Valentine's Day

Valentine from Quentin Roosevelt to Flora Whitney with the word “platonic” underlined twice.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1916-02-13

Theodore Roosevelt will be unable to attend the Progressive Club’s Valentine dinner. Mary Antin substituted for Jane Addams at the Lincoln dinner and filled in admirably.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1913-02

An old man labeled “St. Valentine,” carrying a “U.S. Mail” letter pouch, delivers valentines to “Col. W.D. Mann,” John A. “McCall,” Henry H. “Rogers,” John D. Rockefeller Jr., John D. “Rockefeller,” “Son McCurdy,” Edward L. “Hamilton,” and Richard “Pat McCurdy.” Caption: St. Valentine — Don’t be afraid to take ’em, boys. They’re valentines; not subpoenas.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Even on Valentine’s Day, Puck pursued the scoundrels of the insurance industry and Standard Oil with barbs of criticism, and not the arrows of a Cupid. The figures in the doorway were prominent names before the scandal-hungry public in 1905 and 1906.

St. Valentine–President Roosevelt–shoots “message” arrows at “Congress,” who is seated beside a beautiful lady, “Roosevelt Policies.” Congress has countless arrows in him, but he has not budged.

comments and context

Comments and Context

During his half-century as a major political cartoonist — almost neatly 1900-1950 — Jay N. “Ding” Darling had no rival in presenting complicated issues (and advocacies) with clarity, and provoking smiles at the same time. “Native humor” was a term that was applied as often as “native drawing style” — individualistic and idiosyncratic — was to his artwork. Cogent explanations and persuasiveness were hallmarks of his work.

Postcard of a young boy struck by Cupid’s arrow expects Teddy “is my Valentine.”

Collection

Fritz R. Gordner Collection

Creation Date

1903

Cartoon bear asks, “Won’t you bee my honey? I can’t bear to lose you.”

Collection

Fritz R. Gordner Collection

Creation Date

1903

The bust portrait of “Miss Africa” appears over a heart on a Valentine’s card that states “Will You Be My Valentine?”, with two black putti.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Seven and a half years after Theodore Roosevelt, practically in his first days as president, invited the black educator Booker T. Washington to the White House for dinner, Puck chose to traffic in the outrage and opposition to the act with this Valentine cartoon by Frank A. Nankivell.

A woman stands against a wall with many arrows stuck around her. Cupid tells a man standing nearby that he is doing his best. Caption: Cupid — I’m doing the best I can, old man, but if I make one hit in twenty these days I’m lucky.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1914-02-14

An artist paints Valentine’s Day cards featuring politicians, including a card featuring Theodore Roosevelt dressed as a Native American.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1906

A young man and woman ride in an airplane. The man has his arm around the woman’s waist. Below them, angels trumpet a diamond-studded number “7.” Caption: A tour for St. Valentine’s Day. Saint Valentine Number.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-02-07

A young woman juggles hearts in celebration of Valentines Day.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1911-02-08