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Maurice D'Onofrio collection of Johnson family postcards

Creation: 1903-1949
 Collection
Accession: 2014-222

Abstract

The patriarch of the Johnson family of Cape May New Jersey was Eldridge Johnson (1838-1929), a prominent merchant, trustee of the Presbyterian Church, and president of the Cape May Saving Fund and Building Association. The Johnson family of Cape May resided at 225 Congress Place, a house which was moved to 33 Perry Street in the 1970s and is today known as the Pink House. This collection consists of postcards from a states in the United States and a few from Canada. The postcards depict landscapes, street scenes, prominent buildings and monuments, as well as Presbyterian Churches from a variety of cities. These postcards were sent to members of the Johnson family between 1910 and 1949.

Dates

  • Creation: 1903-1949

Creator

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

General Physical Description

265 postcards : color ; 3.5 x 5.5 in. 50 postcards : b&w ; 3.5 x 5.5 in. Color postcards are primarily letterpress (halftone) or offset lithography. The black and white postcards are primarily photogravure.

Historical Note

The patriarch of the Johnson family of Cape May New Jersey was Eldridge Johnson (1838-1929), a prominent merchant, trustee of the Presbyterian Church, and president of the Cape May Saving Fund and Building Association. He also served as City Treasurer and as a member of the City Council.

In 1861 Eldridge Johnson married Jane Schellenger Hughes (1841-1888), they had six children: Edward Johnson (1862-1863), Albert Hughes Johnson (1864-1890), Annie Leaming Johnson (1867-), Frederick Layton Johnson (1868-1899), Harry Hughes Johnson (1871-), and Florence Hughes Johnson (1873-). After the death of his first wife, Eldridge Johnson married Abigail Collins Hughes (1840-1922).

The Johnson family of Cape May resided at 225 Congress Place, a house which was moved to 33 Perry Street in the 1970s and is today known as the Pink House.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of postcards from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and other northeastern states, as well as from Florida, Colorado, California and the occasional postcard from Canada. The postcards depict landscapes, street scenes, prominent buildings and monuments, as well as Presbyterian Churches from a variety of cities. These postcards were sent to members of the Johnson family between 1910 and 1949. The primary recipients were Annie Johnson and Florence Johnson, with several addressed to Abigail Johnson and Eldridge Johnson, among other relatives or friends staying at their home. There were numerous correspondents (at least thirty), however, a large amount of the postcards are sent from friends Selina, Nan, A. M. Stevens, and Blanche. The messages inscribed on the postcards discuss trip details; expected future visits to the Johnson’s in Cape May; and life events. There are also twenty five birthday and holiday greeting postcards which have decorative front images along with the greeting.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Language of Materials

English

Related Names

Subject

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Maurice D'Onofrio collection of postcards
Author:
Laurie Rizzo
Date:
2014
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400