Many towns produced postcards locally. Views, such as the new high school, the bank, or a hotel, though not remarkable, showed off what the town considered its best structures and landmarks. Many of the buildings shown in these early views have been demolished. For this reason, historians studying tourism, geography, Main Street U.S.A., and boosterism find them a valuable graphic source. The messages, though brief, convey a sense of the time.
Genealogists can discover homes, landmarks, or events connected with their ancestors.
News media and museums commonly use postcards for exhibitions, historical displays, and special centennial or anniversary events. The Jenkins Garrett Postcard Collection is open for research.