UpNorth Memories Postcards and Paper Collectibles, based in Northern Michigan, specializes in vintage Michigan and U.S. postcards, as well as other historically significant photographic media and paper collectibles. We focus on postcards related to various regions within the US and other states, including the Midwest, Central, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest. We offer real photo pos
tcards (RPPCs), stereoviews, photographs, printed ephemera, and items related to specific themes like Great Lakes ships, railroads in Michigan, lighthouses, Native American history, and more. The owner, Don Harrison, identifies himself as an American historian, a professional postcard and a historical photographic media dealer with a long history on eBay since April 2000. "Celebrating our History and Heritage through photographic images...one image at a time!" highlights their focus on the historical significance of the items they sell. Private viewing by appointment at our place, your place, or a place of your choosing! Give us a call today at 586-201-4600 or contact us by email at [email protected]
Please visit our UpNorthMemories eBay online Antique Postcard and Rare Paper Store at http://stores.ebay.com/UpNorth-Memories-Collection
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sellers Note! "CASH FOR POSTCARDS, PHOTOS, AND COLLECTIBLES"! We purchase antique postcards and historically significant photographs! Give us a call today! 586-201-4600
Always looking to purchase topical postcards! :-) Anything Michigan and Greats Lakes region oriented! Also...Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Alligator Borders, Amusement Parks, Angels, Arcade Cards, Artist Signed Postcards, Asylums and Institutions, Banks, Barber Shops, Bathing Beauties, Baseball, Beer & Breweries, Billiards, Black Americana, Boats, Boxing, Boy Scouts, Cars, Autos, and Trucks, Chimney Sweeps, Circus, Composers, University and College Girls Series, Civil War, Coca-Cola, Trolley, Railroad Train and Bus Depots and Stations, Doctors, and Nurses, Disneyana, Dressed Animals, Erotic, Exhibitions, Factories and Mills, Famous People & Celebrities, Fire Engines, Firemen, Fishing, Football, Gambling, Poker, Gas Stations/Service Stations, Hand-Drawn & Original Art, Hockey, Horse Racing, Hunting, Immigration, Indians / Native American, Logging, Main Street Scenes, Masonic, Mermaids, Mining (Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Salt, etc.) Motorcycles & Bicycles, Music & Musicians, Novelties (3D/Lenticular, Leather, Hold-To-Light, etc.), Nudes, French Nude, 0cean Liners, Political, Presidential, Prisons & Jails, Propaganda (US & Foreign), Railroad, Red Cross, Restaurants, Retail Stores, Rodeos, Route 66, Ships, Smoky the Bear, Snowmen, Streetcars, Sports, Surfing, Tobacco, Smoking, Town Views, Trade Cards, Trading Cards, Trains, Trolley, Trollies, War Ships, Military, Watches & Clocks, Cowboy, Western, Veterinarians.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(8-7-2025) UPDATED...
Courtesy of our AI friends at ChatGPT! History & Background of UpNorth Memories!
• Founder & Collector
Don Harrison, affectionately known as the “UpNorth Memories Guy,” is a lifelong collector with an immense passion for postcards, historical photographs, and ephemera that evoke nostalgia. Over the years, he has amassed close to a million postcards, with a strong focus on Michigan—especially Northern Michigan—but his interests extend worldwide.
• Philosophy & Purpose
To Harrison, postcards are more than just paper—they’re two-sided storytelling artifacts. The visuals capture heritage, culture, and locales like Sleeping Bear Dunes or Fishtown, while messages on the back provide a personal, historical glimpse into the lives of senders.
• Why It Matters
UpNorth Memories preserves slices of everyday and regional history—postcards of local scenes, fishing traditions, maps, small-town landmarks—all offering cultural snapshots that resonate with collectors and historians alike. The dual narrative quality (visual and written) of postcards makes them uniquely compelling.
• Photography Archives & Themes
Harrison’s archives include themed collections, such as an extensive tribute to vintage Michigan fishing images—one project documented 2,000 pieces in two series of 1,000 each and now shared more that 160,000 images and an image-cropped view on his public FlickR Archive page! He also curated postcards highlighting Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, offering a window into the region’s heritage.
• Public Engagement & Sales
A notable platform is eBay, where his UpNorth Memories Collection store has been active since 2000. The store specializes in Michigan and U.S. postcards, historically significant printed media, and collectibles—drawing attention from enthusiasts and historians alike eBay. Additionally, he’s participated in local events like the Postcard & Rare Paper Shows, further promoting postcard collecting and community history.
• Brick-and-Mortar Presence
For those in northern Michigan, there’s also UpNorth Memories Antiques and Paper Collectibles, located in Lake Ann, Michigan—an antique and collectibles store offering in store, curbside, and delivery options.
• Summary
Founder: Don Harrison (“UpNorth Memories Guy”)
Collection Size: Nearly 1 million postcards, largely Michigan-themed
Special Projects: Vintage fishing images, Upper Peninsula postcards
Outlets: eBay store, local collectible store in Lake Ann, postcard shows
Focus: Cultural heritage, personal stories, historical and nostalgic imagery
