Valentine

While researching "Kalamazoo Public Museum" to learn more about the place Edith donated her mother's autobiographical manuscript and other possessions, not only did I discover the museum is now known as the "Kalamazoo Valley Museum," but I also found this Valentine that was once Martha's in their collection (and I am hoping to locate additional items in the collection). There is no indication who wrote or was given this Valentine.

A yellowed piece of paper with a line near the center where it had been folded, the valentine is handwritten and at the top of the page is a typed label stating "No. 138 Old VALENTINE, 1850. (donor, M.J.Granger)"

Old Valentine, 1850 (donor, M.J. Granger)

"Valentine / When to loves influence woman yields / She loves for life and daily feels / progressive tenderness each hour / confirms extends the tyrants power / her lover is her god her fate / vain pleasures riches worldly state / are trifles all each sacrifice / becomes a dear and valued prize / if made for him e'en though he proves / forgetful of their former loves."

Provenance Data: "Old valentine found among papers at the 'Old Farm,' Comstock, Mich. about 1860, by M. Munsell", Typewritten Label, on top third of valentine: "No. 138 / Old Valentine, 1850 / (donor, M. J. Granger)", Handwritten Label, on back of valentine's fold-down flap: "Old valentine found / among papers at the / 'Old Farm,' Comstock, Mich. / about 1860, by M. Munsell."

From the collection database of the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.