ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS:

During the holiday seasons of 1978, 1979, and 1980 the St. Paul Pioneer Press conducted a Christmas memories contest in which readers were encouraged to submit short essays of 200-300 words describing their favorite Christmas experiences. Several entries were published daily in the newspaper's "Trends" section for the two weeks preceding Christmas. In addition, monetary prizes of $100, $50, and $25 were awarded.

Entries came from people aged five to ninety-two, and from all areas of the Twin Cities. A surprising number came from greater Minnesota (Bemidji, Marshall, St. Cloud) and western Wisconsin (Spooner, Cumberland, Barron, Menomonie, and others.) Some described events that occurredas early as 1901, some just a year or two earlier, and almost every year in between. Some letters contain editorial comment and grammatical corrections supplied by the Pioneer Press staff.

Letters described some of the joys of giving and being reunited with family, some sad and painful experiences, and some Christmases spent far away from home. Several veterans recalled Christmas spent in France during World War I, in Germany during World War II, and in Vietnam. Several women told of the arrival of a new son or daughter on Christmas day. The responses are peppered with interesting, entertaining, and poignant anecdotes.

The collection of about 1,200 letters is arranged into three annual sections (1978, 1979, 1980), and then alphabetically thereunder by last name of the letter writer. For each year the prizewinning letters and a selection of those published in the newspaper comprise the first folder, with the alphabetical sequence of letters following. Also for each year, unsigned letters are filed after the alphabetical section. Two years (1979, 1980) also contain letters submitted by teachers of several elementary, junior high, and senior high school classes. These letters have been filed in the last folder for each of these years. Classes submitting letters were from St. Paul Johnson and Mankato West High Schools, St. Anthony/New Brighton Junior High, Oakland Junior High (Lake Elmo), and Groveland Park Elementary School (St. Paul).

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Restrictions:

None.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. St. Paul Pioneer Press. Christmas Memories Contest essays. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession numbers: 12,568; 12,630; 12,765

Processing Information:

Processed by: Rich Arpi, August 1997

Catalog ID number: 990017341380104294

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Christmas -- Minnesot a-- Anecdotes.

Organizations:

Pioneer Press Company (Saint Paul, Minn.).

Types of Documents:

Reminiscences--Minnesota.

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