Valentine collection, [ca. 1900-2004]
Collection Number: 7718

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Valentine collection, [ca. 1900-2004]
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
7718
Abstract:
A variety of commercially produced postcards and greeting cards for the occassion of Valentine's Day, February 14. Included are clapsaddle postcards (one with a girl making a quilt reads "St. Valentine's Greeting, Woman's sphere is in the home"); three-dimensional German cards from the early 1900's; and valentines from the 1960's through 1980 saved by Gladys Coughlan, a woman in Alberta, Canada.
Creator:
Quanitities:
40 items.
Language:
Collection material in English

RELATED MATERIALS

Collecting program: Human Sexuality Collection.
Related collection: Photographs and postcards of women collection, #7678.
Related collection: Photographs and postcards of gender collection, #7717.
Related collection: Greeting card collection, #4526.
Related collection: Postcard collection, #4525.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

Valentine collection, #7718. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

Scope and content

The Valentine collection contains 33 commercially produced postcards and greeting cards from the 1960s-70s for the occasion of Valentine's Day, February 14, collected by Gladys Coughlan in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The collection includes cards from Coughlan to her from friends, family, and her husband, and cards from her to her husband. Included are clapsaddle postcards (one with a girl making a quilt reads "St. Valentine's Greeting, Woman's sphere is in the home"); three-dimensional German cards from the early 1900's; a 1911 photo postcard of a man with a white beard sitting in a chair, which was sent as a valentine; the Valentines 2001 issue of the magazine "Martha Stewart Living"; examples of commercially produced children's valentines from 2002-2004, with themes of action figures, the doll Barbie, and children's television show "Blues Clues"; a valentine "With Love to My Husband in the Service"; and one postcard from Ontario, Canada showing 2 women and 2 men in a bathtub with the caption "Folks are real friendly here!" Most of the cards were made in Canada.

SUBJECTS

Places:
Calgary (Alta.) -- Social life and customs.
Subjects:
Valentines -- History.
Children in popular culture.
Child consumers.
Sex customs.
Love in art.
Men in popular culture.
Women in popular culture.
Heterosexuality.
Form and Genre Terms:
Valentines.
Postcards.
Greeting cards.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1
Clapsaddle Valentines
Box 1 Folder 2
Valentines kept by Gladys Coughlan
Box 1 Folder 3
Martha Stewart Living, Valentine's Day issue,
2001