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. Upper
St.
Image 2
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.
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.
