The Vanished Splendor: Postcard Views of Early Oklahoma City

In the first two decades of this century there existed a phenomenon that has been called the "postcard craze." Hundreds of thousands of postcards were mailed throughout this country and internationally. Postcard clubs were formed; exchanges were sought with individuals everywhere. There occurred a rash of mailings among collectors who would swap for instance, a street scene of their hometown for one from another community. An enormous demand was placed on postcard retailers in drugstores, five-and-ten-cent stores, souvenir stands, and postcard shops everywhere for new views and holiday greetings. These same shops carried postcard albums that were purchased and avidly filled. The postcard album was found in nearly every parlor along with the family Bible and stereoscope. Postcard sellers purchased their stock from publishers, who had many of their colored views printed in Germany where color lithography was established as a fine craft. This trade with Germany came to an abrupt end with the outbreak of World War I, and from that time on postcard suppliers were forced to rely on domestic publishers. We are pleased to be able to share with you this portfolio of postcard views of Oklahoma City.