The Curious Case of Cemetery Postcards
Once upon a time you could send greetings from your local graveyard.
Let’s take a trip in the way back machine to the unconventional intersection of advertising and written correspondence. More specifically: America around the turn of the 20th century—also known as the Golden Age of Postcards.
From the mid-1800s through about 1870, letters were written on paper placed in envelopes that became increasingly ornate. At a certain point, the exteriors were more illustrated than the interior contents, boasting images that ranged from the bucolic to the architectural. Some believe that postcards are direct descendants of this picture envelope trend.
At first, postcards were government-produced, but by 1898 the industry opened to private companies. These early cards, made through 1907, only allowed for an address to be printed on the back side, and left a small portion of the front open for the sender’s message. This is known as the Undivided Back Period.
From 1907-1915, we entered the Divided Back Period—when the government allowed for a redesign to open up the left half of the address side for messages. This is also when “real photo” postcards became popular, thanks to the rise of Kodak’s postcard camera.
Knowing these card design periods is a handy reference that allows you to date a vintage postcard that doesn’t bear a postmark. This wonderful Smithsonian article dives deeper into much that I’ve outlined here, as well as later stages of postcard manufacturing.
During the popular period of photo postcards, rural cemeteries were also on the rise—these more mapped-out, manicured, curving lane-strewn burial grounds attracted those who wanted to pre-purchase beautifully laid-out family plots. They also appealed to the lingering Victorian sensibility of visiting the deceased weekly; families wanted a designated (often wrought iron fenced-off) section to place benches, sit, and honor their relatives.
So, to entice those seeking a permanent repose for their loved ones, cemeteries printed and distributed photo postcards of their grounds. In turn, because postcards were in their heyday, it was commonplace to send them to friends and family. Some may find it morbid now, but back then cemeteries were essentially treated as parks, so they were considered calming and aesthetically pleasing.
Naturally, I agree with that long ago sentiment. So much so that I scoured resale sites to find vintage cemetery postcards from locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. And—as you can see from the images throughout this piece—I visited each and matched the early 1900s image up with today’s visual. It was a deeply connective exercise—I was shocked at how many of the headstones and larger memorials no longer exist, and it was fascinating to see some of the churches before they’d undergone additions and renovations. Here’s an Instagram reel I made of the now-and-then comparisons at six locations.
Two of the my cards bear messages—one, which dates from the 1901-1907 period, is from a woman named Bessie (signed in the blank message section on the front) to her sister Florence. Another is postmarked 1909 (side-by-side of the front image and present day locale below) and includes a delightful inscription that reads, Dear Papa, We are having a fine time in the country. From, Willie Charlie + Arthur.
If you live near a cemetery established around the mid-1800s, chances are there’s an old postcard out there to match it. eBay is an excellent source, as is Etsy, but you can also Google keywords like a cemetery or town name alongside “vintage postcard” and see what you get.
Happy hunting, fellow taphophiles and deltiologists!
Fascinating Katie! As always! Thank you!