The Edwardian Postcard Project at the Literacy Research Centre at Lancaster University, and the Red Rose Postcard Club of Preston are jointly holding a Postcard Fair on Saturday 13th November 2010 featuring many dealers selling postcards, an art exhibit and a programme of illustrated lectures including “The History of the Early Postcard” – what Edwardian postcards have to tell us about everyday writing at the beginning of the twentieth century – “Postcard messages in the Great War” and another talk illustrating the parallels between the Edwardian postcard and today’s digital revolution.
In the heyday of the postcard during the Edwardian age (1901-1910), the cards 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 an incredible six billion cards were sent in the period.
The Edwardian Postcard Project has collected over 1200 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, their studies are revealing much about the travel patterns, social networks and concerns of the age.
The project is also investigating the mobilities of the postcard today, through collecting cards, interviewing and photographing at postcard fairs, and reviews of secondary sources.
Dr Julia Gillen, who is Senior Lecturer in Digital Literacies, tells us it’s her hope that the archive will eventually go online. We look forward to seeing it.
• The Fair will place at the Lancaster University Management School between 9.30am – 3.30pm, entry will be £1. Free car parking will be available.
• For more details see: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/projects/EVIIpc/index.php
• Link to Lancaster University campus map showing the location of the venue marked in a red oval within the Management School (building number 35 on the map).
• The Red Rose Postcard Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month except December the Parish Centre of Our Lady & St. Edward Church, Marlborough Drive, Fulwood, Preston. Doors open at 7.00 p.m. Web: www.redrosepostcardclub.co.uk