This project focus’ on tourism within California and, as an aspect of that, postcards. While postcards are certainly not hidden often they go unseen by locals. This branch of the Hidden Histories of California project seeks to uncover California, specifically Southern California, through the eyes of tourists and the recipients of postcards.
There are postcards integrated throughout this website. Analysis and background information is present that supports the topics being discussed whether it be US tourism, postcards, or California.
The postcards featured on this website come from the UCSD Baja California and the West Postcard Collection and are displayed here for purposes allowed by Fair Use. The are over 1,400 different postcards within this collection spanning most of the 20th century. The postcards selected for use on this website were limited to:
- Postcards featuring California
- Postcards with identifiable locations – no cards with undisclosed or ambiguous locations/images/items (such as ships at sea or fruit)
- Postcards which exemplify topics at hand
