Vintage Quebec Postcards

The Vintage Postcards collection includes more than 256,000 postcards from Quebec and surrounding regions. Every postcard has been indexed using the names of the sender and recipient, allowing researchers to locate family correspondence through a simple search engine. Whenever available, both the front and back of the postcard can be viewed to examine the image, handwritten message and postal markings.

These postcards complement parish records, censuses and the other genealogy collections available on Genealogy Quebec. They provide a unique glimpse into the places visited by ancestors, their family relationships and everyday life.

Browse the Postcards

More information

Postcards that preserve family history

Postcards are more than historic illustrations. They also document family relationships, travel, holidays, business trips and everyday correspondence. Handwritten messages, mailing addresses and postal markings can sometimes reveal a place of residence, a period in someone's life or a family connection that is difficult to find in other sources. These personal clues add context to genealogy research and complement information recorded in official documents.

Front and back of a vintage postcard showing a handwritten message and mailing address — Front and back of a vintage postcard preserved in the collection.

Discovering places through vintage postcards

Historic postcards depict cities, villages, streets, public buildings, landscapes and landmarks throughout the twentieth century. They make it possible to observe changing neighbourhoods, recognize places visited by a family and place an ancestor in a richer historical setting. This Chicago postcard also illustrates the geographic variety of the preserved correspondence, including cards exchanged between Quebec and surrounding regions.

Vintage postcard showing a historic city scene — An example of a vintage postcard available in the collection.

Search for a postcard

The search engine can locate a postcard using the name of its sender or recipient. Results show matching cards and provide links to the front and back whenever both sides are available. This indexing makes it easier to find family correspondence without manually browsing the entire collection. First-name and surname filters help distinguish individuals and quickly identify relevant historical images within the Vintage Quebec Postcards collection.