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Anatomy of a “Dear Santa” Letter

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                        Worchester Democrat and the Ledger-Enterprise (Pocomoke City, MD), December 23, 1922

By the late 19th century, newspapers began to publish “Dear Santa” letters. They speak for themselves— Enjoy!

 It’s good to be bad…for now.

East Mississippi Times (Starkville, MS), December 18, 1908

Just in case Santa didn’t update his address book.

Worcester Democrat and the Ledger-Enterprise (Pocomoke City, MD), December 23, 1922

All you can eat buffet for Christmas Day!

The Breckenridge News (Cloverport, KY), December 15, 1920

Departing North Pole for Motor City, USA.

The Pensacola Journal (Pensacola, FL), December 24, 1915

The simple requests of a future accountant.

Ottumwa Tri-Weekly Courier (Ottumwa, IA), December 17, 1910

 

                                         The Mountainair Independent (Mountainair, NM), December 19, 1918

Santa must address the elephant in the room.

The Pensacola Journal (Pensacola, FL), December 21, 1910

All Monkey Business.

Dresden Enterprise and Sharon Tribune (Dresden, TN), December 24, 1915

Mice is Nice.

The Pensacola Journal (Pensacola, FL), December 24, 1914

“Donkeys are on back order, but the rest I can do.”

Ottumwa Tri-Weekly Courier (Ottumwa, IA), December 24, 1903

This Home is Protected by Red Ryder.

The Nashville Globe (Nashville, TN), December 24, 1909

 

                                                         Richmond Dispatch (Richmond, VA), December 19, 1897

I love you more today than yesterday. But not as much as tomorrow.

The Lancaster News (Lancaster, SC), December 17, 1920

Why can’t all of the children be this easy?

Ottumwa Tri-Weekly Courier (Ottumwa, IA), December 17, 1910

Mr. Santa Claus + 1 will be attending.

The Pensacola Journal (Pensacola, FL), December 17, 1911

“Santa sees me for who I really am.”

The Morgan County Press (Wartburg, TN), December 21, 1916

“Maybe a ‘big old wagon’ would suit you better.”

The Bamberg Herald (Bamberg, SC), December 23, 1920

 

The Mountainair Independent (Mountainair, NM), December 18, 1919

 

Discover more:

Search and read more “Dear Santa” letters published in newspapers in Chronicling America.

Check out this related Topics Page created by the Newspaper & Current Periodical Reading Room.

 

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