Postcards provide us with an interesting view of those who sent news to friends and family through听the postal system before the age of mobile telephones and email.听Reading some of the messages in this collection provides a glimpse into听how material culture can illustrate everyday lives.
The messages on the back of the postcards were written by听patients, hospital staff and visitors, and tourists to Montreal. They听were used for a variety of purposes, including听news and updates about听illness, invitations to an event, contest entries, and trip souvenirs.听
Early postcards did not have a space for a message.
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Publisher: Unknown
Date:听1905
H么tel-Dieu Hospital, view from park looking east with orchard in foreground.
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笔耻产濒颈蝉丑别谤:听Illustrated Post Card Co. Montreal-No. 150
Date: Unknown
H么tel-Dieu Hospital.
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In spite of clear indications for the placement of stamps, message and address, senders of postcards were often "creative" in the听positioning.
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Publisher:听鲍苍办苍辞飞苍
Date: c1905
Allan Memorial Institute.
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Publisher: Unknown
顿补迟别:听c1907
Alexandra Hospital for Children.
"Alexandra Hospital Charron Street Montreal Canada. This is a P.C [post card] of the hospital. I have put on the right two crosses which shows two of our windows. This card was taken some time ago as there has been a lot of additions since it was taken. This only shows half of it. There are a lot more buildings at the back of these, also where I have put some crosses is where there is another large building. There is also a nice tennis court in front and nice lawns. Hope all is well."
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Many postcards were sent by tourists, giving information on the city of Montreal. Sometimes, they were sent as听invitations to events or to enter a contest.
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笔耻产濒颈蝉丑别谤:听Montreal Import Co., No 116
顿补迟别:听1907
Royal Victoria Hospital.
"Greetings, wishing you and Mother a happy New Year. We are well here, hoping the same of you This picture shows one of the finest institutions in America for the sick. It was given to Montreal by one man."
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笔耻产濒颈蝉丑别谤:听Illustrated Post Card Co., Montreal. No. 1153. Printed in Saxony
顿补迟别:听1909
Royal Victoria Hospital.
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Publisher: Unknown
Date: c1906
H么pital de la Mis茅ricorde Orphanage.
"Montreal Oct 4th 1906. Madame, you are cordially invited to attend the general reunion of the Lady Patronnesses of La Creche, at the Convent of the Sisters of Misericorde, 470 East, Dorchester Street, Tuesday, October the 9th at 3 o'clock p.m."
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Publisher: Unknown
顿补迟别:听c1959
Sainte-Justine Hospital.
La Poule aux 艙ufs d'or ("The Hen with the Golden Eggs") is the title of a Radio-Canada television game show first broadcast from 1958 until 1966.
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Publisher: Unknown
顿补迟别:听1942
H么tel-Dieu Hospital.
"9 October 1942 Montreal听Hotel Dieu. My Dear Mother and companions, Your prayers traced a favourable echo in Heaven and I have the honour to tell you that my condition听is improving and that the diagnosis is not the same." (free translation)
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Publisher: Unknown
顿补迟别:听1951
St-Joseph de Rosemont Hospital.
"5.5.54听Hello Ella, here is a picture of the Institute where I work, it is as nice as it is agreeable See you soon."
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Cards were often sent by the patients of the institute as well as staff. Our other cards were personal messages to friends and family.
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笔耻产濒颈蝉丑别谤:听The Valentine & Sons publishing CO., Montreal and Toronto. Printed in Great Britain
顿补迟别:听1912
Verdun Asylum near Montreal (Douglas Mental Health University Institute).
"Recive your postal glad to here that you are all well I am going to suffer lot but all for the Best I suppose I expect to go next or after It is a fine day Goodby Love to all."
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笔耻产濒颈蝉丑别谤:听Novelty Mfg & Art Printing Co., Montreal
Date: Unknown
Royal Victoria Hospital.
"Dear Sir, I received your card and would like to go but Father needs me at home and in听that way, I don鈥檛 think that I can go. Give W Trudell my best regards."
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笔耻产濒颈蝉丑别谤:听S. J. Hayward 1448 Mountain St. Montreal
Date: 1935
Shiner's Hospital for Crippled Children.
"This shows the centre and one half of the building. The other end is the same. X is my window."
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