Thomas Gray Haile subcollection

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    Mama sends her best regards

    Thomas Gray Haile subcollection, cards, 6, 47, 116, 12, and 16 And so we bid good-bye to Madge, but not without a few more cards from her! First up, a rather nice-looking rabbit complete with carrot and baby chicken. Complete with a small message on the image side at the top (see the title of this post). Apparently sent by one Maria? Martha? On the reverse–quite a long message. The writer recognizes the difficulty her recipient is likely to have reading it, attributing it to her pen (hence the number of times I guessed or couldn’t even guess at what she wrote). Hello! how do you like Okla? fine I…

  • General Info,  Presentation/Appearance,  Social,  Thomas Gray Haile subcollection

    Life happens when you’re not looking?

    Life happens when you’re not looking–and when you are. I plead the press of work (semester starting, search committee work, two library-related research/writing projects in process . . . ) Here’s the next Thomas Gray Haile subcollection card (#41). I’ll post more (possibly finish the subcollection) next week–or in October. Depends on how September works out. Then we have a most interesting inscription. Say I cant get that foolish notion out of my head at all. I hope you wont let M___ beat me. If she has’ent already done that. Are you coming home _ __ this summer? What will I do with my roses if you do not come?…

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    Write real soon and often, be good

    Thomas Gray Haile subcollection, cards 29, 23, 43, 81 Four quick today–or three quick and one longer at the end (Madge, of course). First up: another with condition issues but showing some pretty flowers. A previous owner sorted it into the flower section. A birthday card, although don’t ask me from whom. I’m not entirely sure. Some of the words are partially obscured by the damage. Here’s what I was able to transcribe: Hello How are you we are fine and dandy but you know we fell [unclear] becouse you all diden come but sure re[?] looking for you all Friday [unclear] must be sure and come so ou call…

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    Chrysanthemums fill me with hope

    Thomas Gray Haile subcollection, cards 1, 60, 42, and 61 First up, a new year. The card was evidently sent with that message and nothing else–and as you can see it received more damage than most in this group (which is saying something): Nothing much really to say about this in this instance. I’m sure a collector of date-oriented cards could speak more to it, or perhaps someone familiar with the maker. It’s signed Genia Bryant, and postmarked Haydenburg, Tennessee, and that’s about all I can offer without tracking her down someway (perhaps someday). Then there’s this card from a Myrtle of Nashville–perhaps a rival (of sorts) to Madge? She…

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    With love and best wishes

    Thomas Gray Haile subcollections, cards 32, 2, 44, 50 Time for some more cards from Madge! First up, some flowers. You wouldn’t notice, since I’m sharing the cards here in the order they were posted, but the flower cards were bunched together. Ditto other topics. The collector(s) whose album contained these cards was one of many who may have collected in part based on subject. I can’t say for certain whether they sought out specific subjects as the album had a fair range–but they most definitely arranged most by subject. The inscription on the reverse is fairly tame for Madge. June 29.08 How are you? Hope you got home all…

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    Be good and enjoy your self

    Thomas Gray Haile subcollection, cards 19, 46, 104, 166 A variety of mysteries for you this week: disappearing writing or, rather, the fading writing (due in part to card condition. For this one — I have guesses as to parts of the message, but not the whole. For the most part with the Haile cards, I’ve only been showing the front. Here’s the front and back. You tell me (if you choose) what you think the message is. As for the image, it’s a saying (humorous or not) in a frame. Rather a pretty frame, too. The card doesn’t have an easy-to-find insignia or maker’s mark. Someone with a keen…

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    Truth, Deception, and a Lucky Wishbone

    Thomas Gray Haile subcollections, cards 24, 5, and 22 We’re back! With some lovely roses to start us off, and a nice sentiment for a 1 April (1908) card. This is fairly tame for Madge, in image and message. The inscription itself is short: “April 1st Received your card tonight. Guess you were not disapointed about the letter. I was good last Sun. I am afraid to say much There is a show in town tonight Mary has gone.” Again, this offers hints about their layered communication in cards and letters, plus Madge’s being “afraid to say much” about being “good.” Then there’s this card. Sent for a holiday, given…

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    With Love and Best Wishes

    Thomas Gray Haile subcollection, cards 30, 21, 63, and 40. Two cards from Madge for today (or is it three?), and one other. Here we go . . . First up, one from Madge with a suitably love/romance-oriented image. A rather brief message, but bearing much in the way of implications: Just nine more days until the twenty second–Dixie was down yesterday afternoon and I ‘spect yours and John’s ears burnt for we talked about you all the time Dixie is sick tell John. Be good Madge [unknown] to Thomas Haile, 18 February 1908 One suspects the date reference was to when she next expected to see Thomas. Dixie evidently…

  • Health,  Logistics,  Thomas Gray Haile subcollection

    The world was made for only two

    Thomas Gray Haile subcollection, cards 49, 69, 45, and 67 Madge in January, 1907. These next four cards all date from the latter third of January, 1907. At this time, Thomas was evidently either in Nashville or having his mail directed there–specifically to the Cumberland T&T for whom (I’m guessing) he worked. Maud sent three from Gainesboro, and one from Oneida. First up, a couple by the seaside. They appear rather pleased with themselves (from my perspective). Received your card tonight and was sure glad. Wish you could be here tonight have been waiting all the afternoon on [unclear] from being lonely. Wont be down the 22nd. Be good. Madge”…

  • Social,  Thomas Gray Haile subcollection

    I’m in trouble and wish you were here

    Thomas Gray Haile subcollection, cards 34, 68, 64, 65 First up, another flower card — and a cryptic message for us. Clearly there have been tempests of some kind somewhere. It’s easy to speculate, but best to be cautious. For whatever reason, this card indicates Madge was concerned about what Thomas’s other correspondents might report. Quite apart from that, her last line sets up an interesting offer wherein her truthfulness (by which she likely meant fidelity) was potentially contingent upon his trusting her to be true. “Hello Trust me regardless of what others may write you. Received your card. Please write often and be good and I’ll be true if…

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