Stephen Willard Vintage Postcards, curated by Bert Simonis

Willard printed his black and white photographs in large format, then hand-colored them with oil paint. He worked with colorists at the Curt Teich Company in Chicago to produce color postcard images on linen paper, which were then mass produced. The postcards on display date from the 1930s to the 1950s and were sold by the thousands—in galleries and shops throughout Palm Springs for a nickel each. Royalties from postcard sales allowed Willard and his wife to travel to Africa and South America when they retired. 

Bert Simonis is the Architectural Bus Tour Coordinator for Modernism Week responsible for all of the double-decker bus tours that take thousands of Modernism Week guests through Palm Springs in October and February. During historical research for the script that the bus guides use, he came across these Willard postcards and started collecting them. The collection now numbers well over 50 unique cards, and they are worth considerably more than the nickel they cost originally!

Assisted Listening Devices (ALDs) are instruments designed to amplify sounds to make it easier for persons who are hearing‑impaired to enjoy a library program.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity of the City of Palm Springs, should contact the ADA Coordinator, as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event.