Interestingly, there seems to be no indication of what company manufactured this postcard. There is a copyright symbol on the front. On the back, it states, "Series 318 A."
The postcard is addressed to Mr. Thoma2 J. Miller, 610 Schuykill [sic]3 Street, Harrisburg, Pa.
The note on the left-hand side of the back states, in cursive: "Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. From your Grandaughter [sic] Anna."
Footnotes
1. Around the time this postcard was mailed -- on December 21, 1913 -- Liverpudlian journalist Arthur Wynne published a "word-cross" puzzle in the New York World that is considered to be the first crossword puzzle. Check it out here.
2. Thoma is an interesting name. My understanding is that it's a common historical surname in Germany. (Here's one geneaology site that mentions it.) As a first name, it seems to be a bit less common, especially in the United States.
3. Americans have a long history of being unable to spell (or pronounce) Schuylkill correctly.
What a gorgeous postcard, Chris! I wonder, though - may the grandaughter (sic) from Schuykill (sic) have possibly misspelled "Thomas"? She certainly doesn't have a great track record in spelling, at least judging by this postcard! :D
ReplyDeleteIn the 1910 and 1920 United States Federal Census records, there are several "Thomas" and/or "Thomas J." Miller's listed in Harrisburg, but none on Schuykill Street. There are also no "Thoma J. Miller" names listed in those years.
ReplyDeleteAs Mel mentioned, this may be meant to say Thomas.
Interesting, Blake. Appreciate the research. ... Were you looking up "Schuykill" or "Schuylkill"?
ReplyDeleteThere was actually no need to look up an individual street name. In the census records for those years it lists the street names along the edge of the pages. The house number is usually included as well for each household.
ReplyDeleteI have an paid Ancestry.com membership, so anything you need looked up, let me know.
If you find out who the publsher of the Post Card is, let me know. I have a card with an identical Post Card header but underneath it is an additional little Trademark of an S inside a larger Q. I have net been able to identify the trademark, yet...
ReplyDelete