While searching for obituaries in microfilm copies of The Daily-News Record (Harrisonburg, Virginia) a while back I ran across these "Letters to Santa" published on December 16th, 1914 and was struck by the simple things the children requested some 85 years ago. There’s only a slight touch of genealogical data in a few of them (some mention a brother or sister). The letters are mostly a window into what life was like back them. I also have letters published in the Wednesday, Dec. 17th issue, but I didn’t type them into this email. If you scroll all the way to the end, I will list the names of those children who wrote letters that were published in that issue of the Daily News-Record (which, by the way, cost 2 cents in 1914). If you see someone you know, let me know and I’ll send you their letter in an email. SOURCE: The DAILY NEWS-RECORD, TUESDAY, DEC. 16th, 1914 "Let all the children write letters telling what they want, and mail them to Santa Claus, care News-Record, Harrisonburg, Va." Dear Old Santa Claus: As it is not long until Christmas, I have been thinking about what I want you to bring me. I am a little girl thirteen years old. I live in the country and I hope there will be a big snow on the ground, so you can come in your sleigh. I am going to listen to hear your sleigh bells jingling. I want you to bring me a bracelet and ring, a sewing box, oranges, and candy. Now if you don’t think I have asked you for too much, will you please bring me a few pieces of sheet music. And don’t forget my mamma. Your little friend- SAIDA E. ALLEN Harrisonburg, Va., Route 1 Santa Claus: Please bring me gloves, nuts, candy, oranges, stockings, and some ribbon. I have a little niece named Helen and she wants a doll and Teddy bear. Please don’t miss us. CORA SIMMONS Hinton, Va. Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me some oranges and some nice candy and nuts and everything good. I have a little brother, his name is Elwood. He wants a pair of tan shoes and tan stockings and a nice little suit of clothes and some candy, please. I am eleven years old. Brother is seven years old. Please don’t forget. ALICE A. DENISON Bridgewater, Va. Dear Old Santa Claus: I will write you a letter. Please bring me a wagon and gloves, stockings, nuts, oranges, and candy. And I have a little sister two years old and her name is Regina. She wants a Teddy bear, A.B.C. blocks, and picture book, nuts and candy. I am only five years old. Please don’t forget us. HOUSTON SIMMONS Hinton, Va. Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a long engine so I can play with it. Please bring me a ball. I am three years old and will be four Saturday. Good bye. ROBERT LEE FRANK Mount Clinton, R.F.D. No. 3 Dear Old Santa Claus: I heard my father reading in the paper this forenoon, where you wish for all the little boys and girls to write and tell you what to bring them. Please bring me a tricycle, and a watch that keeps good time, a pistol and caps to shoot, and four big fire crackers and three packs of small ones, and some candy, nuts, raisins, and oranges. I am a little boy of eight years old and go to school every day. Please do not miss me. CLETUS RAY BRUFFEY Grottoes, Va. Dear Old Santa Claus: Please bring us a train, a French harp, some story books, candy, nuts and our little sister Ethel wants a new doll and a little piano and candy, nuts and oranges and anything else you have to spare. We will thank you very much. Now don’t forget us, Santa dear. GILBERT AND MYERS MOUBRAY Hinton, Va. Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a doll baby carriage for my big doll and please bring me a ring. Good bye. GENEVIEVE FRANK Mt. Clinton Dear Old Santa: I would like to have a pretty, big doll, a locket the shape of a cross, some candy, oranges, nuts and bananas. I am eight years old. I live on Cook’s Creek. HALCIE V. FLICK Bridgewater, Va. Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a new tie, two Roman candles, some candy, a pair of cuff links, oranges, and bananas. WILL BARTLEY Bridgewater Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a doll baby carriage to wheel my big doll in. She cost 98 cents, and please bring me a bracelet. Good bye, lovingly, ROLIN V. FRANK Mt. Clinton Dear Old Santa Claus: I want a tricycle, a pair of gauntlet gloves, a top, a new neck tie, some peanuts, candy, crackers, oranges and nuts. I am six years old and live on Cook’s Creek. Please don’t forget me. I want a collar for my dog, please, his name is Bounce. CLAUD W. FLICK Bridgewater Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me an express wagon, a new neck tie, a top, some candy, oranges, bananas, animal crackers, and raisins. I am the baby, three years old. I live on Cook’s Creek. WADE BEERY FLICK Bridgewater Dear Santa Claus I will write you a letter to tell you what I want you to bring me. Please bring me a doll, some candy and peanuts and a nice dress for the doll. Please bring me a nice bracelet and some nuts. I am a little girl ten years old. My little cousin has written a letter too. Please don’t miss us. TESSIE VIRGINIA LINDAMOOD Bowmans Dear Santa Claus: I will write you a letter to tell you what I want you to bring me. Please bring me a sleeping doll and a nice bed for the doll. Bring me some oranges, candy, raisins, and peanuts. Bring me a dress and a nice finger ring and a wooly dog. I am a little girl eight years old. Please don’t miss me. MARY SUSAN LINDAMOOD Bowmans Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a top and candy and nuts and oranges. I am a little boy six years old. SAYLOR M. WILL Timberville Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a solid gum ball and candy and nuts and oranges. I am a little boy eight years old. LARKIN COFFMAN WILL Timberville Dear Old Santa Claus: Please bring me doll cup and saucer and rocking chair and gloves and oranges, bananas, candy and nuts. I have a little brother named Orville and he wants A.B.C. blocks and wagon and Teddy bear and ball and some candy and nuts. I am a little girl four years old. Orville is one year old. Please don’t forget us. GLADYS IRENE ZIRKLE Quicksburg Dear Santa Claus: I want you to bring me a tea set and a top and some candy, oranges and some nuts. I am a little girl eight years old. Please don’t miss me. LULA IRENE WILL Timberville, Route 3 Dear Santa Claus: I am a little girl eight years old and please bring me a big doll, a rain coat to wear to school in the rain, some candy, oranges, and nuts. Good bye. IRIS V. LOKER P. S. Brother wants a flying machine and a billy goat. Timberville Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a horn, and a hollow gum ball with your picture on it. And anything else you want to bring me. MASTER WILLIAM FRANK Mount Clinton Children who had letters published in the Wednesday, Dec. 17th issue of The Daily News-Record are listed below: RODNEY ALBERT ANDREWS GLADYS PAULINE ANDREWS ROY CLINE TRACY COOPER HAZEL MAE CUPP IRA I COSBY, JR. FERN VIRGINIA DRIVER HAZEL VIRGINIA EDWARDS OLLIE MAY EDWARDS RUSSELLE EAVEY CARL EDWARDS MORGAN KIEFFER ARNOLD R. MAY ALMA R. MAY INA M MAY EDNA MAY MCCARY CLEDA M PINER EUGENIA RICE ALBERT S. SHIFLET CLEDA SHIFLET PAULINE SHIFLET RAYMOND SHIFLET SHIRLEY SHIFLET JAMES SIGAFOOSE MABEL VIRGINIA SULLIVAN CLAIRE D. TERRELL FRANCES TUTWILER BROOK OWEN THOMAS LINA YEAKLE