Over the years, the historic James Pharmacy in Old Saybrook was patronized by the great and famous, ranging from the Marquis de Lafayette, who is said to have stopped and made a purchase in the store on his way through town in 1824, to Katherine Hepburn, the well-known actress and Saybrook resident. But its greatest claim to fame is that from 1917 to 1967, it was run by Miss Anna Louis James (1886-1977), the first female African American pharmacist in the state of Connecticut.
The James Pharmacy was not just a place to fill prescriptions and purchase over-the-counter medicines. It was a classic American drug store, catering to both locals and tourists, with a soda fountain and a telephone booth. By the 1930s, the pharmacy was also selling its own line of postcards, featuring the scenic and historic attractions of Old Saybrook and Old Lyme. Printed in black and white or sepia tones, these postcards contrast with the garish color cards more typical of the period. While some of the subjects of these postcards still endure today—such as the boulder with a plaque marking the first site of Yale College, others provide glimpses of a lost world. A view of Library Corner shows the streets lined with stately elms, soon to fall victim to Dutch elm disease. Other cards show the Peck Tavern and the Congregational Church in Old Lyme. The church was a favorite subject of the American Impressionists who summered there in the early 20th century.
The Connecticut Historical Society has a small collection of postcards with captions that read either “Printed for the James Pharmacy” or “Published by the James Pharmacy,” some clearly dating from the 1950s or later. These provided a way for the Pharmacy to publicize itself as well as providing a custom product to appeal to its customers. Today they serve as mementoes of Miss James and her successful business. To see the original postcards, visit the Connecticut Historical Society at One Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT 06105. The research center at the Historical Society is open Thursday from 12-5 and Friday and Saturday from 9-5.
