"Halloween Greeting," 1915-1925
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Artifact Overview
Halloween's superstitious origins gave way to a national celebration of mystery and innocent fun in 20th-century America. Seasonal greeting postcards commonly exchanged by friends and neighbors during Halloween reflected a distinctly American blend of olden customs and modern life. This colorful example from about 1920 features a traditional Halloween jack-o-lantern as the cockpit of a whimsical "airplane."
Artifact Details
Artifact
Postcard
Date Made
1915-1925
Creator Notes
Original artwork by Ellen Clapsaddle; printed by Wolf & Company Publishing, Inc.
Collection Title
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
2013.80.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Printing (Process)
Color
Multicolored
Dimensions
Height: 3.5 in
Width: 5.375 in
Inscriptions
Text on front:
HALLOWE'EN / GREETING
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Related Content
SetHallowe'en in Greenfield Village: Postcards
- 15 Artifacts
A distinctly American blend of Halloween traditions emerged by the late 1800s. Into the 20th century, the holiday was mostly an innocent celebration of mystery and fun, but friends and neighbors often exchanged seasonal greeting cards that evoked Halloween's superstitious origins. This colorful example alludes to olden customs and beliefs involving witchcraft, owls, and black cats.