David Canfield Postcard Collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 2022-008

Staff Only

Content Description

This collection consists of over 10,000 postcards collected by Rochester native David "Josh" Canfield from 1966 to 2021. The extensive collection includes numerous variant printings and private issues. The majority of this material consists of historic postcards showing diverse locations in Rochester with a large quantity of the collection printed by Stecher Lithographic Company, a local business in Rochester. In addition to this, a series of modern postcards can be found which consist of advertisements, announcements and promotions.

Dates

Creation: 1874-2003, undated

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.

Biographical / Historical

David "Josh" Canfield was born in Rochester, New York. According to his recollection, he began collecting postcards as a teenager, ultimately becoming a collectible postcard dealer of national reputation. He never ceased collecting materials related to his hometown; over a 50-year collecting career, amassing approximately 10,000 postcards of Rochester and the Rochester-area. This collection includes numerous variants of commercial postcards, along with private issues and photo postcards.

Extent

10 Cubic Feet (Housed in 67 binders, 3 document boxes, and 1 glass plate negative box.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection consists of 67 binders and 4 boxes arranged into 3 series:

Series I: Historic Postcards

Series II: Modern Postcards

Series III: Ephemera

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of David Canfield to the Local History and Genealogy division in 2021.

Condition Description

The materials in this collection range from poor to very good condition.

Processing Information

David Canfield donated this collection organized and inventoried following lines that he developed over decades of postcard collecting. Due to the scale of the collection and the level of detail in Mr. Canfield's arrangement, the collection has been retained in its original order for Series I. Materials in Series II were received without prior arrangement, and have been organized using the organizational process used for the Rochester Public Library's own postcard collection.

Subjects

Cultural context

Postcards.

Topical

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: A Guide to the David Canfield Postcard Collection
Status: Completed
Author: Meghan Patricia Dale, assisted by Brandon Fess.
Date: 2022-08-02
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: English
Script of description: Latin
Language of description note: English

Gift: David Canfield Postcard Collection