Minnie’s Purse and Contents, 1910

My dear Reader,

Finding January 6, a difficult day for Ed and the children, therefore……….99 years later, I will share with you, my dear Reader, Minnie’s purse and a few of her contents held within.

Minnie Whalen's purse and Kid Gloves, 1910

This brown leather purse with brown kid gloves amazes me-!

First, the gloves tell me Minnie had very long, slender hands.  My Aunts, Helen and Edna had them too. None of  Minnie’s 5  granddaughters were so fortunate.

Second,  the size of the purse is so minute in comparison to what is being carried today.  99 years ago women didn’t have even a driver’s license, let alone wallets, cell phones, Blackberry’s or Tic-tacs to put in their purse.  Women thought of themselves as ladies and expected the man to carry the money and keep time for them.

Bussiness Card of Dr. John D. Hess, Las Vegas, NM, 1910

I am thunderstruck that this purse still held the business card of some doctor by the name of Dr. John D. Hess. Who was he? Since Minnie had mentioned in a letter to her sister-in-law Maggie, she was getting her teeth worked on, I suspect this may be the dentist? Something the Las Vegas Historical Society can look into for confirmation. But, who was Charles Mily? One thing is for sure, Minnie never lost her beautiful handwriting during her illness.

GRAAF & HAYWARD, Grocers, Butchers & Bakery, Las Vegas, NM, 1910

GRAAF & HAYWARD, Grocers, Butchers, & Bakery, Las Vegas, NM, 1910

These are two business/coupon cards of Graaf & Hayward, Grocers, Butchers, & Bakery. The card to your left is dated December 24 as the other is November 30. I believe Minnie kept them for she was going to be redeeming them later on for the caption in the bottom (very faint 99 years later) reads: “Return $15 in cash rewards and get 50 cents in merchandise FREE.” Competition must have been fierce in 1910.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

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