VALENTINES OF OLD
It is a small collection from my parent's home. I really never asked anything about their history and yet most of them have my mom's name written on them. The history part is seeing who sent them and when. I can glean facts and dates by seeing how many children were born at the time it was sent.
The back side of the folded card Valentine is below.
To Zella from Marvin, Leila and Eva Marie Wheeler. The history of family here shown by the name of Marvin. Marvin in my mom's, Zella, brother. He went to live with Uncle Lee to help out on the farm. Times were tough and Marvin lived with them for a length of time to be farm help and work as the young hired hand. Uncle Lee had four kid's but only two have them have been born. The two girls Leila and Eva Marie were born and a boy and girl have yet to be born. Lee Junior and Freda will complete their family. I do have a photo of a baby that they had lost, laying in its casket out at the cemetery near Macksburg, Iowa. I have chosen to never post that and find it strange that they even took the photo.
Rural language that evolved from no education. It certainly is not the King's English.
Old photos or old Valentine's, either way it is history. Illustrations from the pass tell a lot of what is going on in the country of the time. The dancing hearts at the bottom of this last card reminds me of the precartoon era. The early black and white cartoon movies and even Disney showed the flavor of dancing characters with stick legs.
Thanks for stopping by my posting today.
Check out others who are sharing photos of the past from all over the world. Click here to visit Sepia Saturday postings.
Check out others who are sharing photos of the past from all over the world. Click here to visit Sepia Saturday postings.
15 comments:
I like old Valentines. Yours are special because they are from your family. Mine are ones I bought.
Ah these are wonderful! I especially liked what Lucille wrote..very cute! What a wonderful collection:)
I remember sending valentines to my friends in school. We always signed our names in numerical code. That's probably why I like the one that reads "My heart pants for you" decoded.
I must be an old curmudgeon as I don't remember a Valentine card of any sort. Your collection is delightful and must be a pleasure to you.
These are lovely Larry, and especially precious as they have family connections. I agree about the dancing heart motif being reminiscent of the early animations.There you go, a nice link to the cinema theme this week!
Great collection. I also like Lucille's creative message.
I enjoyed seeing these old valentines, and you're right: I would NOT want to see the photo of the baby in the casket, although I have read that taking pictures of the deceased is common in certain cultures.
Love seeing these wonderful cards. Sends me back to grammar school where we used to decorate shoe boxes to hold all the cards we would receive. Just a slit in the top and the boxes were ready to get all those cute cards - maybe some even from boys!
What fine Valentine's Cards they are....and how interesting to have such a fine message as well!
These are delightful! Re pictures at funeral homes: I have one from 1952, with my mother and her family gathered around a closed casket at her mother's wake. It must have been a thing to do at one point. Glad it's not anymore.
What an amazing collection of vintage Valentines. I like the first one, you can't dodge this.."
Larry such a fantastic collection; some of the family history in Valentine's cards. So very special. I remember my mother has some beautiful ones from Bohemia, but unfortunately, they disappeared, when my mother passed away.
These are so wonderful - I hate the ones they have the kids send i school today. I was doing some research on Man O' War (racehorse) and I was surprised to find a photo of HIM in a casket - he was embalmed and buried. It was a little shocking. I can only think that perhaps they hadn't taken many photos of the young child yet and wanted one for posterity. Interesting post.
These are fantastic! I don't have any old valentines from my family members, but I do have a stack of postcards that various family members sent to my grandmother and grandfather. My mom knows the history behind some of them, but not all. I should write down those stories next time I go to visit.
Scrolled through your blog a bit, and love the history both within your family, and the greater history of our country and society as seen through your photos.
Also, your son's dogs are adorable! :) My dog is on the other side of the country (California) with my mom. She is too old to easily travel to NY with me (where I go to school).
Wonderful collection. I'm envious.
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