Looking back at the many years of Christmas past in photos from GenealogyBank’s Historical Newspaper Archives, Library of Congress, and other collections.
1900: Washington State, Christmas at the Allen Home
Here is a picture preserved in a family photo album: sitting in front of the Christmas tree (with a serious expression) is Maude Mignon Allen (1896-1956), daughter of Carleton Bayley and Grace (Carruthers) Allen, on Christmas morning 25 December 1900, at her home in Ilwaco, Pacific County, Washington. She grew up and married James Hays Cellars.
Photo: Maude Mignon Allen, 1900. Credit: Clatsop County Historical Society.
1915: Santa Takes to the Skies
Santa has chosen an airplane instead of his sleigh and reindeer.
Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 21 December 1915, page 25
The photo caption reads:
The Modern Santa Deserts the Sleigh for the Aeroplane
The real up-to-date Kris Kringle has found the “Taube” [an early German monoplane] faster and more easily handled than reindeer, according to this new picture from Germany.
1927: A Courtesy Returned at Christmas
In the spring of 1927 American children sent dolls to Japan for distribution among Japanese girls during the Festival of Dolls. In return, Japanese children sent dolls to America for Christmas. This photo shows Lucille Wayland, daughter of a missionary, on her arrival at San Franscisco from Japan with the first of these goodwill dolls.
Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, Texas), 1 December 1927. Credit: Chronicling America, Library of Congress.
1929: Italian-Style Decorations
Here is a photo of the Carpentieri family in front of their pizzeria at 37 Seventh Avenue, Newark, New Jersey, in December 1929. I found the family in the 1940 census in a GenealogyBank search.
The window at the right of the bakery is decorated for Christmas with an elaborate display of Italian pretzels (“taralli”) arranged around a statue of the Infant of Prague, prepared by the store owner Frank Carpentieri.
Photo: the Carpentieri family. Credit: Filomena Carpentieri of Warminster, Pennsylvania.
1944: 8,000 Gifts for Soldiers Serving
Military personnel received Christmas presents from Detroiters in 1944.
Detroit News (Detroit, Michigan), 25 December 1944, page 24
The photo caption reads:
Every sailor, soldier, Wave, Wac, and marine spending Christmas in Detroit was remembered Sunday night when 8,000 gift packages donated by Detroiters were distributed at the Downtown USO. Here three soldiers and a sailor receive gifts from among the thousands given in answer to the plea of the Citizens’ Committee working under sponsorship of The News. Santa Claus, a Christmas tree, refreshments, and carol singing featured [at] the party, which lasted from mid-afternoon until midnight.
1948: Santa Claus in Provincetown
Santa entertained 800 children in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts), 24 December 1948, page 9
The photo caption reads:
Santa Claus at Provincetown, where he arrived by plane and entertained 800 children at a Town Hall party sponsored by the Provincetown Community Association, of which Police Sgt. Francis H. Marshall (at left) is chairman. One of the youngest at the party, Sandra Jennings, 18 months, is held by Betty Tyson.
For Sgt. Marshall, the party was a dream come true, with an afternoon of quiz shows, juggling, magic and Christmas skits. And no child went home without candy and a present.
Much of the effort to organize and fund the Santa party came through various community organizations and clubs such as the Knights of the Columbus, Catholic Daughters, American Legion, and VFW Auxiliary Women.
1956: Dallas Youngsters Enjoy Early Christmas
According to a report in the Dallas Morning News:
Sixty starry-eyed children had a dress rehearsal of Christmas Sunday at Volk Brothers Company’s eighth annual party for the underprivileged.
It was Christmas in November Sunday for 60 children at Volk’s annual party. Billy McMichael and Linda Louise Williams tell Miss Clare Leister all about it. Miss Leister, a TSCW junior from Orange, entertained the children with a story.
1962: Children See the White House Tree
Children were given a special treat at the Kennedy White House in 1962.
Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 19 December 1962, page 45
The photo caption reads:
Mrs. John Siemien, secretary to White House staffer C. S. Bellino, shows her two children, Mary Pat, 3, and Jon, 9, the White House Christmas tree yesterday when the First Family invited the youngsters of all White House personnel to view the glittering indoor decorations.
Caroline Kennedy and a friend helped decorate that year, as shown in this next photo, placing candy canes on the Christmas tree. The Kennedy family dog, Clipper, chose to just relax. The tree was placed in the Entrance Hall in 1962 because the Blue Room was under renovation and restoration.
Photo: Kennedy White House Christmas tree, 1962. Credit: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
Below is a photograph of President Kennedy and First Lady Jackie at the White House Christmas reception on 12 December 1962.
Photo: President Kennedy and First Lady Jackie at the Christmas Reception, 12 December 1962. Credit: Robert Knudsen; John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
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