Kransky Collection of Edward H. Mitchell Postcards, bulk approximately 1895-1959, bulk 1898-1920

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Summary

Title:
[Walter Robert and Gail Lynn Kransky collection of Edward H. Mitchell postcards]
Dates:
bulk approximately 1895-1959, bulk 1898-1920
Creators:
Kransky, Walter Robert, Kransky, Gail Lynn, and Mitchell, Edward H.
Abstract:
Approximately 13,000 postcards published by Edward H. Mitchell of San Francisco, Calif., between approximately 1895 and 1923. Views are chiefly sites in California and on the Pacific Coast, but represented locales range across the American West and across the Pacific to Hawaii, the Philippines, and even China.
Extent:
13000 prints (approximately 13,000 postcards in 6 cartons and 1 oversize folder)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Walter Robert and Gail Lynn Kransky collection of Edward H. Mitchell postcards, BANC PIC 2017.021, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Background

Scope and content:

Approximately 13,000 postcards published by Edward H. Mitchell of San Francisco, Calif., between approximately 1895 and 1923. The collection was compiled and arranged over many decades by Walter Robert Kransky and his wife Gail Lynn Kransky.

Views are chiefly sites in California and on the Pacific Coast, but represented locales range across the American West and across the Pacific to Hawaii, the Philippines, and even China. Western locations represented include Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory (Canada), Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, Colorado, and Missouri. Few, if any, cards depicting Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas are present.

There are duplicates present of many views because printing and layout variants have been collected and documented. (See notes on Arrangement for a description of the "back type" variations that form the filing system for the collection.) A single view may exist in many forms as it was republished using evolving printing styles. These variant printings of the same image provide insight into the postcard production business over its first twenty-five years.

Categories of subject matter or themes prominently represented include agriculture and abundance, beach and leisure scenes, dramatic natural landscapes and features, public buildings such as schools and courthouses, trains, depots, and railway lines, ships, waterfronts, urban views, natural disasters (e.g. the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906), city streets, hotels, and grand homes. Public events are another major subject, with views of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the Panama-California Exposition, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, the Portland Rose Carnival, the Golden Potlatch festival in Seattle, and more. Humorous cards, often featuring animals or oversized fruits or vegetables are well represented, as are flowers, produce, animals and children, and Christmas greetings.

Biographical / historical:

Walter Robert Kransky was born in Miner, Wisconsin in 1930. In 1948, after attending school in Chicago, he moved to Mountain View, California, where for 41 years he worked as a technical adviser for Southern Pacific Railroad. Inspired by his mother's collection, Kransky has collected pictorial postcards since the age of 8. In the 1980s Kransky began to develop his checklists for the output of many of the publishers and artists featured in his collection, including that of Edward H. Mitchell. Gail Lynn Kransky was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1937. Walter and Gail married in 1958 and were active together in the postcard trade.

The following is excerpted from a biographical sketch by Lewis Baer (SFBAPCC), found on Walt Kransky's website (http://www.thepostcard.com/walt/pub/ehm/chklst/mitbio2.htm ) and the website of the San Jose Postcard Club (https://sanjosepostcardclub.com/mitchell-biography,visited October, 2022)

"Edward H. Mitchell was one of the earliest and most prolific postcard publishers in the United States and he was a San Franciscan. Cards bearing his name as publisher have been used, collected and studied since the end of the nineteenth century…. [Beginning in about 1893] Mitchell published very early cards – colored vignettes – that were printed in Germany. He was publishing undivided back cards from a Post Street address before the earthquake and fire of 1906 destroyed his printing operation and much of San Francisco. He continued to work out of his home until he built a plant and warehouse on Army Street. From there he published thousands of divided back cards including many views of San Francisco and the West, series on the Philippines and the Hawaiian Islands, high quality real photo views, comics, artistic designs and a series of early exaggerations of California fruits and vegetables. He printed cards for himself and other publishers, most notably to promote the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition."

"Edward H. Mitchell [had] real estate interests [in San Francisco], notably the Edward and Henry hotels constructed to house the crowds visiting the PPIE, but years before that he had built three houses on Clay Street. After the earthquake and fire destroyed the Mitchell offices at 225 Post Street he used his 3857 Clay Street home address for business as can be seen on his postcards of the era."

"[Mitchell] retired from business in 1928. He had given up postcard production in about 1923 when his oil company became his primary business interest. [In about 1930] the family moved out of the house on Clay Street and went to Palo Alto: 509 Hale Street at University."

"[At Mitchell's retirement,] the backlog of three-and-a-half million cards was sold in Los Angeles for $500, [according to Mitchell's son, Allen.]"

