Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - October 13, 1985
By Susie Dewey
Vigo County Historical Society

Printed invitations rare in 19th century

Family celebrations were events to be commemorated a century ago, even as they are today. Births, deaths and anniversaries were all duly entered in the family Bible and remembered by participants and descendants long after the event.

The silver wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Major Collins was commemorated Oct. 22, 1879, in a most unusual way. The event was honored in a way that became commonplace a century later; but in the 19th century the especially printed memento was very rare. The intricately printed paper napkin is remarkably well preserved. On display in the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., the napkin is encased in plastic to preserve the design and color.

Delicate blue flowers and blocks on the thin, pressed paper are in excellent condition, probably because the family Bible protected the blue from the light. Blue is a notoriously difficult color to preserve, because if is so susceptible to daylight and artificial light.

The napkin was found in the M. A. Williams family Bible, which was donated to the Vigo County Historical Society. The napkin was tucked between two middle pages.

Printed on the bottom half of the paper on the reverse side are the barely discernible words, "Mr. and Mrs. Major Collins, Silver Wedding at home Wednesday October 22, 1879, at 8 o'clock p.m.." The words are in calligraphy with many curves and flourishes. Beneath the inscription are the names "Major Collins and Julia R. Onther, Brazil, Indiana."

The paper item is oblong approximately 12 inches by 8 inches and may have served as an invitation, a memento or a napkin for the happy event. In 1879, the use of paper for napkins was rare and expensive.

The custom today relies upon the easy and cheap printing process of the 20th century. In the 19th century the silver plating would have been on a press with each paper sheet inserted by hand by the operator. Even funeral invitations of the time were often hand-written and carried from house to house by hand. Thus, one invitation could invite an entire neighborhood to one event.

In view of the custom with funeral invitations, the paper item assumes even more importance than before. The celebrants spent money to remember the occasion. Because the item was found in a Bible belonging to a family of another name, perhaps a guest or relative carried home the memento and placed it securely in the most important place in the house to save it for another generation.

Today, over a century later, visitors to the museum marvel at and share in the 25th wedding anniversary of Major Collins and Julia R. Onther because someone preserved this memory of a happy time.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday.