I’ve found and added a number of different paintings and photographs of the Harlem River Valley into my archives, but until only a couple of days ago I hadn’t thought much about postcards as sources. It turns out that postcards are great sources! They offer a historically accurate but also popular representation of each subject. They are also fun to look at. Below are a few of these postcards from the early 20th century. Stay tuned for more.
Here’s a fantastic new find! It’s a wonderful illustrated view of the Harlem River reportedly from Fort George, which was the site of a popular amusement park that bore its name. Beginning in the foreground is the Washington Bridge and then, continuing south is the High Bridge, followed by what I believe is the no-longer extant Putnam Bridge, and ending with the distant Macombs Dam Bridge. King’s View of New York was one of several popular guidebooks by editor and publisher, Moses King, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This image was reprinted in color and sold as postcards too!
Duane Bailey-Castro | Photo Blog 