Open Air Market Scene (Franklin Street, East from 17th Street), Richmond, Va.

01

Artifact Overview

These farmer entrepreneurs sold melons at the Richmond, Virginia, market on 17th and Franklin streets. They used horse-drawn carts to transport their goods from farm to city even as others adopted the automobile. Racist language on the back of this postcard, however, blinded viewers to the superhuman efforts required to sustain crops as well as family and human dignity during the era of Jim Crow.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Postcard

Subject Date

19 April 1921

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2020.19.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)
Pencil (Marking material)

Technique

Printing (Process)
Handwriting

Color

Multicolored

Dimensions

Height: 3.5 in
Width: 5.5 in

Inscriptions

back, right: 39747--Pub. by Southern Bargain House, Richmond, Va. All rights reserved. back, top right: BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORICAL RICHMOND, VA. SERIES. / NO 101, OPEN AIR MARKET SCENE. / Franklin St., East from 17th St. / The music of a band and the "meat" of a water-melon / are irresistibly attractive to the average Virginia "darky;" / hence his predominance in this view. From the surrounding / country-site the produce of truckers and hucksters is hauled / to the city, usually in small two-wheel canvas covered carts, / and the disposal thereof for sale, in the streets adjacent to the / public markets, presents an interesting and characteristic / scene.
Open Air Market Scene (Franklin Street, East from 17th Street), Richmond, Va.