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Edwardian Postcard Project

The early British postcard is a fascinating multimodal communications technology. In the heyday of the postcard during the Edwardian age (1901-1910), it offered an opportunity for rapid vernacular writing at very low cost that was not to be available again until the contemporary digital revolution. Up to six deliveries a day were being made in major cities and 6 billion cards were sent in the period. We have collected over 2,500 cards from the period to examine the creative responses of the population to this new technology. Apart from the light shed on writing practices of the Edwardians, our studies are revealing much about the travel patterns, social networks and concerns of the age. We are also investigating the mobilities of the postcard today, through collecting cards ourselves, interviewing and photographing at postcard fairs, and reviews of secondary sources.

News

We are delighted to welcome 3 new research assistants to the project: Jane Demmen, Joanne Thistlethwaite and Mark McGlashan.

We've been pleased to help the Museum of Lancashire, which has recently reopened, with some material from the project.

The Edwardian Postcard Project has a digital exhibit in Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, showing until further notice.

For further information about the project contact Julia Gillen

Site last updated: 20 January 2012