panoramic view of Chemulpo, Corea

Mildred Albertson, an American missionary in Japanese-occupied Korea, sent this postcard home to her family in Benton, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1908. It’s one of several dozen postcards from my great-great Aunt Millie that I found among a collection of postcards in my parents’ attic. We publish it here as a found poem, and to illustrate the once-common practice — which we’d like to see revived — of jotting notes on the front of postcards. Look for a couple more 100-year-old postcards from Mildred Albertson in the months to come. — Dave

3 comments in “this picture before”

  1. johemmant says:


    Gorgeous, the green so vivid against the black and white. I like seeing the handwriting too.

  2. Nathan says:


    I love the way the lines in the “frame” echo the lines in the landscape.

  3. christine says:


    Capturing history through postcards and found poems is very interesting. I love seeing her handwriting– it brings me to her, to that moment.



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