• Collecting,  Katheryn McMahon Newton Album,  Travel

    Numerical proof of love?

    Katheryn McMahon Newton album, an initial chronological and numerical assessment For about five months, I’ve been posting about the cards contained in the album and referring to an eventual chronological assessment. This is–and isn’t–it. It is, because it’s what I’m providing; but it also isn’t, because I don’t promise it addresses all the issues I mentioned in earlier posts. There’s only so much I can do now. I expect this particular album and assortment of cards to play a strong role as I analyze and write about early post cards in bulk and in specific, but at this point I’m still processing cards and getting ideas (and sometimes having those…

  • General Info,  Katheryn McMahon Newton Album,  Logistics,  Social,  Travel

    Daddy dear and sweetheart valentines

    Katheryn McMahon Newton album, additional materials Before we go to the additional materials, a correction regarding a recent post. When discussing card 127, I somehow leapt to associate references to the “U.S. Ex. agent” as exports. I’m not sure what I was thinking. At any rate, this was far more likely a U.S. Express agent — i.e. a firm that he had arranged to ship materials to Katheryn. A precursor / antecedent to UPS and/or FedEx. Especially given one of the letters below! The album contained two letters and three cards when it reached me. These all date from later-on. The cards on the left and right are signed from…

  • Katheryn McMahon Newton Album,  Social

    Convincing proof for the most skeptical

    Katheryn McMahon Newton album, cards 120-122 There’s lots to analyze on this first card for today! This card includes two of the ways senders might interact with images. For one, Fred invoked the image in his inscription. Dearie:– The residence section of Seattle is very fin as this street + scene shows it to be but as told you before little Portland – the city of roses as it is called “for mine” This kind of street is flushed + washed with a big fire hose every night. How do I know about what is going on at night well I read about it maybe Fred Newton to Katheryn McMahon,…

  • Business,  Collecting,  General Info,  Katheryn McMahon Newton Album,  Logistics,  Social,  Travel

    Keeping Secrets and Choosing Addresses

    Katheryn McMahon Newton album, cards 110-112 This first card was postmarked and dated 10 February 1908. These don’t always align quite so nicely. I’ve usually erred on the side of citing the date Fred wrote on a card over the postmark unless I’m talking about the mailing. At any rate, back to the card. There’s nothing explicit to this effect–it was merely an image of Denver with a quick query about how the town struck Katheryn–but I suspect it was Fred’s arrival-in-town-safely missive. After all, we know he’s sending two or more cards from most places he stays for a night or two. Anyone who’s been in Denver more recently…

  • Business,  Katheryn McMahon Newton Album,  Social,  Travel,  Weather

    “same old cold stormy smoke, begrimed + sloppy place it is”

    Katheryn McMahon Newton album, cards 107-110 Fred Newton was the product of his time and culture: white, likely of Anglo-American ancestry, and possessed of relative privilege. Based on earlier cards, he had enough station to call on the Governor of Colorado when passing through (though he settled for a few minutes with a private secretary). His attitudes about gender and sex were typical of the time; I’ve already posted about how, from a modern perspective, some of his endearments for Katheryn don’t work for me (maybe they do for others). Given the card he sent Katheryn from Pocatello, Idaho, he was also racist. Here’s the front of the card in…

  • Business,  Katheryn McMahon Newton Album,  Social,  Travel

    “The more ridiculous and absurd it impresses me”

    Katheryn McMahon Newton album, cards 105 and 106 Only two cards today, but each with fairly lengthy messages that should fill up a fair amount of space. First up, a card that does not appeal to me at all image-wise. Back in the day, people likely looked at the factories belching smoke and thought “progress” but I, from my 1st Q 21st century viewpoint think “pollution.” Based on the inscription on the reverse, this was supposed to show Seattle’s tidal lands. (And that’s tidal, not tribal although the whole thing belonged the Duwamish peoples.) Perhaps, but I mostly see smoke. The tinting doesn’t help either as most of the buildings,…

  • Katheryn McMahon Newton Album,  Logistics,  Social,  Travel,  Weather

    “A little lady leaving the hotel”

    Katheryn McMahon Newton album, cards 95-97 All of today’s cards went from Fred to Katheryn, and build on the cards recently discussed. None of the images were coincidental, but rather connected to or referenced in Fred’s messages. First up, one from his trip down to Pueblo on the way to Seattle. Here Fred chose an image of the Mineral Palace. Back in the day it was intended to showcase Colorado’s mineral resources. The image certainly appears intended to invoke various classical architectural styles albeit with a decided angularity. It evidently required a short trip from where Fred stayed in the city, for he mentioned needing to “jump a car,” i.e.…

  • Collecting,  Katheryn McMahon Newton Album,  Logistics,  Puzzles,  Social,  Travel

    Two Times the Great Northern Depot

    Katheryn McMahon Newton album, cards 93 and 94 As mentioned in the last post, today’s post features the same postcard twice. This offers an opportunity to discuss the image a bit more. There are many sources out discussing postcard imagery–but one thing these two cards offer is a bit of insight into the production. The version on the left (93) doesn’t have a postmark but was dated 5 April 1908. The one on the right was dated 18 March 1908 and postmarked a day later. So we know which was sent later–this doesn’t necessarily mean it was purchased later. Yet these are not identical. The March version is slightly darker…

  • Collecting,  Katheryn McMahon Newton Album,  Social,  Travel,  Weather

    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…

  • Katheryn McMahon Newton Album,  Logistics,  Social,  Travel,  Weather

    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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