At the outset of the twentieth century the debut of the American picture postcard incited widespread enthusiasm for collecting and sending postcard art that lasted decades. In Picturing Illinois, John A. Jakle and Keith A. Sculle examine a diverse set of 200 vintage Illinois picture postcards revealing what locals considered captivating, compelling, and commemorable. They also interpret how individual messages impart the sender's personal perception of local geography and scenery. Jakle and Sculle follow the dialogue between urban Chicago and rural downstate, elucidating the postcard's significance in popular culture and the unique ways in which Illinoisans pictured their world.

John A. Jakle is a professor emeritus of geography at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Keith A. Sculle is the head of research and education for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Together they have coauthored several books, including Fast Food: Roadside Restaurants in the Automobile Age, The Motel in America, and The Gas Station in America.