The collection consists of picture postcards of street scenes, parks, public buildings, businesses, monuments, educational institutions, scenes along the Hudson River, and other views in and around Troy, New York as well as a small set of postcards of bridges built by RPI engineers. The postcards are arranged alphabetically in two series: I. Troy and vicinity, II. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and III. Bridges. Most date from the early twentieth century, but many are undated. The bulk of the collection was donated by Yonel Grant but has been added to by Archives staff and others over the years.