Mrs. Patti Collins Santa Claus of the Post Office
In Washington's Post Office, Patti Lyle Collins heads the Opening and Unmailable Division and earns the title Mrs Santa Claus by answering thousands of letters. A gifted linguist and graphemologist, she deciphers unreadable addresses, tracing recipients across Europe and the United States, and ensures letters reach their writers. Her precision helps redirect mail to Italians, Greeks, Spaniards, and others, with examples from Florence to Colorado and a Greek addressed note to a Washington society girl. She also compiles street directories and assists in case of unclaimed mail.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Patti Lyle Collins
Post Office Department
Santa Claus
Uncle Sam
Mrs. Collins
Collins
Europe
Combryja Co
Florence
Cambria Iron Works
Johnstown
Yanac Lech
Fernado Maya
Fuerte Galen Colo
Maya
Fort Garland
Colorado
Washington
Political Taxation and Campaign Contributions Debate
Discussion on exposing corporate political giving and the Cockran Corrupt Practice bill. Notes that insurers and other firms funded campaigns, with moral questions on whether such contributions should be prohibited or publicly disclosed. References to Equitable and Mutual Life inquiries.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Congress
Lourke Cockran
New York
District Court of the United States
John A. McCall
New York Life Insurance Company
Moses
House of Representatives
Senate
Third House
Equitable Life and Mutual Insurance Compa
Camneten
Gillette
Mutual Life Insurance Company
NEW PONTOON BRIDGES FOR ARMY CROSSINGS
The United States Engineers Corps reveal collapsible canvas boats that one man can carry. These portable pontoons promise rapid river crossings during campaigns, solving a major logistical hurdle for marching armies and facilitating swift movement of troops and equipment even in hostile river barriers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
United States Engineers’ Corps
United States Engineer Battalion
White House Christmas Dinner Under Roosevelt Era
The article details how the White House dinner during Roosevelt’s presidency emphasizes traditional home style cooking and a large family gathering. President Roosevelt carves the turkey, with Mrs Roosevelt hosting eighty to one hundred guests. The piece contrasts wartime aid to dining with old fashioned cookery and notes the Christmas feast as a family festival extending to cousins and personal friends.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rhode Island
White House
Roosevelt
One Good Use for Millionaires
Regret over species loss prompts wealthy individuals to fund and establish parks and private zoos. Notable efforts include bison herds and rare animals on private estates, with Europe and Asia joining in. The Duke of Bedford at Woburn Park houses a diverse collection including waterbuck gnus sable antelopes and near extinct deer.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Europe
Asia
France
Germany
England
Duke of Bedford
Woburn Park
Foote's Farrago Neatly Tops Comedic Hiring Test
Foote, the comedian, used a mischievous rhyme test for job applicants. The verse included whimsical lines about a cabbage leaf, Ponenatt apple pie, and a bear. Applicants who recited it correctly gained trial entry, while later iterations varied to prevent collusion.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Foote
Farrago
Trilby Rivaled Uncle Tom's Cabin in Popularity
The novel Trilby drew unprecedented reader interest, at times surpassing all published works except perhaps Uncle Tom's Cabin, reflecting its wide cultural impact and high demand during its era.
Rastus Bails Out Details In Quick Witted Exchange
A quick back and forth shows Rastus tracking tools and responsibilities. The slave speaks for efficiency and protection of his master while affirming control over the means and details of work. The tone blends humor with insistence on practical detail.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rastus
Rake
Marster
Time to Move
A reflective note on restlessness and desire to change one’s place or situation, expressing longing to be elsewhere and frustration at being trapped between two states. The text contrasts current location with ideal possibilities and missed opportunities.
Also Mentioned on This Page
LA Jara
Masazine
Mrs. Santa Claus
Postoffice Department
Harris
Henry Clay Evans
London
Grace Lech
Lombey
Tennessee
Col. Sandford
Major Saunders
Knoxville
Josiah Patterson
Senator Harris
Criminl
Baby
Turkey
W. M. Crane Company
Broadway Room
New York, N
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!