Post Card Find- Grandparents attic

[Filthy]

I've slowly been sorting though a few large boxes of family keepsakes, including war militaria, old letters, and pictures. None of the boxes had been gone thru in 40-50 years or so, and had been boxed up in my grandmothers attic. Most of the stuff was from around the 1900-1920 time frame, with also some WWII era stuff. (Belonging to my grandfather.) I had hopes of finding some rare tobacco cards...but came up with nothing sports related in the card department. Just soap, coffee, and cologne cards advertising. (About 100 of them.) But, there were also about 100+ postcards, ranging in dates between 1900, all the way thru WWII. I pulled out, the only sports related postcards, as well as a newspaper clipping just to share. Any thoughts, opinions, comments are more than welcome. (As well, as overall thoughts opinions on exact time frame, or where they might be from.) Either way, I just wanted to share...



This first newspaper clipping is the only baseball related thing I found in the whole bundle. I'm not sure what its significance was, as my family was from Oklahoma. I assume the clipping is sometime between 1943 and 1949 as this was the date range of most of the post cards/letters found in the same vicinity of the clipping.....







This postcard, is from what I would guess around 1909-1912 timeframe. Football team, obviously. Other than that..no clue. Looks to be a high school, or college team???



These next few postcards are boys basketball related. I'm not sure of time frame, but there seems to be one dated 1922? These look pretty cool to me, as I have not seen older basketball post cards like these before. (But, I'm sure everyone here has.)








These listed below, are a womens basketball team. I actually believe them to be a few years older, than the boys basketball, by maybe 8-10 years? I would also love to know, what the white letters printed int he corners mean. (if anything)

[iwantitiwinit]

Look at those backboards in the women's postcard. Couldn't even spare the lumber to make a solid backboard, every other slat is missing and the supports are simple tree posts.

[CTDean]

A nice lot of early "Real Photo" postcards! I would be happier with these than an equal number of T-206 commons.

[Filthy]

Originally Posted by iwantitiwinit

Look at those backboards in the women's postcard. Couldn't even spare the lumber to make a solid backboard, every other slat is missing and the supports are simple tree posts.

Yes, those backboards are a trip. Look at the ball in the 2nd girls pic. It looks all sorts of oblong. Not sure how you can maintain your dribble.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

I looked at those backboards and the surrounding area and it looks like something on the great plains. I wonder if they made the backboards that way so that the wind would not flatten them?

[Filthy]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

I looked at those backboards and the surrounding area and it looks like something on the great plains. I wonder if they made the backboards that way so that the wind would not flatten them?

I asked my mother, and she thought that her grandfather was originally from Nebraska. So, that would definitely align with your "great plains" theory.

[CTDean]

Originally Posted by Filthy

I asked my mother, and she thought that her grandfather was originally from Nebraska. So, that would definitely align with your "great plains" theory.

One card is marked Farnum 22, so they could be from Farnum, Nebraska circa 1922.

[Bobmc]

This postcard, is from what I would guess around 1909-1912 timeframe. Football team, obviously. Other than that..no clue. Looks to be a high school, or college team???



The football player standing a head taller than all of his teammates must have been an intimidating force on the grid iron back then.

[triwak]

Fantastic cards!!

[begsu1013]

very, very cool.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Bobmc

..........

The football player standing a head taller than all of his teammates must have been an intimidating force on the grid iron back then.

The tall guy was also a backboard builder. He gave the ladies a good deal ..........................50% off.

[53Browns]

Yeah and the lady 3rd from left in the last women's basketball photo is a babe.

[Jantz]

Originally Posted by iwantitiwinit

Look at those backboards in the women's postcard. Couldn't even spare the lumber to make a solid backboard, every other slat is missing and the supports are simple tree posts.

Forget about the backboards.

Check out those hightops the ladies are wearing.

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by iwantitiwinit

Look at those backboards in the women's postcard. Couldn't even spare the lumber to make a solid backboard, every other slat is missing and the supports are simple tree posts.

Looking at the landscape, where did they even find the trees for the posts.

[JollyElm]

The most disturbing part of these photos is the way the girls are awkardly putting their hands(s) on the girls in front of them. You don't see those types of things on Instagram.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

The most disturbing part of these photos is the way the girls are awkardly putting their hands(s) on the girls in front of them. You don't see those types of things on Instagram.

Their victory dance was the "Bunny Hop", very avant-garde in the day.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

The tall guy was also a backboard builder. He gave the ladies a good deal ..........................50% off.

It was his first...and last job as a professional carpenter. His boss told him to leave a finger gap between the boards to allow the Nebraska wind to pass through. He did as he was told.......from tip to knuckle...

[toledo_mudhen]

Awesome find - I love this kind of stuff!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by 53Browns

Yeah and the lady 3rd from left in the last women's basketball photo is a babe.

Actually there are a few that look to be babes. Great rppc's, clipping and history...!! Thanks for sharing.

[Filthy]

Just wanted to share a few bits of information that I have discovered while researching some of my family history. (As it specifically relates to these postcards.)

I now know for certain, that these postcards are from Okemah, Oklahoma. The basketball photos are from between 1914 and 1919, and the Farnum mark in the lower corner, is the designation of the photographer that took the pic, and printed the post cards. That's where it gets somewhat more interesting as well. G.H. Farnum that took the pics, and produced the postcards in Okemah, Ok also has several postcards displayed in the Library of Congress. One of which is considered one of the most rare real photo/postcards ever taken. It is thought to be, the only known photo/postcard of a lynching of a female to ever be found. (Nelson Lynching of 1911.) A very infamous/controversial, very dark day in Oklahomas history.


Either way, I thought Id share, as more info come to light.

[Dewey]

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

I think the wind through the slats theory mentioned above makes sense.