A revolutionary multimodal communications technology: the Edwardian Picture Postcard

Julia Gillen, Literacy Research Centre &

Department of Linguistics and English Language

Lancaster University

Conference for Teachers of A Level English Language 1 July 2011

cf Kress (1998) ‘new communications landscape’ – contemporary digital revolution

Significant postcard datesWorld's first postcard: 9th September 1869Britain's first postcard: 1870; France: 1873Pre-printed official cards76 million in 15 months (UK)Write address only on one side

First part-pictorial UK postcards:1st September, 1894.

25% increase in cards posted(312,800,000)

Vernacular writingMultimodalityLinks to today’s digital revolution

A. Main collection of 2500 Edwardian Postcards B. 200 cards approx. 'Why haven't you written?‘ Great Britain and the USA.C. 100 earlier cards D. 1911 cardsE. Digitised copies of other peoples' collections

Dear Ethelyou mean bounder notto write. Very sad occurrencein Brighton Saturday.You’ll be grievedto hear it. I stood onone (1) groine and myhat (4 ½ d (?)) blewoff into the sea.I don’t believe Ishall ever see it again.(Written above this text)Arthur arose at6.a.m. this morningVery energeticisn’t he(written across the top of the card)mother arrived safely. We all met her.

6 billion cards 1902-1910Vernacular literacy: "essentially…. not regulated by the formal rules

and procedures of dominant social institutions and which [has] its origins in everyday life" (Barton and Hamilton, 2000).

Miss J. S. Carmichael2 The HolliesFairfieldBuxtonDerbyshire What do you think of this & didyou ever see ?? anything so silly?I feel quite indignant about it.Just try to imagine Athos dressedlike that, it is impossible, & it never mentioned their havingguns, did it? & Dumas ought toknow, do write & tell me you think it is horridLove Dora

10 June 1904

Miss J. CarmichaelThe HolliesFairfieldBuxtonDerbyshire. 6 The ShrubberyJunction RoadBathThank you so much foryour note dear, it wasthoughtful of you. I have been very(lonely), as you canimagine. Is your motherhome yet?I feel really strange& lonely.Much love, hoping tosee you soonYours (afflely). (M). (Reid)

17 March 1905

21 April 1905

Miss J. Carmichael.C/O Mrs. Laidlaw.Victoria SquareLockerbieScotland. Dear JanetThanks for P.P.C.You did not send your address. I amleaving Buxton nextThursday week. Somay possibly see you.Best love, dearieM.S.R.

The Edwardian Postcard and Twitter

rapidity of exchange of short, written communications that can make ingenious, even creative use of physical constraints

… ifGeorge is not comingtoday our George willcome and fitch thepeelinges and bringyou a bit of porkso don’t get any meat

Informality

“Postcards [are] utterly destructive of style.” (George Sims, 1900).

“The Picture Postcard carries rudeness to the fullest extremity.” (cited by Douglas, 1907).

Public/private boundary anxieties

James Douglas, London journalist, writing in 1907:

'When the archaeologists of the thirtieth century begin to excavate the ruins of London, they will fasten upon the Picture Postcards as the best guide to the spirit of the Edwardian era… Like all great inventions the Picture Postcard has wrought a silent revolution in our habits. It has secretly delivered us from the toil of letter-writing…" (quoted in Staff, 1979: 79).

www.twitter.com @eVIIpc

http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/projects/EVIIpc/

Julia Gillen

j.gillen@lancaster.ac.uk