"[Mitchell was] born [in] San Francisco, April 27, 1867; graduated [from] Lincoln Grammar School, 1883; married Idelle Linehan, also a San Francisco native, in 1891; and died October 24, 1932."

Acquisition information:
The Walter Robert and Gail Lynn Kransky collection of Edward H. Mitchell postcards was given to The Bancroft Library by Walter and Gail Kransky in 2016.
Processing information:

Processed by Bancroft Library staff, 2017-2019.

Arrangement:

Postcards are filed according to a system created by collector Walt Kransky. Back type is the key element in determining the file location (carton and box number) for any given item, and these are indicated by an alpha-numeric code devised by Kransky. A key distinction in back types is Undivided Backs (earlier cards) and Divided Backs (later cards, dating from about 1907 onward.) Within each of these categories are numerous distinctions (and codes) that reflect variant layout, wording of publication information, and slight changes to typography.

The only instances in which the card back types are not the conceptual first element of the filing system are for material like booklets, playing cards, or material that Kransky grouped as sets (such as the former groupings in binders now in PIC boxes 1-2) and, importantly, the sepia-tone DH2 backs, which are their own filing series.

Sepia cards that have back styles other than DH2 are interfiled in many back style based groups, but Sepia DH2s are their own filing run (in cartons 4-5). However, there are often Sepia DH1s filed with the Sepia DH2s, and in numbers over 8000, there are Sepia DH3s filed with the Sepia DH2s. However, some sepias seem to be interfiled with the non-sepia DH backs. Sometimes item data does not indicate that a card is sepia. Therefore, a given card with a DH back might be found in Carton 2-3 or in Carton 6. This finding aid will provide the carton and box number for each item described.

Within back type categories, filing number order is not always precise. Within a back type designation, numbers seem to be filed before alpha-numeric codes, often with no divider for guidance. Some browsing may be necessary. Cards with no number are filed alphabetically by title, usually before numbered cards. Title alphabetizing includes initial articles (e.g. "The Alameda" is filed under "T".)

In this finding aid, the back type groupings have been presented in an order that is roughly chronological.

The back type codes assigned by Kransky, derived from his website, are as follows.

Undivided Backs

UNV: Undivided back; picture on front is a vignette; text: THIS SIDE IS FOR THE ADDRESS. UNVa-b: variations in layout of text. (Note that some vignette cards of this kind were coded by Kransky as UN1, with an addition code "VIG" noted. One explanation might be that he began using the code UNV for vignettes sometime after establishing UN1, UN2, etc., and did not re-code and re-file previously filed cards.)

UN1: Same as UNV, but with white border instead of vignette. UN1a-b: variations in layout of text. (Note that some vignette views (by publisher Art Litho. Co., in particular) are present, which seem like they should be coded and filed as UNV.)

UN2: Same as UN1 but with different text: THIS SIDE EXCLUSSIVELY FOR THE ADDRESS.

UN3: Same as UN1 except the letter c of the word "card" does not touch the letter a.

BL1: Undivided back; text: "This space above reserved for postmark" and "This space below is for the address only"; no stamp box besides text: PLACE POSTAGE STAMP HERE.

BL2 Undivided back; text: THIS SIDE IS FOR THE ADDRESS; stamp box with text.

R&Q: Undivided back; ribbon and quill design around word "Post Card"; text in lower left corner: THIS SIDE FOR THE ADDRESS.

PMC: Undivided back; ribbon and quill design around words "Private Mailing Card"; text in lower left corner: THIS SIDE IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE ADDRESS. PM5-PM6: usually colored vignette.

PMC/DET: Undivided back; under words "Private Mailing Card" text reads: AUTHORIZED BY ACT OF CONGRESS, MAY 19, 1898; text in lower left corner: THIS SIDE IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE ADDRESS. ["Like Detroit Publishing Co. – May not be Mitchell"]

TWOF: Undivided back; under words "Mail Card" text reads: WRITE ON BACK OF THIS CARD ONLY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS; text in lower left corner: THIS SIDE FOR THE ADDRESS.

Divided Backs

T1: Divided back resembling a T; text: EDWARD H. MITCHELL. PUBLISHER, SAN FRANCISCO; additional text along left edge: PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES.

T2: Same as T1 but lacking text printed on left edge.

T3: Same as T1 but with different alignment of divider.

T4: Same as T2 but with different alignment of divider.

DV1: Divided back; text: MADE IN AMERICA BY: EDW. H. MITCHELL AT SAN FRANCISCO.

