Be My Genealogy Valentine
I have a beautiful Valentine sent to my grandmother from her younger sister, dating from around 1915-1920. Although the card is more than 80 years old, the color is still vivid and the “lace” paper in fairly good condition.
When I got the card, I went onto the ‘Net to see if I could find information about the card or its manufacturer. I learned that the tradition of sending Valentine’s cards was well-established in 1700s England. And, when settlers arrived in the New World, they brought the custom with them. For a long period of time, American merchants imported Valentines from England. (Image courtesy Karen’s Whimsy- click to enlarge)
The “American Valentine Revolution” took place in 1847, when Esther Howland of Worcester, MA, began using imported lace and fine paper to create her own handmade cards. Then, in 1866, George Whitney opened a Valentine manufacturing company in Worcester, producing machine-made Valentines and other seasonal cards. For several years, thanks to Howland and Whitney, Worcester was known as the Valentine Capitol of America.
The reverse of my grandmother’s card carries the imprint “Whitney Made, Worcester, Mass”–and is clearly one from the George Whitney company. Although I couldn’t find an exact match, I did find a card that came close in appearance to the one sent to my grandmother.
Want to learn more about the origins of Valentine’s cards? Surf over to these Web sites: And, if you have a vintage family Valentine, send me a picture of it, won’t you? Thanks!
- Postcard and Greeting Card Museum
- The History and Legends of Valentine’s Day
- European and American Valentines
Also of interest:
Check out my courses at Family Tree University. I'm currently teaching Digital Photography for Genealogy and How to Write a Family History Book. 