Local author Brian Smith discusses highlights of his new book paying tribute to Hamilton as it was portrayed during the “Golden Age of Postcards” during a presentation at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 16, at the Butler County Historical Society, 327 North 2nd Street, Hamilton. The book, his first in Arcadia Publishing Company’s Postcard History series, includes more than 200 vintage postcards that feature the city’s downtown street scenes, monument and county courthouse, bridges, churches, schools, neighborhoods, and more. The program is free to the public.

The author will be available before and after the presentation to sign copies of his book, which will be available for purchase. Smith created his presentation as a special program based on the exhibit he has developed for the historical society. The exhibit, which runs in the society’s lower exhibit hall for at least the next three months, provides a brief history of postcards from the 1880s to 1950s, explains the development of postcard art, styles and printing technology, displays vintage cameras and photographic equipment and includes several examples of Smith’s collection of more than 900 postcards depicting Hamilton.

Smith has been an English teacher at Ross Senior High School since 2002. He is an avid postcard collector of local history and pre-World War II U.S. Naval real photo postcards and has collected nearly 6,000 cards over the last twelve years. Smith is a member of the board of trustees of the Butler County Historical Society and Greater Hamilton Civic Theatre.

The exhibit is free to the public and open Tuesday through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additional information about the society’s postcard exhibit and group tours of the Benninghofen House Museum can be arranged by calling 513-896-9930.