Description: This photograph shows a collection of greeting cards, including one titled "My Garden of Prayer: An Inspirational Verse by Helen Steiner Rice." Helen Steiner Rice was a twentieth-century author, poet, and editor. She was born in Lorain, Ohio, on May 19, 1900. She initially hoped to become an attorney, but after her father's death, Steiner took a position with the Lorain Electric Light and Power Company and constructed silk lampshades to help her family meet its living expenses. Steiner was skilled at advertising and public speaking, and she received several promotions. In 1924, she became advertising manager for the Ohio Public Service Company and also served as the Ohio State Chairman of the Women's Public Information Committee of the Electric Light Association. She used both of these positions to argue for improved working conditions and additional rights for women in the workplace. Steiner also contributed articles to "Electric Light and Power," a trade magazine. In 1929, Steiner married Franklin Rice, vice-president of a Dayton, Ohio, bank. Their marriage lasted only three years. Franklin Rice committed suicide in 1932 due to bad investments in the stock market. To support herself, Helen Rice accepted a position as editor of greeting cards with the Gibson Art Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rice devoted the next fifty years of her life to writing greeting card verses. She became known as the "Poet Laureate of Inspirational Verse." Rice also published several books of poetry. Her first collection was published in 1967 and was called "Just for You: A Special Collection of Inspirational Verses." After a long career, Rice was able to amass a sizable fortune. She created the Helen Steiner Rice Foundation to assist charity groups that help needy and elderly people. Rice died in 1981. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06662
Subjects: Rice, Helen Steiner; Women--Ohio; Cultural Ohio--Literary Ohio; Greeting cards; Christian poetry, American
Places: Lorain County (Ohio)
 

Description: Christmas card with a photograph of a man in a harness race. The card reads, "With very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B14F04_016_001
Subjects: Urbana (Ohio); Greeting cards; Horse racing; Holidays
Places: Urbana (Ohio); Champaign County (Ohio)
 

Description: Dated ca. 1899, this Christmas card advertisement for L. Lesquereux, seller of jewelry, watches, clocks, and silverware, is addressed to Miss Rose Sallie of Lithopolis, Ohio. The card shows multiple names, including A.L. Sallie, Millard F. Sallie, Sidney Sallie, Blanche Sallie, Minna Sallie, and Albert Leroy Sallie. The advertisement is printed on black pasteboard and shows a chromolithograph die cut of a dove holding a rose. The front of the card reads "Wishing You a Merry Christmas" and the reverse reads "Before purchasing your Jewelry, I take the liberty of asking you to call at our store and examine our full line of watches, clocks, fine jewelry, silverware, etc. Very respectfully, L. Lesquereux, 59 South high Street, Columbus, Ohio." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: VFM5884_1
Subjects: Christmas; Greeting cards; Advertisements; Jewelry
Places: Lithopolis (Ohio); Fairfield County (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Pink, white, green and gold Valentine card with the phrase "Devoted to You" below an image of a woman's face. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07957
Subjects: Valentines; Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Holidays; Greeting cards
 

Description: Valentine card comprised of red, blue and silver paper in the shape of a circle with leaves forming corners overlayed with a piece of white cut paper. Card is adorned with paper cut outs of blue flowers and a young girl pulling a wagon in the center. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07959
Subjects: Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Valentines; Greeting cards
 

Description: Dated 1883, this is a birth announcement for Helen V. Sanders of Bellaire, Ohio, born October 1883, which is handwritten on the right side of the card. The card features a drawing of a stork bird delivering a baby in its beak to a house, with the viewer looking from inside the house to the outside. There is a narrative at the bottom of the card authored by Geo. (George) Macdonald which reads "Where did you come from, Baby dear?, 'Out of the Everywhere into the Here.' But how did you come to us, you Dear?, 'God thought of you, and so I am here!'" View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: VFM5933_07
Subjects: Greeting cards; Infants; Birds; Children--Ohio
Places: Bellaire (Ohio); Belmont County (Ohio)