Rarely Seen Richmond
from Virginia Commonwealth University
A digital collection of over 600 postcard images of Richmond, most dating from 1900-1930, from the James Branch Cabell Library Special Collections and Archives. The intent of the collection is to help document early twentieth century Richmond by displaying a unique collection of images of the city. Many of these images include buildings and structures that either no longer exist or have since been altered. The subject matter of these postcards also lends insight into the social and cultural attitudes of those times. Postcards began to be widely used in the United States soon after the passage of the Private Mailing Card Act in 1898. It freed private publishers from what was considered unfair competition from government issued cards. In the next few years the demand for postcards grew as a craze for collecting them spread throughout the country. Dozens of postcard printers, both American and European, began producing postcard views. This "golden age" of postcard publishing and collecting lasted from 1898 through 1912 when thousands of cards were produced, mailed, and collected by the public. According to figures issued by the U.S. Post Office for fiscal year 1907-1908, 677,777,798 postcards were mailed in the United States in that year. Though the craze for postcards diminished by the time World War I began, postcards continued to be published and collected. One estimate has put the number of Richmond, Virginia postcard views at 2,000. Many of the postcards in this collection were colorized from original black and white photographs. For more information about Virginia postcard history, see Kelly Henderson, "The Art of the View: Picture Postcards of Virginia, 1900-1925," Virginia Cavalcade, Vol. 40, No. 2 (Autumn 1990), 66-73. VCU Libraries originally digitized this collection in 2000. The postcards were scanned by Archivist Ray Bonis, and the metadata was generated by Bonis and then-head of Library Information Services Jimmy Ghaphery. Additional metadata was supplied by Metadata Librarian Mary Anne Dyer in 2008.
Georeferencing Progress
81.7% complete (4 skipped)Georeferenced Images Map
Images
Lee Monument and Monument Avenue, Richmond, Va.
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Splendid equestrian statue of Gen'l. Robt. E. Lee, designed by Mercier, is located on Monument Ave. and is a…
'White House of the Confederacy' (Twelfth and Cla…
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Formerly a private residence, it was purchased in 1862 by the City of Richmond for the use of the Confederat…
City Hall (Tenth and Broad Streets), Richmond, Va.
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): This imposing building, constructed of Virginia granite, was completed in 1894 at a cost of over $1,500,000.…
Washington Monument, Richmond, Va.
1901
Note: This postcard has an undivided back -- Postcards without a dividing line on the back of the card were published in the U.S. between 1901 and 19…
Old Capitol, Richmond, Va.
1901
Note: This postcard has an undivided back -- Postcards without a dividing line on the back of the card were published in the U.S. between 1901 and 19…
White House of the Confederacy Richmond, Virginia
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): The White House of the Confederacy - 1861-1865 now the Confederate Museum where can be seen uniforms, swords…
Soldiers' Monument (Oakwood Cemetery,) Richmond, …
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Soldier's Monument, (Oakwood Cemetery), Richmond, Va. Around this granite shaft lie buried 16,000 Confederat…
Libby Hill Park, (29th and Main Sts.), Richmond, …
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Libby Hill Park, (29th & Main Sts., Richmond, Va.) Though limited in area this beautiful park, by reason of …
State Capitol and Washington Monument, Richmond, …
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): This glorious assemblage of statesman, and Patriots portrayed in characteristic attitude, from a constellati…
![Monumental Club [sic], Richmond, Va.](https://cdn.yesterdays.maprva.org/images/17176/1/thumbnail.webp)
Monumental Club [sic], Richmond, Va.
Postmarked: 1913 City/Location: Richmond (Va.)
Monroe Park, Richmond, Va.
Postmarked: 1908 City/Location: Richmond (Va.)
Governors Mansion, Richmond, Va.
Note: This postcard has an undivided back -- Postcards without a dividing line on the back of the card were published in the U.S. between 1901 and 19…
Monroe Park, Richmond, Va.
Postmarked: 1908 City/Location: Richmond (Va.)
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Interior), Cathedr…
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Cathedral of the Sacred Heart -- The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is located on Laurel Street, overlooking …
Second Baptist Church, corner Adams and Franklin …
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Second Baptist Church, corner Adams and Franklin Streets Note: Series No. 63131; Postmarked: 1913 City/Lo…
Monumental Church, Twelfth and Broad Sts., Richmo…
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Monumental Church (Twelfth and Broad Sts.) Richmond, Va., On the night of Dec. 26, 1811, and during the perf…
State Capitol, Richmond, Va.
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Virginia State Capitol -- The central building of the connected group dates from 1798, and is designed after…
Hotel William Byrd (Davis Ave. and Broad St.), Ri…
Note: Series No. 10643; City/Location: Richmond (Va.)
ACCA Temple Mosque, A.A.O.N.M.S., Richmond, VA.
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): ACCA Temple Mosque, A.A.O.N.M.S., This Temple is located at the corner of Main and Laurel Streets and is dev…
![Richmond, Virginia, Broad Street [no title]](https://cdn.yesterdays.maprva.org/images/17193/1/thumbnail.webp)
Richmond, Virginia, Broad Street [no title]
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Richmond, Virginia, Looking west on Broad Street. The city's absorbing history and numerous historical shrin…
Central National Bank Building, 3rd and Broad Str…
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): This magnificent building is Richmond's tallest skyscraper, towering 21 stories above the heart of Richmond'…
Central Y.M.C.A., Seventh and Grace Sts. Richmond…
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): The New Central Y.M.C.A. Building, in beauty of its architectural features and completeness of its equipment…
!['Enchanted Garden' and Old Stone House [no title]](https://cdn.yesterdays.maprva.org/images/17199/1/thumbnail.webp)
'Enchanted Garden' and Old Stone House [no title]
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): 'Enchanted Garden' and Old Stone House of the Edgar Allan Poe Shrine, Richmond, Va., in April. The Old Stone…
Central National Bank Building, 3rd and Broad Sts…
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): This magnificent building is Richmond's tallest skyscraper, towering 21 stories above the heart of Richmond'…