Bill Lende collection of tall tale postcards
Scope and Content of the Collection
Collection of 1500 printed and real photo postcards depicting 'tall tale' images. The bulk of the collection dates to the early 20th century and features images that have been exaggerated or embellished for comic effect. Common themes include oversize fruits, vegetables, fish, and other animals as well as some scenes of futuristic cities. A significant number of cards feature the Jackalope, a mythical animal from North American folklore.
Dates
- Creation: 1906-2006
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1909-1920
Creator
- Lende, Bill, 1937-2016 (Person)
Language
Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The Bill Lende collection of tall tale postcards are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).
Ownership and Literary Rights
The Bill Lende collection of tall tale postcards are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections at reference@newberry.org.
Biography of Bill Lende
Bill Lende was a postcard collector based in San Antonio, TX. An entrepreneur and environmentalist, he and his family established the Lende Foundation and later the Cibolo Preserve in Boerne, TX outside of San Antonio in 2008.
Extent
2.7 Linear Feet (3 boxes and 1 oversize box)
Abstract
Collection of both printed and real-photo postcards depicting exaggerated images. Common themes are oversize fruits and vegetables as well as large fish and futuristic scenes. Aside from a significant collection of cards featuring jackalopes, most of the collection dates to the early 20th century. Roughly 1500 postcards in all with additional ephemera, photographs, and research files.
Arrangement
Postcards are arranged alphabetically by publisher, cards with no identifiable publisher are arranged alphabetically by topic. Research files include alphabetical indexes by publisher.
Collection Stack Location
B 22a 3
Provenance
Gift, Estate of Henry W. (Bill) Lende Jr., 2018
Processed by
Katy Darr, 2018.
- Title
- Inventory of the Bill Lende collection of tall tale postcards, 1906-2006, bulk 1909-1920
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Katy Darr
- Date
- ©2018.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512
reference@newberry.org