“Take Care of Puff and Fluff”: Exploring 1957 Through a Family Postcard.

To: Master David Thomas. From: “Mom” 1957

Tues Eve.

Dear David,

How are you today. The water looked like this, so John hasn’t been swimming yet. We had dinner with Stella yesterday and we drove around. We crossed on the ferry boat today. I should get your Canadian dollar tomorrow.

Love, Mom

Take good care of Puff and Fluff

In 1957, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president (with Nixon has his VP), and despite the attempt at gilded edges, the nation was entering a massive era of change. Elvis Presley moved his family into Graceland, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella was shown on television, and West Side Story opened on Broadway. The Little Rock Nine were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School, and eventually the National Guard had to be sent in to allow the students to enter. The 50’s were in full swing, an era of prosperity for some and civil action for others.

For those of you who read my blog daily, you may notice that the front of this postcard is the exact same as the front of my postcard from yesterday. The difference between the two, however, is 30 years. While yesterday’s postcard was written by a young man to his friend, this postcard is much more maternal. Signed only “mom” and filled with family news about the vacation. My favorite part about this particular message is the name of the pets, who I’m guessing are cats? Puff and Fluff are the most adorable names for animal friends. I also love that mom referred to her son as “Master David Thomas” as though he’s lord of the house while they are away. It’s very sweet.

Ironically, I struggled to find “Master David” in the archives. I suspect this is because he’s still alive. I could find record of a David M. Thomas still living in Wheeler, Michigan. This David was born around 1948, which would have put him at 9 years old at the time of the postcard. This feels fitting. It’s possible he stayed home with a grandparent while the parents and older children (or aunts and uncles?) went to Lake Michigan. It’s also possible the parents were doing a college tour with the elder son (John, perhaps?). Anyway, if a person is still alive, they don’t really exist much in the archive except through census records.

If I knew who “mom” was, I’d probably be able to find the family. But, alas, that’s the way it goes sometimes.

Nonetheless, I do hope that puff and fluff were well taken care of, and given lots of extra treats by the man of the house, Master David Thomas.

As an aside, I also tried to research the postcard itself, and it turns out that they were fairly popular! Which, considering I have two of the exact same image 30 years apart, isn’t too surprising. But, I do wonder who sold them. Was the postcard picked up at a local shop? Was this image so popular it was constantly in print? For anything to survive multiple editions over 30 years is quite the feat. If only my endeavors could be so prolific!

“A Rough Day on Lake Michigan” Photo Postcard