Emma’s Postcard Album; Black Lives in the Early Twentieth Century uses a young Black woman’s postcard correspondence from 1906 to 1910 to tell a larger story about American life more than a century ago. The text is richly illustrated with photographs and hundreds of full-color “Golden Age” postcards—and would engage audiences whether they’re interested in Black history or in charming images of a bygone time. Emma Crawford was my grandmother. 

A collection of postcard correspondence reflecting the Black experience is actually quite rare. Described by one reviewer as “stunningly original and highly compelling,” Emma’s Postcard Album is alive with Black voices from a century ago. It is a unique entry point into the highs, lows, and daily life of Black Americans during the darkest days of Jim Crow.

Emma’s Postcard Album is part of the University Press of Mississippi’s Atlantic Migrations and the African Diaspora series, edited by Jessica Harris (longtime Vineyard resident). 

Faith Mitchell is an author with a doctorate in medical anthropology, as well as an Institute Fellow at the Urban Institute in Washington, DC. Over the years her career has bridged research, philanthropy, and social and health policy, and she has written or edited numerous publications related to these topics.