Christmas Past--Letters to Santa:
1915: Dear Mr. Santa Claus: For Christmas I want a doll bed, doll trunk, ice skates and a sled. How long will it be before you will be here? Bye, Bye for this time. Gloria Morrie.
1917: The following is a letter from a little girl who was born in Evansville and who, with her parents moved to Butternut, in Ashland County, and who fears that there in the lonesome woods that Santa Claus won’t find her. Dear Santa Claus: I am just a little girl up here in Butternut. Now you will remember me as having lived in Evansville for over four years, being born there. I’m very much afraid that you won’t find me way up here in the woods, so I thought it best to write you and tell you what I wish for Xmas, through the Review. I won’t ask for very much as everything costs so much up here and don’t know if you will have money enough to fulfill every little girl’s and boy’s wishes if I ask for so much. I want a sled, a new doll and my old ones dressed up clean and new, a pair of overshoes and a pair of warm slippers if you have them. I also have a little sister now which I didn’t have in Evansville and don’t forget her, dear Santa. Her name is Lorena. I’d also like a few nuts and fruit and candy if you have some. Hoping to see you up here dear Santa, and I hope I did not ask for too much. I am always your friend. Ellinor Miller. Now I wish you, dear Santa a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
1926: Dear Santa: I saw you in Janesville. I saw your real reindeer too. I want a mixing spoon, a potato masher and an egg beater and some games. I am six. How old are you, Santa? I want a pair of doll booties too, please. Good-bye, Patricia Eileen Lemmel
1931: Dear Santa Claus. I would like you to visit my house Christmas Eve. Please bring me some pajamas, a new pair of tennis shoes, a pair of silk stockings and a tiny doll that I can sew for. Please remember my Daddy and Mother and brothers and bring them something too. Just to drop you a hint, Daddy would like a pair of shoe skates. Your dear little friend, Theo June Devine. P. S. I have been a very good girl.
1933: Dear Santa Claus: We are singing about you in Kindergarten every day and hope you will soon be here. I wish you would bring me a farm truck and boxing gloves and some apples. Don’t forget any little tots cause I think they all try to be good. A Merry Xmas. Your friend, Junior Hanson, age 5.
1934: Dear Santa Claus: Thank you very much for all the pretty and useful things you brought me last year. This year, however, I am not expecting quite so many toys, as I have a little sister, Nancy, whom you have never seen, and I surely hope you won’t forget to put something in her stocking too. I think she will like a rattle and a teddy bear. For myself, I want, most of all, a tricycle. Mother says I am too big to have one, but I told her Nancy can have it after a while. I also want several books and a blackboard. I do not go to school yet as I am only 4 years old. I hope you will have a very merry Christmas. Your friend. Carol Brunsell.
1936: Dear Santa: I am a little girl 4 years old and I hope you will bring me a nice doll, some candy and nuts. Sister Katherine wants a nice doll too. I don’t know what brother Clarence, wants as he is not old enough to talk. Please bring Uncle Herman a streamlined train. Your friend, Joyce Rosa.
1938: Dear Santa Claus: I want a Betsy Wetsey doll, some doll clothes. My little brother John wants a scooter, a truck, train and some tracks, also a car. I also want a new apron, some new books, a new table. Thank you, Mildred Edwards. P. S. I forgot, I want a doll buggy, and a game and a neck tie for Daddy.
1939: Dear Santa: I would like a two wheeled bike and some nice doll clothes and a kitten. I have been a pretty good girl but some times I don’t mind mother but Dear Old Santa do I have to be good all the time. You know its most impossible for such a little girl to be good all the time but what I think is right, my mother thinks I’m being naughty. You understand Old Santa. I know you will. Please bring my other little friends some nice things too. Goodnite old Santa. Yours with a big kiss. Margaret Antes.
1941: Dear Santa, I would like a color book and a doctor and nurse set. Also a little chair and a vanity set. My sister would like a doll and a suit case and some clothes and other toys. Thank you Santa, I will have a treat for you. Lona & Yvonne Zwickey.
