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Syracuse University Postcard Collection

An inventory of the collection held by the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Sean Molinaro
Date: 2013

Revision history:
2023	0.25 linear feet of materials added, Oakwood Cemetery and School of Library Science sections added (SS)
Dec 2024	boxes 6-9 eliminated, materials rehoused, and inventory updated (HL)

Historical Note

Syracuse University was founded on March 24, 1870, when its Board of Trustees signed the University charter and certificate of incorporation, acting on a proposal put forth earlier that year at the Methodist State Convention. Despite its modest beginnings, the story of Syracuse University has been one of growth and progress. The University's population has expanded from a few dozen local students to over 21,000 students from all over the world. Significant eras of development in campus building and academic programs included the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries and the post-World War II years. The second half of the twentieth century saw the University transform into a modern research institution with international connections.

Scope and Content Note

The Syracuse University Postcard Collection contains approximately a thousand distinct postcards depicting Syracuse University buildings, students, events, and activities. These images, roughly dating from 1860 to 2004, are rendered in illustrations and photographs.

Most of the postcards date from the early 1900s to the 1920s, and images of University buildings and grounds make up the large majority of the collection. Other series in this collection include postcards of Athletics, Greek organizations, Traditions, and more. Some of these postcards remain unmailed, while others were sent through the mail with messages that provide a look into the University experience of their time. Mailed postcards throughout the years feature correspondence between students, family, and friends, with words of encouragement, news from school and from home, and requests to send money.

This collection contains materials that users may find objectionable due to derogatory and harmful language and imagery. The language and images contained in this collection were conventional at the time of their creation, although no less harmful and inaccurate than they are today. The collection is preserved and presented for its historic and research value.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

The Syracuse University Archives also holds an extensive Photograph Collection, which includes thousands of photographs of similar Syracuse University scenes and activities.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Syracuse University -- Buildings.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University -- Sports.
Syracuse University -- Students.
Syracuse University.

Types of Material

Photographic postcards.
Picture postcards.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Syracuse University Postcard Collection,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of various Syracuse University alumni, faculty, and others between 1998 and 2022; gift of David M. Green in 2019; others purchased by University Archives.

Processing Information

Postcards have been placed in protective sleeves and acid-free boxes.

Arrangement

The items are arranged in alphabetical order within series.

Table of Contents

Academics

Activities and organizations

Alumni

Athletics

Buildings and grounds

Campus crises and incidents

Genesee Wesleyan Seminary

Greek organizations

Novelty

Students

Syracuse City and Onondaga County

Syracuse-in-China

Traditions

Inventory

	Academics
Box 1		Forestry, College of
Box 1		Library Science, School of
Box 1		Medicine, College of
Box 1		Summer sessions  Sample image: SU Summer School, 1909

	Athletics
Box 1		Bonfires
		Men's
Box 1			Baseball
Box 1			Basketball
Box 1			Crew
Box 1			Football
Box 1			Swimming
Box 1			Tennis
Box 1			Track and field
		Women's
Box 1			Crew  Sample image: Students in rowing tank

	Buildings and grounds
Box 1		Archbold Gym - exteriors
Box 1		Archbold Gym - interiors
Box 1		Archbold Stadium (6 folders)  Sample image: Crowd cheering at Archbold Stadium
FC 2-1		Archbold Stadium oversize
Box 2		Book store - corner store
Box 2		Bird Library
Box 2		Boat House
Box 2		Bowne Hall
Box 2		Campus views (7 folders)  Sample image: Campus in winter
Box 2		Carnegie Library
Box 3		Carrier Dome
Box 3		Chancellor's House
Box 3		Cottages
Box 3		Crouse College - exteriors (3 folders)  Sample image: Crouse College at sunset
Box 3		Crouse College - interiors
Box 3		Day Hall
Box 3		DellPlain Hall
Box 3		Drumlins Country Club
Box 3		Environmental Science and Forestry, College of
Box 3		Flint Hall
Box 3		Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center
Box 3		Graham Hall
Box 3		Hall of Languages (2 folders)  Sample image
Box 3		Haven Hall - new
Box 3		Haven Hall - old
Box 3		Hendricks Chapel
Box 3		Hinds Hall
Box 3		Holden Observatory
Box 3		Hoople Special Education Building
Box 3		Hospital of the Good Shepherd
Box 3		Huntington Beard Crouse Hall
Box 3		Huntington Hall
Box 3		Kimmel Hall
Box 4		Law, College of
Box 4		Lawrinson Hall
Box 4		Lowe Art Center
Box 4		Lyman Hall
Box 4		Machinery Hall
Box 4		Main entrance  Sample image: University Ave. from campus
Box 4		Manley Field House
Box 4		Marion Hall
Box 4		Maxwell Hall
Box 4		Medicine, College of
Box 4		Minnowbrook Conference Center
Box 4		Newhouse I
Box 4		Old Oval
Box 4		Orange Publishing Company
Box 4		Pinebrook Conference Center
Box 4		Power Plant
Box 4		Reid Hall
Box 4		Sagamore Conference Center
Box 4		Schine Student Center
Box 4		Shaw Hall
Box 4		Sims Hall
Box 4		Slocum Hall
Box 4		Smith Hall
Box 4		Steele Hall
Box 4		Tolley Administration Building
Box 4		University Block  Sample image
Box 4		Watson Hall
Box 4		White Hall
Box 4		Winchell Hall
Box 4		Women's Building
Box 4		Women's Gymnasium
Box 4		Yates Castle
Box 5		Yates Castle bridge

	Greek organizations
Box 5		Honoraries
Box 5		Social fraternities
Box 5		Social sororities  Sample image: Horse-drawn buggies for Gamma Phi Beta Convention

	Novelty
Box 5		Novelty illustrations and photos  Sample image: Syracuse student cheering

	Syracuse City and Onondaga County
Box 5		Central New York
Box 5		The Dingle Man
Box 5		Oakwood cemetery
Box 5		Syracuse (2 folders)  Sample image: Clinton Square, circa 1908
Box 5		Thornden park
Box 5		Walnut park

	Traditions
Box 5		May Day
Box 5		May Queen
Box 5		Rushes  Sample image
Box 5		Seals and pennants