Vigo County Historical Society

Card had personalized message

The first American-made Christmas cards were introduced between 1850 and 1852 by R.H. Pease of New York. However, the custom of sending greeting cards to family and friends grew in popularity in 1875 when Boston lithographer Louis Prang began publishing Christmas cards. Prang earned the title "father of the American Christmas card" as a result of his involvement in the business.

Mass-produced cards were popular but individualized Christmas cards also were produced. These cards included photographs of family members and scenes that were personal. The Christmas card pictured is one of these, a personal card.

The painting on the front of the card shows a carved totem pole. The totem was called Tootooch, which is a Native American word for Thunderbird. The card was designed after a totem pole which stood on the Chapman J. Root estate in Allendale from the late 1930s to 1963.

At the request of Mrs. Root, the totem pole was carved by C. Huston Isaacs and Charles Eggleston. She was so pleased with the appearance of the totem pole in its woodland setting that she had this card commissioned as a Christmas greeting.

The card measures 13 inches by 10 inches and is held together by a tasseled silk cord. The exterior of the card has "Greetings" printed next to the picture of the totem pole. Underneath is printed "Tootooch, (Thunderbird), greets Hyiu Tillicum, (much friends)." Inside are the words, "Seasons Greetings from Rocky Edge," which was the name of the Root estate. The Christmas card was donated to the museum by Dr. Fred Isaacs, the son of one of the original carvers of the pole.

In 1963, Chapman S. Root gave Tootooch to the Vigo County Historical Society in memory of his grandmother. It was placed in front of the museum and has become a landmark of the area.

Just as Tootooch sent "much friends" holiday greetings--the Vigo Historical Society and museum wish our friends happy holidays and a health and prosperous new year.