Some Really Old Greeting Postcards and Some Other Random Ephemera--by Bryan F.

Back in the olden days' folks often sent greeting postcards rather than a greeting card in an envelope. The postcards could be sent for a penny and was an economical way to say howdy-do or happy birthday.

Thankfully my maternal Grandma saved things and it has been my job and pleasure to go through and archive them. The stacks are still high and as I work through I find some things that I've seen before and some that are a delightful surprise. 

Included below are some greeting postcards as well as some miscellaneous items that I found interesting. I hope you'll enjoy them as well.

By-the-way the coin holder above held some silver dimes my Grandma had collected. She liked nothing better than saving money and loathed nothing more than spending or wasting money. She had an eye for buffalo nickels and silver dollars and stashed them away for safekeeping. 

This, the only St. Patrick's Day card in the collection was likely from the 1920s. Childish writing on the back shows it was from Nellie to Calvin. Calvin was my Grandfather, born in 1909.

It was not mailed but likely handed to my Grandfather by Nellie, probably a schoolmate.

The unknown sender had a sense of humor. No postmark, a penny saved.

A birthday greeting to my Grandfather from Amil Miller. He was very handsome and had many female admirers. Circa, the 1920s.

My Grandfathers name was Calvin Sawyer Hays. His middle name was his Mothers maiden name. So since I don't know who Tom Sawyer is, I'm guessing he's an uncle on his mother's side, but definitely a relative on that side. The card has a postmark unlike most here. Tom spent a penny to greet his new relative that was only about two years four months old in 1912 at this mailing. Tom sent it in February rather than at Easter time and likely just because it was handy.
I wonder if Tom got kidded about his name. The book Tom Sawyer was published in 1876, for perspective. 

The information on the back of this card let me know that my Grandfather acquired his nickname Buster, early in life as it is addressed to Master Buster Hays. It's from a Mary Hays that is likely the person my Mom is named for, perhaps an aunt to Buster. A tiny scribble can impart a lot of information. 
My knowledge of my Maternal Grandmother is much greater than my knowledge of my Grandfather's extended family.

A booklet that my Grandmother's 5th-grade teacher gave her. It's six pages including back and front and includes an area for classmates to sign, that's blank. Some inspirational poems and quotations to inspire the youngsters on their paths are included. Notice the date.
Photo postcards were a thing back then, too. 
The one above is from the same teacher that gave Grandma the booklet and signed on the back, "To Florence McCall from her friend and teacher, Jessica L. Humble.
What a kind and thoughtful teacher she had for 5th grade at Flat Rock School.

A pocket/wallet calendar from 1952 that my Grandma likely carried with her for a full year. 
I always carried one of these until the world went digital.
Notice the handy ruler on the side of the card.

This was a gift from my brother Chuck a couple years ago. He knows how much I love San Francisco and collecting ephemera. 
I would have loved to have toured San Francisco during this time. Probably would have been the 50s, judging by the phone numbers, but could also have been the 60s.
Notice the map of China town. So much history in this little tourist throwaway.

This is the only survivor of the many bookmarkers that I received when I purchased my paperbacks at Pickwick Books in the Mall in San Bernardino back in the late 60s and early 70s.
I would go to work with my Grandma, she worked at the House of Fabrics at the mall. I'd spend most of my time reading in the book store during her shift. Yes, back then you could find a corner in the narrow aisles and join other young people reading what they couldn't afford to buy. 
This bit of fragile paper, yes it's well worn, means more to me than almost anything else I own. It brings forth memories that I truly cherish.

This is one of many cutting from newspapers that my Grandma saved. 
This might have been one of my uncle's teachers or someone she knew in person, or she just thought it interesting and clipped it. 
There are piles of these buried that I've yet to unearth.

Some very old Christmas wrapping paper found among Grandma's things. Like I said at the beginning, she was a saver, and I'm so glad she was.

Another one of her clippings. Probably by the texture of the paper from a magazine.

And on that note, I'll end this oversharing and leave the rest for another time. Thanks for taking the time to go back in time with me with these bits of paper as my guild.

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