Spanish Language Art Postcard Collection

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: SPC-2024-009

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Spanish Language Art Postcard collection (1939-1940; undated) contains one box and 0.21 linear ft. of material belonging to A.M. Lawton, possibly named Alice May Lawton. The majority of the collection contains postcards in a notebook sent to A.M. Lawton, who lives in San Francisco, from a woman named Vada, who lived in Los Angeles. The postcards contain art from Vada, and her day-to-day life inspired the majority of her drawings. Vada drew in pencil and outlined with bright colored pens relating to outdoor scenery, many doors, people she knew named “Juan and Juanito,” several churches and people going to church, gardens, and portraits of herself and friends that resemble Spanish folk art. The cover and back of the leather notebook contains images of the Florentine Codex. The back cover also contains a note stating it is a notebook for Spanish lectures.

Dates

1939-1940; undated

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

Vada and her husband, Geo, lived in the Los Angeles region during the 1940s. Vada attended school during this time, and she states that the purpose of her Spanish postcards was to practice her Spanish grammar. She listened to Spanish radio shows to help her learn. Vada wrote about watching films such as Wuthering Heights, Alexander Graham Bell, and Pygmalion. Vada also described her daily life, mentioning her husband and cats in her correspondence.