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Arizonans celebrated Valentine’s Day 100 years ago pretty much like today. Valentine cards, chocolates and flowers were popular items just like today. Schools held dances and parties, church socials with a valentine theme were held, and many of the social clubs had events to celebrate the day of romance. Judging by the number of events reported in the newspapers of 1916, Valentine’s Day was celebrated more than it is today. Many private valentine parties were reported in the Society sections of the newspapers as were those held by social clubs and organizations.
The Bisbee Daily Review had a story about the Bisbee Post Office Association composed of employees of the Bisbee Post Office sending out an invitation that was signed Post Office Girls. It read, “The following invitation has been received by a number of Bisbee young people:
Your presence we ask,
To grace a valentine party,
We’ll dance and We’ll play,
As long as you stay,
A welcome awaits you most hearty.
Arizona was known as the Valentine State. Technically it still is as Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, is the day Arizona became a state in 1912. Arizona’s first governor, G.W.P. Hunt declared February 14th a state holiday called Admission Day. The Tombstone Epitaph on February 13 reported that Tombstone would observe Admission Day. All government offices including the court house and post office would be closed. Stores and other businesses in town would close for business at 1 p.m.
The Arizona Republican reported in their February 13 edition under the heading Valentines for Congressman that “A number of local suffragettes planned a ‘valentine shower’ for Congressman Hayden, the missives being mailed at the time which would permit their being delivered to him on Monday, valentine day. The valentines are in shape of letters urging Mr. Hayden to use his influence in favor of the passage of the Susan B. Anthony amendment.” This had been part of a national campaign by the Congressional Union later the National Women’s Party to get the Constitutional amendment passed allowing women to vote. The group sent out personalized valentines to congressmen, senators and President Woodrow Wilson. In 1920 the amendment would finally be ratified. In Arizona, women had the right to vote as part of the state constitution of 1912.
In 1916 an article appeared in the Tombstone Epitaph about the growing valentine card and novelty industry in the United States. It said that over the last couple of years the American industry had grown due to the war in Europe. Before the war most of the cards and novelties were manufactured in Germany. In 1914, World War I began in Europe and trade with Germany and the United States soon stopped. America had taken the lead in valentine production and exporting valentines to other countries that recognized Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love and romance even in a time of war!
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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