Kalamazoo (Postcard History) - Softcover

Kalamazoo experienced a dramatic transformation during the first decades of the 20th century. Its factories churned out a wide variety of products, and the downtown area was being rapidly transformed by the addition of new skyscraper office buildings, hotels, department stores, theaters, parks, and government buildings. These turn-of-the-century developments coincided with the popularity of picture postcards. Not only did postcards offer a convenient way to send brief messages across the country, they also provided a means to show off the city and its landmarks. When viewed today, they offer a valuable record of the city's built environment.

David Kohrman was born and raised in the Kalamazoo area and holds degrees in history and historic preservation. He began collecting postcards over 20 years ago and has amassed nearly a thousand views. The postcards featured in this book have been selected from this collection as well as from the collections of the Kalamazoo Public Library and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.