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
Washington's Old Headquarters, Richmond, Va.
Note: 1900 block of East Main Street; Postmarked: 1908 City/Location: Richmond (Va.)
Washington's Headquarters, Richmond, Va.
Note: 1900 block of East Main Street; This postcard has an undivided back ; City/Location: Richmond (Va.)
Old Stone House, Washington's Headquarters, Richm…
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): The house which Washington occupied as his headquarters during the Revolution, stands on Main Street, and is…
Washington's Headquarters, Richmond, Va.
Note: 1900 block of East Main Street; Series # 530-63 City/Location: Richmond (Va.)
Washington's Headquarters, Richmond, Va.
Note: 1900 block of East Main Street; Postmarked: 1911 City/Location: Richmond (Va.)
Confederate Memorial Institute Boulevard Between …
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): This impressive building occupies an especially desirable and suitable site, adjoining the Confederate Soldi…
Franklin Elementary Public School, Richmond, Va.
City/Location: Richmond (Va.)
First and Merchants National Bank Building, Corne…
Note: 800 block of East Main Street; City/Location: Richmond (Va.)
Murphy's Hotel and Connecting Annexes, Richmond, …
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Murphy's Hotel, Richmond, Va., This magnificent hotel, the largest in Virginia, is located in the heart of t…
Stuart Circle, Monument Ave., Richmond, Va.
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): One of the city's most beautiful spots is at the head of Monument Avenue. Here once can stand and view the S…
Gambles Hill Park, South 3d, St., Richmond, Va
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Situated at the southern extremity of 3rd and 4th street, Gamble's Hill Park, though limited in area, comman…
Hotel King Carter Richmond, Virginia
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Hotel King Carter, Broad St. at Eighth. The Heart of Richmond. 'Center of Historic District' Postmarked: 19…
Jefferson Hotel, Richmond, Va.
Note: 100 block of West Franklin Street; Postmarked: 1909 City/Location: Richmond (Va.)
Capitol Hotel, Modern, Fireproof, Inexpensive, Ce…
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): The Capitol Hotel, Richmond, Va. Single Room, $1.50, 2.00, 2.50 Add $1.00 each additional person, Special Ra…
![Capitol Hotel [no title]](https://cdn.yesterdays.maprva.org/images/16653/1/thumbnail.webp)
Capitol Hotel [no title]
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): The Capitol Hotel, 8th and Grace Streets, Richmond, Virginia, 'Fireproof, Central and Inexpensive' City/Loc…
Hotel William Byrd, Richmond, Va.
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Hotel William Byrd. Opposite Broad Street Station -- Catering to the most exacting guests. The center of his…
Hotel Wm. Byrd, Richmond, Virginia
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Hotel Wm. Byrd. Broad St. at Davis -- Opposite Broad St. Station. 'Center of Historic Virginia' Note: 2500 …
Jefferson Hotel, Richmond, Va.
1904
Note: 100 block of West Franklin Street; This postcard has an undivided back ; Postmarked: 1905 City/Location: Richmond (Va.)
Hotel Jefferson, Richmond, Va.
1903
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Jefferson Hotel, Franklin St., Richmond, Va. This magnificent Hotel was first opened to public patronage in …
Jefferson Hotel, Franklin Street, Richmond, Va.
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Jefferson Hotel, Franklin, Jefferson and Main Sts., Richmond, Va., This magnificent Hotel was first opened t…
Jefferson Hotel, Richmond, Va.
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): The Jefferson Hotel erected at a cost of nearly $2,000,000. Was opened to the public in 1895. It is not surp…
Jefferson Hotel, Richmond, Va.
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): The Jefferson Hotel, erected at a cost of nearly $2,000,000, was first opened to the public in 1895. It is n…
Jefferson Hotel, Richmond, Va.
Note: 100 block of West Franklin Street; Postmarked: 1910 City/Location: Richmond (Va.)
Jefferson Hotel, Richmond, Va.
Card Text \(transcribed from postcard\): Jefferson Hotel, Franklin, Jefferson and Main Sts., Richmond, Va. This magnificent Hotel was first opened to…