Tag Archives: artwork

Kalamazoo Public Library, Michigan

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This illustration shows the front entrance and street corner display box of the original Kalamazoo Public Library, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The box appears to feature a patriotic display of United States images and publications, along with a small Uncle Sam doll.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


There is no description on the back of the card.
This Romanesque building was erected in 1893 and served as the city library until 1957, when it was demolished and replaced with the current structure, along with four additional branch libraries.
This image likely dates from the 1940s.

Kalamazoo Court House, Michigan

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This image shows the second court house for the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The first, built in 1835, was much smaller and made of wood. This building was erected as a replacement in 1882, and was a three story brick structure. It in turn was replaced by a six-story building in 1937.

H. H. Hamm, Toledo, Ohio


There is no description on the back of the card.
This building was erected to house the county courtroom and related offices for the county of Kalamazoo. This image likely dates from the 1930s.

Pere Marquette EMD E-7 Locomotive

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This illustration is one of the new series of streamlined locomotives produced by General Motors’ Electromotive Division. This one was a E-7 version, operated by the Pere Marquette during the declining days of passenger rail transport in the United States.

Natural Color Postcard Made in U.S.A. by E. C. Kropp, Co., Milwaukee, Wis.


The description on the back states:
THE PERE MARQUETTES
First of the postwar streamliners. Pere Marquette Railway’s all-reserved-seat coach trains operate on Michigan’s fastest rail schedules between Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids.
–While these are arguably the most photogenic, the most well known Pere Marquette locomotive still in operation is the Pere Marquette 1225, a 2-8-4 Berkshire locomotive restored and used as the model for the film “The Polar Express”.
I was personally involved in the restoration of the 1225 during my time at Michigan State University between 1974 and 1977. I acted as MSU Railroad Club Secretary as well as working directly on the locomotive.
This illustration dates from the 1940s.

First Methodist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan

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At first glance, this postcard appears to be identical to this one, posted here long ago. The photographs on which the colorized version is based is the same, with only a couple of very interesting revisions.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. American Art” Post Card


The description on the back states:
THE FIRST METHODIST CHURCH
FULTON STREET at BARCLAY AVENUE
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
–Among the changes between this card and the previous one are the legend at the bottom, which now omits the word ‘Episcopal’, as that part of the church name was retired after a merger in 1939. Additionally, the code number at the bottom right is the same with the addition of ‘-N’, indicating a new version of the card.
Most telling are the two cars visible in the image. The older card shows cars typical of the 1930s, while this image shows cars typical of the 1940s in exactly the same locations.
This image almost certainly dates from the 1940s.
 

Continental Divide Trading Post, Gage, New Mexico

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This image shows an early incarnation of the trading post built in Gage, New Mexico where it straddles the Continental Divide, a geological boundary which determines if water flows to the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico.

M.W.M Color-Litho “Bursheen” Finished, Made Only by MWM – Aurora, Mo.


The description states:
THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE
TRADING POST
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE
Rainfall Divides at this Point. To the West it Drains into the Pacific Ocean – to the East into the Atlantic
–This Divide is a line that passes through the entire Western Hemisphere, marking the direction of water flow in both North and South America. The trading post still exists in a new incarnation and is still owned by Bowlin.
This postcard likely dates from the 1940s.

Laguna Pueblo Baker, near Albuquerque, New Mexico

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This image shows a woman baking bread using an adobe-covered stone oven. The extension to the side of the oven is likely for storing hot coals for further use.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
No. 122 — PUEBLO INDIAN WOMAN BAKING BREAD
These primitive mud or adobe ovens are still used by the Pueblo Indians. A fire is built within, then when the oven is sufficiently heated the coals are withdrawn and the bread or other food put in to bake.
— Such ovens worked by storing heat within the walls during firing, and then allowing the radiant heat to bake the food after the coals were removed. Also of note are the ladders along many of the buildings. Staircases were rare and most access to higher levels or upper stories was via such ladders.
This card likely dates from the 1940s.

Laguna Indian Pueblo, near Albuquerque, New Mexico

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This image is an artist’s rendition of the Laguna Pueblo settlement in New Mexico. The buildings are constructed of stone and covered with adobe mud.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
18 — PLAZA AND OLD CHURCH
LAGUNA INDIAN PUEBLO
Laguna is one of the very picturesque Indian Villages on Highway 66 — the Ocean to Ocean route — and situated between Albuquerque and Gallup. They have nice little farms in the fertile valley near by and raise horses, cattle, and sheep. The women make poetry of a very attractive design.
–The old church referenced above is the San Jose de Laguna mission church, seen in the image in the far background.
This postcard likely dates from the 1940s.

Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico

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This image shows several buildings and, in the far background, the church which served the Isleta Pueblo Indians.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
A-21 — ISLETA INDIAN PUEBLO,
OLD CHURCH IN DISTANCE
Isleta (Island) is one of the largest Indian Pueblos of the province of ancient Tiguex, mentioned as early as 1541. It is located 13 miles south of Albuquerque on the Rio Grande. The site of the Pueblo is one of the oldest in America, and the fortlike Church dates back to 1605-1617 and is therefore as old as any in the country.
–The church in the background is actually the San Augustin de la Isleta Mission, built in  on the ruins of the 17th century structure in around 1710. The spires on either side of the main facade are the result of a much later remodeling performed in 1923.

Hopi Indian Woman Riding Burro, Painted Desert, Arizona

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This image is an artists rendition of the view one might expect to see of the so-called Painted Desert in Arizona. It is probable that the woman riding the burro was added to give a better sense of scale to the image.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
P.D. 27 HOPI INDIAN AND BURRO
AT PAINTED DESERT
The Hopi Indians, according to the traditions, are descendants of the Cliff Dwellers or the older tribes who have lived in this region for many centuries. Their lives have been adapted to the semi-arid and desert wastes… even their corn (Indian maize), squash and melons are acclimated and other grains do not thrive here. Within the Painted Desert proper no vegetation is found excepting a few scrubby varieties of sage and rabbit brush.
–The colors of this image are exaggerated from the true colors of the desert, though the effect is still obvious and impressive when viewed directly or through more faithful reproductions. The cliff dwellers mentioned above are now more commonly known as the Anasazi, though this term is not preferred by the Hopi.

“Pretty Eyes”, Navajo Baby, New Mexico

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This image shows the traditional bundling done for newborn Navajo babies, on a device called a cradleboard. The child is identified as Be-Nah Na-Zuhn, which is translated as Pretty Eyes.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
PRETTY EYES (BE-NAH NA-ZUHN)
The Navajo Indian baby is carried in a cradle similar to this from birth until large enough to learn to creep.
Tho wrapped and bound, even in the summer, they seem quite happy and greet all strangers with a smile.
–The main danger of this kind of swaddling is the possible development of hip displasia from an inability to move the legs at the hip. The practice is still widely used, but in western countries it is modified to address this kind of potential problem.
This image is from the 1940s.