John M. Dennis began collecting postcards in 1992 shortly after being hired by the General Services Administration (GSA) in the Southeast Sunbelt Region. It was a way for him to stay connected to his love of history and architecture and connect it to the career he had embarked on with GSA. Of particular interest are those buildings that illustrate growth or change over time. For example, the FB-PO-CT in Raleigh, NC, today referred to as Century Station, is interesting to see how it was expanded twice over the course of its history. Another example includes the Charles R. Jonas FB-CT in Charlotte where the series of postcards reflect evolution of the Federal footprint on the block including removal of the former assay office and previous PO-CT and eventual evolution to the building that is there today. This reflection of change is evident in many of the buildings throughout the collection. The collection is not limited to those buildings currently or previously in the care and custody of GSA, but is intended to represent the broader Federal footprint in the Southeast region. For those postcards that have been mailed, an additional story is reflected such as the importance of dates of the correspondence or the written message.
Collecting postcards is an enjoyable and economic hobby and the hunt to find a rare card is exciting.