When I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marines we were required to get engraved calling cards. The Marine Officers Guide by Ken Estes has specific guidance on use of calling cards. For example when leaving the card on the tray you should bend the top left corner down to indicate you left it in person. Sad to say this tradition is no longer taught. But seeing this makes me think I’ll get some as a retired gentleman.
In “Little Town On the Prairie” (in 1881) Laura Ingalls and her friends (and social enemy Nellie Oleson) get “name cards” when they “arrive” at the town printers as a new fashion from “back East” (Eastern Coast of the US). The main plot line with the name cards was that they had plain ones (which future hubby Almanzo gives her) but most had some sort of printed illustration on them at more expensive price points. Nellie (who moved back East before coming back out to ‘the Dakotas’) starts fronting that she already has some fancy cards from a classy printer back East but when she finally gives them out to the other older school girls Laura privately and smugly notes that Nellie’s illustrated design is one of the ones that the local printer offers. (Nellie is lying through her teeth) The cards Laura mentions weren’t used exactly like the ones in England that you’re describing and the difference fascinates me. They seemed to exchange the cards as a token of friendship or regard rather than a one-time visit. As I’m typing this I’m starting to realize that while Laura’s cards might be related, they’re probably an evolution of the calling card rather than actual “calling cards” 😅 Is it because of the intersection of rural, sparsely populated and lower socioeconomic demographics of the town of De Smet Laura lived in? Such cards were relatively expensive for their use and the evolution of the calling card is definitely something I’d love to know more about!
Yay, thank you for this info. I mentioned Victorian calling cards to my husband and he had NO idea what I was talking about. Quick YT search to help me explain and your perfect overview appears! Can’t wait to dive into your vids. ❤️
Interesting indeed, very educational. Pour Prendre Congé (there's an accent on the é in Congé) and is stressed. Pronounced like the ~ea~ sound in "near".
Would the individual leaving the card also leave a message with it (for example, I was calling regarding our luncheon next week ) or did they just leave their card with no explanation to why they were calling?
That's a great question! It isn't uncommon to see short hand-written notes added to these cards, though I realize now that none made it into the video (my apologies). I did stumble across another form of card etiquette on the internet that talked about how if a corner was folded in a certain way it had a specific meaning. However, I was unable to verify this through primary sources so I left it out of the video.
@@professorpeachez I heard about that too!!! One corner meant one thing, the other -- another thing and if the entire edge was folded over it meant yet another thing. If I find it I will let you know!! 😊
It would depend on a lot of different factors; for instance not all household staff would live "in-house", so they might go home after a days work and visit friends then. Not to mention that different cultures of this era had different expectations from their staff, so what might be acceptable for maids in Canada, may have been an unacceptable practice in Scotland.
Those damn servants....
thanks for teaching the people about thicc borders
😂
When I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marines we were required to get engraved calling cards. The Marine Officers Guide by Ken Estes has specific guidance on use of calling cards. For example when leaving the card on the tray you should bend the top left corner down to indicate you left it in person.
Sad to say this tradition is no longer taught. But seeing this makes me think I’ll get some as a retired gentleman.
This is awesome!
In “Little Town On the Prairie” (in 1881) Laura Ingalls and her friends (and social enemy Nellie Oleson) get “name cards” when they “arrive” at the town printers as a new fashion from “back East” (Eastern Coast of the US).
The main plot line with the name cards was that they had plain ones (which future hubby Almanzo gives her) but most had some sort of printed illustration on them at more expensive price points. Nellie (who moved back East before coming back out to ‘the Dakotas’) starts fronting that she already has some fancy cards from a classy printer back East but when she finally gives them out to the other older school girls Laura privately and smugly notes that Nellie’s illustrated design is one of the ones that the local printer offers. (Nellie is lying through her teeth)
The cards Laura mentions weren’t used exactly like the ones in England that you’re describing and the difference fascinates me. They seemed to exchange the cards as a token of friendship or regard rather than a one-time visit. As I’m typing this I’m starting to realize that while Laura’s cards might be related, they’re probably an evolution of the calling card rather than actual “calling cards” 😅
Is it because of the intersection of rural, sparsely populated and lower socioeconomic demographics of the town of De Smet Laura lived in? Such cards were relatively expensive for their use and the evolution of the calling card is definitely something I’d love to know more about!
Yay, thank you for this info. I mentioned Victorian calling cards to my husband and he had NO idea what I was talking about. Quick YT search to help me explain and your perfect overview appears! Can’t wait to dive into your vids. ❤️
Thank you! I'll have a new video up soon :)
That was fascinating. My Grandparents were born in 1880 so I guess they must have followed this practice.
Wow they r over 100 yaers old pardon me for asking but have they passed
@@berlinnooddlesthewitch8373 Just slightly, My Grandfather 63 years ago and Grandmother 59 years ago. I never knew them
Watching sherlock holmes and wondered about the subject. Thanks for enlightening us.❤
I’ve read Emily Post. Will have to check out the other two. Thanks for linking free sources available online.
What a find! I certainly found this most interesting. Also, very engagingly explained. Thank you.
Interesting indeed, very educational. Pour Prendre Congé (there's an accent on the é in Congé) and is stressed. Pronounced like the ~ea~ sound in "near".
Oh good to know!
Fascinating! Thanks for the great info
I'm one of two, yay 😄 great video ... I love all the rules 🙈 nice idea having a time visiting window, that would be so handy!
Thank you. I will add the information about mourning to my files.
I'm the second person to reach the end
Laura Ingalls mentioned calling cards in one of her books, at least.
I came to comment on that!
@@Wee_Catalyst yay like minded!
Well, one similar experience anyway
I love your channel already :) Hope to see more content from you.
Thank you!
I used to have my grandmother’s box of calling cards. Were they done without servants?
I thoroughly enjoyed this. New subscriber here. Cheers
Thank you! I'll have a new Victorian era sort of video out on Monday :)
Oh, to be a Victorian lady and have servants to spurn social interaction for me.
Exceptionally interesting. I think we have lost a lot in the so-called modern world.
Would the individual leaving the card also leave a message with it (for example, I was calling regarding our luncheon next week ) or did they just leave their card with no explanation to why they were calling?
That's a great question!
It isn't uncommon to see short hand-written notes added to these cards, though I realize now that none made it into the video (my apologies). I did stumble across another form of card etiquette on the internet that talked about how if a corner was folded in a certain way it had a specific meaning. However, I was unable to verify this through primary sources so I left it out of the video.
@@professorpeachez I heard about that too!!! One corner meant one thing, the other -- another thing and if the entire edge was folded over it meant yet another thing. If I find it I will let you know!! 😊
Great video
Did servants have friends in other households, how did they visit each other? Pop over at night and hope nobody notices you're gone?
It would depend on a lot of different factors; for instance not all household staff would live "in-house", so they might go home after a days work and visit friends then. Not to mention that different cultures of this era had different expectations from their staff, so what might be acceptable for maids in Canada, may have been an unacceptable practice in Scotland.