In the early 1900s, when communication was slower and travel was more arduous, postcards were more than just pretty pictures. They let loved ones know of safe arrivals while offering recipients glimpses into another place.

Until 1907, the backs of postcards were undivided. Before March 1, 1907, postal law stated that only an address could be written on the back. Thus, messages on the front were short.

These vintage postcards from the early 1900s are not just nostalgic tokens but invaluable historical artifacts, providing us with unique insights into the past. 

Beatrice Sweeney, Saratoga Springs City Historian from 1969-1986, was a collector of “all things Saratoga.”

Her passion for collecting postcards of Saratoga Springs led her to antique shops all over the northeast. She categorized her nearly 1300 postcard collection into 20 alphabetized categories.

Mrs. Sweeney loved gardening, and as the former acting secretary of the Yaddo organization’s executive committee and the Treasurer of the Katrina Trask Garden Club, she deeply appreciated Yaddo.

Over the years, she amassed 90 postcards of Yaddo, mostly focusing on its gardens. Like most collectors, Sweeney had a few duplicates for trading purposes. These images of Spencer’s 1899 gift to his wife Katrina showcase Yaddo’s landscape of yesteryear while underscoring the Trasks’ love of nature. 

Credits: The Saratoga Room’s article “The Garden of Yaddo” by Katrina Trask, Charles Wait Sr., Nancy Stevens, Maureen Sweeney Torrens and Mary L. Martin’s book “Saratoga Springs A Brief History in Postcards”