The University of Alabama Libraries are most known as a trusted source for academic research, but the shelves also hold years’ worth of classic heartfelt expressions, capturing how love was once shared.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, we explored UA Libraries with the help of Jessica Robertson, head of special collections. Together, we found vintage declarations of love, including postcards, letters and traditional valentines. These heartfelt notes came from husbands, grandmothers, fathers, mothers and friends, dating from the early to late 1900’s.
Special collections acquires many of these unique materials through donations that document the history of Tuscaloosa and greater Alabama. The collections are organized according to the creator, whether that be a person, family or organization. Historic valentines are just one example of remarkable items dispersed throughout the holdings.
“They are one piece of a larger story about the creator’s life and work as represented through the materials contained in each collection,” Robertson said.
When asked about preserving this kind of love through special collections, Robertson said that valentine cards and their corresponding notes are one of a kind. She explained that the handwritten history within vintage valentines holds deep value today.
“They provide a keen perspective on the social and cultural history of their origin, often spanning physical distances that our modern forms of communication allow us to bridge much more easily. In many ways, they demonstrate the evolution of creators’ and recipients’ social lives and additionally reveal information about the period of history in which they existed,” Robertson said.
Whether you’re searching for inspiration for your loved one or just tired of emojis, check out these valentines to feel a nostalgic sense of lasting love.
