About the Vault

Preserving Visual History

The artifacts in this collection were historically produced for distribution—postcards sent between friends, stereoviews passed around Victorian parlors, photographs marking life's milestones. Surviving examples are finite, and each piece that remains offers a window into how past generations saw and shared their world.

Every item in the Vault has been carefully selected for its historical significance, visual interest, and condition. We believe these artifacts deserve careful stewardship, whether they find their way into private collections, research archives, or simply bring joy to those who appreciate tangible connections to the past.

Our Approach

We take an interpretive approach to describing our artifacts. Where documentation exists, we share what we know. Where it doesn't, we use language like "appears to show," "likely depicts," and "suggests" to acknowledge the limits of historical certainty. Dating is typically expressed as "circa" with our best estimate based on printing techniques, fashion, architecture, and other contextual clues.

Condition is described honestly. These are vintage items, often a century or more old. Signs of age—foxing, wear, postal markings—are part of their history, not flaws to be hidden.

The Collection

Questions?

We're happy to answer questions about specific items, provide additional photographs, or discuss the history of pieces in the collection. Each artifact has a story, and we enjoy sharing what we've learned.