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With Love
From the SHM
Join us every week for With Love From the SHM,
a new digital series featuring postcards from the museum's extensive collection.
Before the age of smartphones and social media, postcards served as the original way to share stories—each offering a glimpse into the past through striking images and brief, personal messages. From the iconic Shinnecock Lighthouse to the bustling streets of Main Street, these postcards capture the charm and spirit of Southampton over the years.
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We encourage you to be a part of this series by sharing your own vintage Southampton postcards in the comments of each post and by tagging us with #WithLoveSHM, #WLSHM.
Visit us each week on Facebook, Instagram, or here every week to see more. Help bring Southampton’s history to life, one postcard at a time.
Greetings From Southampton, Long Island, N.Y.
We are beginning 'With Love From the SHM' just in time for Valentine’s Day where Southampton's heart beats strongest – at the ocean's edge. These cards, like all the artifacts in the museum’s collection capture moments in time celebrating the rich, diverse character of our local history and community.
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On the back, two names tell part of the story:
Arthur W. Tunnell of Southampton – who donated this card to the museum, where it now resides as part of our permanent collection, and Pub. By A. Biren, 1252 Decatur Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. – likely the creator or distributor of the card.
The image appears to have been painted, possibly by an artist, before being reproduced on this card. We don't know the exact date it was created as there isn't a message or postmark.
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Postcards surged in popularity after the Private Mailing Card Act of 1898, which allowed private publishers to produce and send these cards at the same postal rate as government-issued postcards opening the door to what became known as the "Golden Age" for this type of communication. We can't wait to show you more from the museum's archive. ​​
What do you think? We'd love to hear from you! Be part of the fun and share your own postcards and favorite Southampton images with us using the hashtags #WithLoveFromtheSHM and #WLSHM.
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Join us next Thursday as we explore another carefully chosen moment from Southampton’s past! Let’s celebrate what makes Southampton unique, then and now!
Celebrating 112 Years of Stony Brook Southampton Hospital
These hand-painted postcards from the 1930s capture Southampton Hospital just after the completion of its east and west wings.
Though the building has transformed over the decades, the spirit of compassionate care and dedication to our community's health remains unchanged. What started in 1909 has grown into the vital healthcare center we know today.
As we celebrate the Hospital's 112th anniversary this February 22nd, we are reminded that Southampton's greatest strength has always been its community. From the local physicians who dreamed of better healthcare, to the neighbors who donated their time and resources to build our first hospital - community support has been at its foundation for over a century.
Want to learn more about this remarkable journey? Pick up One Hundred Years of Healing: Southampton Hospital 1909-2009, by our own Mary Cummings, the Museum's archivist and research center manager
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Want to be part of the fun? Share your vintage Southampton postcards and favorite views on our social pages every Thursday when we will post another postcard from our permanent collection.
Let’s celebrate what makes Southampton unique, then and now! 💕
