Yes, the EV History Center is coming to life again!

Postcards are like little time machines, capturing glimpses of days and times gone by. They were the social media of their day.

You are invited to hear J.O. Parker of Montezuma as he shares his postcard collecting journey at the EV History Center in North English on Sunday, March 20, at 2 p.m.

J.O. started collecting postcards about a dozen years ago. To date, his collection has grown to more than 2,000 postcards, which he has organized by state, city/town, person, and subject in numerous three-ring binders.

His collection consists mainly of postcards with family ties, such as where he and his parents grew up, went to school, or visited on family vacations. He also has an extensive collection of comical postcards from the World War II era and many that date back to the early 1900s, some of which were postmarked before his grandmother was born in October 1909.

J.O.’s collection consists of postcards from all around Iowa. His presentation will focus on his collection, how he got started collecting, and tips on where to find and purchase postcards.

A native of Tulsa, Okla., J.O. holds a BS degree in Agricultural Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He spent the first 18 years in Iowa working for various weekly newspapers including the

North English Record, Montezuma Republican, Brooklyn Chronicle and Poweshiek County CR. He currently works for Bayer Crop Science near Grinnell and does freelance newspaper work for the Poweshiek County

CR paper and several other publications. He also operates Parker Photography and the Monte Journal website with his wife, Debbie.

J.O. and Debbie reside in rural Montezuma.

The EV History Center is located at 108 N. Main Street in North English, and all are invited to attend this event at no charge. Donations are accepted.