Sunday, February 10, 2013

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day
by Carolyn Jones
 
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With the focus on love and romance this week as Valentine’s Day approaches, the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair Archives pulled out a sampling of cards for a revealing look at how people have celebrated this holiday in the past.  These cards were saved by various members of the Gilfillan family and range in date from the mid to late 19th century to about 1915.  Most of the cards are extremely fragile because the adhesive that holds the layers of the cards together has deteriorated and because the layers themselves are unusually thin and delicate. 
 
The Historical Society Archives has highlighted these cards for their sentiment, but actually, it is not clear if many these cards were given for Valentine’s Day, on a birthday, or as a romantic gesture at another time of year.  In fact, several of the cards do not have any hand-written notes to identify them, just the Victorian verses and intricate details not often found in Valentine’s cards over a century later.

The verses tend to focus on abiding love with such themes as constancy, friendship, and remembrance.  It is only with the later card from the beginning of the twentieth century that sentiment is replaced by humor.  This most recent card was also mass produced as a post card, while the older cards were presumably sent in envelopes (since discarded) or hand-delivered.

One of the most touching cards is from a father, John Gilfillan, to his four children “in love and friendship,” reminding us that Valentine’s Day is not just a day for romance but a time to reach out to those who matter most.
 
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To see the rest of the selected cards, check out our facebook album Valentine's Day - www.facebook.com/HSUSC
 
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20130208-hpicusc-0009.tif     Source id: PC2094     
Title: Gilfillan Valentine's Day postcard                               
Description: Postcard either from or to Alex. Gilfillan. Copyright from the card's creator, S. Bergman NY, dates the card circa 1913.
Historical Society of Upper St. Clair General Collection from the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair Archives
 
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20130208-hpicusc-0013.tif     Source id: PC2098     
Title: Ever Yours Gilfillan Valentine                         
Description: Front of a card from John Gilfillan to his children. The verse reads, "Ever Yours" and "From One Who Loves You."               
Historical Society of Upper St. Clair General Collection from the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair Archives
 
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20130208-hpicusc-0014.tif     Source id: PC2099     
Title: Inside of Ever Yours Gilfillan Valentine                                 
Description: Inside of a card from John Gilfillan to his children. The verse on front reads, "Ever Yours" and "From One Who Loves You." Inside is the inscription, "To My Children Margaret Fife Gilfillan, Loretta Gilfillan, Alexander Gilfillan, Mary Ellen Gilfillan, in Love and Friendship from your Father John Gilfillan."                     
Historical Society of Upper St. Clair General Collection from the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair Archives