Postcard Metadata
Transcription
Happy new year to our dear Boy Harvey From Aunt Hattie and Uncle Jo Be good and that will bring you happiness Harvey Sights La Harpe Ills Made in Germany. Serie 75
Historical & Family Notes
This early New Year’s card provides a charming glimpse into Harvey Sights’ childhood, dating from December 1908, just before the turn of 1909. Addressed to “our dear Boy Harvey” from his Aunt, Hattie, and Uncle Jo, the message “Be good and that will bring you happiness” suggests he was still quite young, perhaps a pre-teen or early teenager, receiving guidance from his loving family members. This card predates his eventual courtship and marriage to Pearl Byers, offering a foundational look at his upbringing and family ties.
The postcard’s origin from “Made in Germany” highlights the significant role German printers played in the Golden Age of Postcards, known for their high-quality lithography and vibrant designs. Sent from Cairo, Illinois, in the southern tip of the state, to La Harpe in western Illinois, it demonstrates the widespread use of postcards for connecting families across distances, even relatively short ones, in the early 20th century.
This card is a valuable piece in understanding Harvey Sights’ family context before he embarked on his life with Pearl. It paints a picture of a well-loved young boy, receiving well wishes and gentle admonitions from his extended family, laying the groundwork for the man he would become.
