views, Out-of-State
Aerial Bridge, Duluth MN- box 1, folder 3
Camp Grounds
See Geneseo, Il.
Cave of the Winds or Rock of Ages, Niagara Falls, NY- box 1, folder 2
Log Cabins
See Genesco., Il.
Riley’s Camp Grounds, Geneseo, IL- box 1, folder 8
Steel Arch Bridge View, Niagara Falls, NY- box 1, folder 2
Decorative, Holidays
New Years- box 1, folder 2 & 9
St. Patrick’s Day- box 1, folder 2 & 3 (same postcard)
Easter- box 1, folder 3
July 4th- box 1, folder 2
Halloween- box 1, folder 4
Thanksgiving- box 1, folder 2, 3, & 9
Christmas- box 1, folder 9
Birthday- box 1, folder 4
Decorative, Floral
Floral with sayings- box 1, folder 3 & 6
Floral- box 1 folder 3 & 9
Decorative, Miscellaneous
African Americans – Box 1, folder 3 “”Ise waited Hone, waited long for you” African American figure fishing from a pier, with landscape background, brown on white card.
People- box 1, folder 2, 3, & 4
Sayings- box 1 folder 3
Decorative, Comical
Cartoons with humorous sayings- box 1, folder 2, 3, 5, 7, & 8
- Title
- Finding aid for the Meyer postcard collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Cynthia A. Romanowski
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497
localhis@grpl.org