The Randolph H. Lytton Historical Postcards of Fairfax, Virginia Collection

Though postcards in America have been around since 1873, it has been argued that they experienced their “Golden Age” during the twentieth century. During this period, nearly every institution used postcards to advertise or project its image to the masses. Cards featuring photographs or drawings of hotels, motor lodges, restaurants, and tourist attractions were commonplace. Still, other institutions such as banks, hospitals, gasoline stations, churches, and sanitariums were also the subjects of postcards. Art, such as painting or photography, was popular on postcards. Still, other cards commemorated historical events such as coronations, wars, movements, and other subjects. The Randolph H. Lytton Historical Postcards of Fairfax, Virginia Collection provides a window into the not-so-distant past of the City of Fairfax, Virginia. It features mainly Fairfax businesses, institutions, government buildings, and other places of interest. Many of the cards depict Fairfax places of lodging, particularly those along the Route 29 / Route 50 corridor. The collection contains about 200 color and black and white postcards. Total volume of the collection is .35 cubic feet or .5 linear feet. Related: Our Special Collections Research Center also houses the Randolph Lytton historic Washington, D.C postcards and photographs collection.