In the age of instantaneous information, the simple postcard can’t hope to compete.
Before the advent of social media, though, postcards were a popular method of providing a snapshot of one’s vacation or even a quick hello instead of committing to a lengthy letter (remember those, too?).
1/ Inside the booklet
2/ Thomson Student Centre
3/ Main Dining Hall, Paton College
4/ The Quadrangle, Chemistry-Physics building
5/ Henrietta Harvey Library
6/ Chemistry-Physics building
7/ Reflecting Pool, Chemistry-Physics building
8/ Arts-Education building
9/ Paton College
10/ Queen's College and Long Pond in winter
11/ Marine Sciences Research Laboratory
The envelope-less, thin cardboard modes of communication have been so popular during the past 175 years or so — the hobby of collecting postcards, termed deltiology, is surpassed only by coin and stamp collecting — Memorial produced its own versions, which highlighted the St. John’s campus circa 1970.
Thanks to a recent office change in the Chemistry-Physics building, a stack of the vintage postcard booklets came to light. Scenes of student life and campus features are pictured on the front of each; Memorial’s ceremonial crest and directions for postage and the address are found on the back, plus the former names of some buildings and spaces.
Most of the postcard images were taken by former Memorial University photographer and honorary graduate, Dr. Ben Hansen; one image, of Long Pond in winter, was taken by former Memorial president and vice-chancellor, Lord Taylor of Harlow.