1942: Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me a long sled. Thank you for all the toys you’ve brought before. Your friend, Donald Bollerud.
1943: Dear Santa, Thank you for the toys you gave me last year. You can give me any thing you want to bring. I am giving away some of my old toys to other children. There will be sugar for the reindeers and coffee for you and apples for Billy the brownie. Merry Christmas, Your friend, Philip Erpenbach.
1944: Dear Santa, Will you please bring me a doll, a book and a puzzle? Thank you, Patsy Williams, First Grade
1946: Dear Santa, I hope you find my stocking. It will be the smallest one hanging near the tree. If you have more than my sock will hold, you can put the rest in daddy’s sock, because he doesn’t want much this year, anyway. I’d like some doll furniture for my doll house, a toy telephone, and a high chair for my dolly. I’m in need of many new dresses, size four or five if you please! If you want to give me some slacks, I’ll need a size 6x because my legs are so long. Please remember Scotty and my pet “banties” and Santa Claus give my Grandpa Holm a puppy because he likes my Scotty dog so much. A Merry Christmas to you! Carol Ann Holm.
1946: Dear Santa Claus, I would like a doctor set and a cow girl suit and a electric scissor and two pair of summer skates. There is something in the cupboard. I am going to hang my stocking cap. Barbara Erpenbach, 21 School Street, Evansville, Wis.
1948: Dear Santa. I have tried to be a good girl. I am eight years old. I would like a xylophone if you have one. I would like anything you have to spare. I will leave sugar for the reindeer and sandwiches for you. Your loving friend, Nadene Ruth Apfel.
1948: Dear Santa, I suppose you will be getting thousands of letters from children all over the world. But I do hope you do get this one. I would like a doll with ice skates or a doll that walks. You bring me the one you think I should have. And you had better leave a bar of soap so I will be good until next Christmas. Everyone in the family will have their stockings hanging up. Bring Dad a can of “Santa Claus Prince Albert tobacco.” A reel for his fish pole. Bring Mom a pretty vase, a pair of mesh stockings. Bring Betty a make up kit. You can fill our stockings with nuts and candy if you want to. Your friend, Susan Louise Brown. P. S. Also bring Beauty (my cat) a lot of hamburger and Jiggers (my dog) a lot of wienies or wieners. I’ll leave a lunch for you too. Love, Susan.
1949: Dear Santa: I have tried to be a good girl and Georgie has been a good boy. Georgie is my little brother. He would like a train. I would like a typewriter. We will leave lunch for you. Your little friend, Kay Kelly
1949: Dear Santa: For Christmas this year I would like a toy cash register, a small camera and a sled. And anything else you think I might like. Remember all the other little boys and girls, and try to take them all something that you think they would like to have. I hope I haven’t asked too much because I know that you have millions of boys and girls to please and you try to give them all something nice. I will leave coffee and cookies for Santa and some sugar for the reindeers. Robert Lay.
1956: Dear Santa: How are you. Fine I hope. I want a bowling set for Xmas. Also, if you have one, I would like a cowboy suit. Love Randy Rasmussen. P. S. I am a real good boy.
1956: Dear Santa: I would like a road grader and a dump truck for Christmas. Thank you. I have been a good boy. Harold Abey
1966: Dear Santa. We have tried to be good kids for mom and dad this year. Greg would like a drum set and Cheryl would like a tape recorder. I would like a service station, paint set and a telephone. Tom Gibbs.
1966: Dear Santa, I am 8 year old. Please bring me a pair of skis and guitar. Will you Santa? I hope you will. Please Santa. Bring my brother and sister something too. Eugene Tomlin
1966: Dear Santa: My name is Tommy and I’m sort of good and I’d like a snow cone machine and you can bring me anything else you’d like too. My sister, Betsy Jo, would like a Tearful-Cheerful doll, a stroller for her dolly, a talking monkey, a puppet, a music box, and a vanity set. Bring something real nice for our big sister Marcie. She said she wanted a typewriter. I like you. Your friends, Tommy and Betsy Jo McCaffrey