DV2: Divided back; text: MADE IN AMERICA BY: EDW. H. MITCHELL AT SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA.

HMW: Same as DV2 but with additional text: For MT. WASHINGTON HOTEL, LOS ANGELES.

DV3: Same as DV2 but with different layout of text.

DH1: Divided back; text: PUBLISHED BY EDWARD H. MITCHELL SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DH2: Divided back; text: PUBLISHED BY EDWARD H. MITCHELL SAN FRANCISCO CAL. [See also RPP for DH2 backs on real photo postcards.]

DH3: Divided back; text: PUBLISHED BY EDW. H. MITCHELL SAN FRANCISCO; DH3a-d variations of text referring to publisher Souvenir Publishing Co.

DH4: Divided back; text: "PUBLISHED BY EDWARD. H. MITCHELL, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL." at lower right, below address area.

DH4a: Divided back; variant of DH4 only found on calendar cards.

DH5: Divided back; publisher text along left edge. Used only for Golden Potlatch cards.

[DH6]: [Apparently Divided back; text: Published for Hopf Bros Co. Seattle. By Edward H. Mitchell, S.F.] (noted by JE, 2018)

JBC: Same as DH3 but with additional text: For J.B. Caro & Co., Inc. Juneau, Alaska.

EX1: Circular Panama Pacific Exposition design in upper left corner; usually on back of a DH1-3.

EX2: Circular Panama Pacific Exposition design, different from EX1, in upper left corner; usually on back of a DH1-3.

EX3: Circular Panama Pacific International Exposition design, different from EX1 and EX2, in upper left corner; usually on back of DH1-3 or S; text: Official Post Card.

HSF: Divided back; Hotel St. Francis back.

ML: Divided back; Mt. Lowe back.

SP: Divided back; Southern Pacific back.

R&D: Divided back; rose topped dagger as divider with publisher's name in staff [i.e. blade].

ROD: Divided back; rose topped dagger staff in middle of card & publishers-name is usually on the left lower edge of card, not in the staff [i.e. blade], except for some examples with other publishers noted.

RPP: Real photo postcards, chiefly with DH2 backs. (Code added by Bancroft Library staff, to identify a section of cards filed together by Kransky.)

H1/Swas: Humorous text "Swas-tickler" postcards, with no image and a swastika motif, on DH1 backs. (Code "Swas" added by Bancroft Library staff, to identify a section of cards filed together by Kransky. H1 used by Kransky on website, but not in files, and back type not defined, but appear to be all DH1.) [Distinction uncertain: H1 and H2 might be short for DH1 and DH2, but used for certain types of card content?]

S1A: Divided back with vertical text: EDWARD H. MITCHELL, PUBLISHER, SAN FRANCISCO as divider; may or may not have lines at beginning or end of vertical text; word "ADDRESS" under the word "Post Card"; stamp box resembles four match sticks.

S1B: Same as S1A but with line at each end of vertical text.

S1C: Same as S1B but with different text: Pub. by EDWARD H. MITCHELL, San Francisco, Cal.

S2A: Same as S1B but with additional text on upper left side: This Space for Correspondence; different stamp box design with text.

S2B: Same as S2A but some vertical text in lower case and different stamp box text.

S3A: Same as S2A but with triple lines at ends of vertical text.

S3B: Same as S3A but with different text on upper left side: FOR CORRESPONDENCE.

S4A: Divided back with vertical text: PUBLISHED BY EDWARD H. MITCHELL, SAN FRANCISCO as divider; three dots at each end of vertical text; additional text on upper left side: This Space for Correspondence; under the word "Post Card" text reads: THIS SPACE FOR ADDRESS ONLY.

S4B: Same as S4A but with different layout of vertical text.

S5B: Divided back with vertical text: EDWARD H. MITCHELL, Publisher, San Francisco as divider; lines at each end of vertical text; additional text on upper left side: This Space for Correspondence; word "Post Card" is striped; under the word "Post Card" text reads: THIS SPACE FOR ADDRESS ONLY.

S5C: Same as S5B but with no line on either end of vertical text.

Physical location:
Many Bancroft Library collections are stored off-site and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Physical facet:
: chiefly color lithographs
Dimensions:
; sheets chiefly 10 x 14 cm (postcard format)
Rules or conventions:
DACS

About this collection guide

Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-10-18 15:59:55 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Walter Robert and Gail Lynn Kransky collection of Edward H. Mitchell postcards, BANC PIC 2017.021, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Location of this collection:
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
Contact:
510-642-6481
bancref-library@berkeley.edu
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