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From the baggage-smasher to a blizzard to the tally-ho
Katheryn McMahon Newton album, cards 82-85 Four cards from four different places, but only two people. Mostly Fred, of course. First up, two cards documenting Fred’s travels through the West. Fred dropped a quick update to Katheryn from Pueblo to assure her as to his safe arrival–and make sure she knew where to direct her letters and cards. That’s Girlie Dear: Just arrived in Pueblo + am waiting for baggage-smasher to locate my suit-case Looks the part of a Wild Wooly Western Town As Ever Fred Newton to Katheryn McMahon, 14 February 1908 His description of getting his suitcase tickles me, although I suspect that baggage-smasher is much more apt…
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Love for the West, and Worries over Love
Katheryn McMahon Newton album, cards 80-81 Today’s cards offer a very interesting comparison–except in images. Fred sent Katheryn the same card twice–within the span of three days. The one on the left is dated May 24th and postmarked the 25th; the one on the right the 27th and 28th respectively. The mood of the cards, now, that differs dramatically. But first a note on postmarks. I haven’t discussed postmarks much here, and I’m not going to. That said, these are particularly clear impressions (they’re not always, even when dealing with someone who isn’t as avid as Fred about using available space). From the same city, three days apart. But we…
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Boston, Bangor, Karlsbad, and the Great White Fleet
Katheryn McMahon Newton album, cards 46-49 Three of the four cards included in today’s post went to Anna McMahon, or another Miss McMahon, on State Street. They’re an interesting array of images, nevertheless for two the reverse offers the possibility to tease out more connections between the Miss McMahons and their correspondents. First up: Boston. This card, as with others sent from the northeastern U.S., came from J.T.R. Alas, I still have no clue what those initials stand for. It is of a Boston image, and was sent from Boston (Back Bay Station, specifically) on 12 July 1907. Then there’s these two cards from different parts of Europe–Bangor in Wales…
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Make short work of the “tall + uncut”
Katheryn McMahon Newton album, cards 40-43 I originally intended to focus on one card at a time. That didn’t last long! It proved much easier to spend extensive time on the initial cards I presented, both because I was starting to figure out what to do with this blog and because each was selected for one or more iconic qualities which rewarded in-depth examination. With this album, the attractions for me include seeing how the cards fit together–how Fred (and others, especially when we move on to add other albums) uses the cards. What information he includes, where he’s open versus coy and allusive. TLDR: I’ll share however many cards…
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