Lloyd Eugene “Gene” Lee was born 06 Sep 1907 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Samuel J. Lee (1879-1964) and Dorothy Adele Aiken (1884-1953).
We are guessing that this letter was written possibly when he was about 8-11, so that would be around 1915-1919. (Kids learned to write later back then than they do now.)
Transcription:
“Gene Lee
1038 Grandview [return address]
[To:]
North Pole
Mr. santa clau [torn paper]”
Including that return address was vital, so Santa could find his house- no GPS or online directories for Santa back then. ;D
Transcription:
“Mr. santa clause
I want a hat a coat
a football a tran [train] a some [looks erased]
soldier game some books
a blackboard some games
a little santa clause.”
The request for the ‘soldier game’ may help to put the date around 1918 when World War I was in progress, although little boys always seem to want to play soldiers, whether with toy soldiers or today’s more sophisticated video war games.
Asking for a hat and coat first, necessities of life in the St. Louis winters, shows how tough economic times were at the end of the nineteen teens, and how practical people had to be everyday.
Even for Christmas.
Happy Holidays to all our family and readers!
Notes, Sources, and References:
1) Family treasure chest ephemera, in possession of author.
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