In 2013, Susan Toomey Frost donated her collection of Mexican Border Town postcards representing 22 Mexican cities and towns along the 1,969-mile border between the U.S. and Mexico. The collection consists of 3,857 images, including real photo postcards and printed postcards. Many are identified by photographer, including such notable names as W.H. Horne and Robert Runyon. Others are identified by publisher. However, most border town photographers were anonymous. This collections is comprised of seven boxes of postcards and each are organized by city and then arranged by type of postcard, photographer and/or publisher. The collection is open for research use – please make an appointment at
Below is a selection of images from the collection including traditional souvenir images as well as commemorative events, border life, bridges, and street scenes.
Puente Internacional hacia lado Mexicano ((View of Bridge of Nuevo Laredo Tams.)
On Guard, International Bridge, Brownsville, Texas. Photo by T.J. Barrett
The Grand Canyon of Texas (Published by San Antonio Card Company)
Plaza Toros, Reynosa, Tampualipas, Mexico
Greetings To The Two Great Presidents. Postcard commemorating their meeting in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico in 1909.
Greetings Amigo from Tijuana in Old Mexico (chrome postcard)
Reynosa McAllen International Bridge at McAllen, Texas: (on back) American cross this bridge to enter Mexico. From this point roads lead to Mexico City, Monterey and other Mexican scenic regions. McAllen, situated in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, is Texas’ second greatest winter resort. (E.C. Kropp Co.)
Greeting from Ciudad Juarez, Mex. El Paso Street at El Paso, Texas in 1880, U.S.A.
Del Rio, Texas (real photo postcard)
Two early printed postcards of ferry from Brownsville, Texas to Santa Cruz, Mexico, near Matamoros Above: Going to Mexico (Rutledge Curio Co. Publisher) Below: Arriving on Mexican Soil, Greetings from Brownsville, Texas
International Bridge between El Paso and Juarez by W.H. Horne Co
Puente Internacional Urbano, Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico (Real photo postcard with Garcia photo stamp)
Greeting from Piedras Negras and Eagle Pass. (on back:) International Bridge in Piedras Negras. Street Scene in Eagle Pass.
International Bridge / Puente Internacional de C.P. Negras, Mexico y Eagle Pas. U.S.
Puente y vista hasta Eagle Pass, Tex. Bridge and View up to Eagle, Pass, Texas. Piedras Negras, Coah., Mex.
