As seen in the Summer 2006 issue of the Homesteader!

The custom of carrying calling cards, also known as visiting cards or name cards, began in France in the early 1800s. The custom spread quickly throughout Europe and soon became popular in the United States. Both men and women used calling cards as a highly ritualized social grace after the Civil War.

Countless numbers of calling cards, with many different designs, were printed up through the 1890s. Through the years styles changed from hand-penned cards to simple print with various designs and fonts but by the turn of the century calling cards faded out of the social scene.

Calling Card Receiver

Whenever visiting, one left a card, whether or not the individual they came to see was home. Many Victorian homes had a table in the entry where parcels were placed, and more importantly, where a container sat for receiving calling cards. These calling card receivers, decorated with interesting designs, were usually silver, silver-plated, or porcelain. The social standing of the hostess might be interpreted by the height of the card pile, according to an1890s issue of Harper's Bazaar.

Designs and Details

Common designs on calling cards were hearts, doves, scrolls, and forget-me-nots. Floral designs were popular among both men and women. Calling cards were made in such a way that the colors were richer than any seen printed on modern day greetings. Calling cards were printed with a process called chromolithography, applying one color at a time and leaving time to dry before each color was applied. This time consuming process was soon automated and lost much of its color quality.

Cards were usually rectangular but were also available in an oval shape. Sometimes the edges of cards were as decorative as the design of the card. Edges were gilded, pierced, fancy razor-cut, or scalloped.

While men usually carried their cards in their vest pocket, women often used special cases of sterling silver, mother-of-pearl, tortoise-shell, velvet, ivory, leather, or silk. Some cases had chains and were carried like a handbag. Designs on the carrying cases varied as greatly as the cards - some were engraved while others were decorated with filigree, enameling, or with an inlay of mother-of-pearl.

Calling Card Etiquette

The etiquette of the calling card can be a very complex topic. The way it was used varied in etiquette books and communities. A folded corner of the card might convey special meaning to the receiver, indicating that the visitor came to leave congratulations, say goodbye, or offer condolences. An example of when not to use the calling card was pointed out in The Delineator. It claimed that it was "bad form to write regrets or accepts on a card" and that "a note of reply must be written in acknowledgement of an invitation…."

In the day of formal introductions, the exchange of calling cards became a tool for young adults to develop friendships. A young man presented his card to a young lady whom he would like to escort home and a young lady presented a card to the young man whom she would like to accompany her.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Connection

Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about calling cards in her book, Little Town on the Prairie. She referred to them as name cards and devoted a whole chapter to them. Schoolmate Nellie Oleson told the girls that name cards were all the rage in the East and soon the fad caught on among the girls at Laura's school.

When Mary Power, Laura's friend, got her cards printed up, Laura described them as a pale green card with a picture of a bobolink sitting on a golden rod. Mary Power's name was printed on the card in black ink. Later, Laura describes what Nellie's name cards looked like. Nellie had a pale yellow card with a bouquet of pansies, a scroll that read "for thoughts" and her name was printed with a font that looked like handwriting. After seeing Nellie's cards and Mary's cards, Minnie and Laura went to the newspaper office where they saw samples of the styles available. Laura hesitated telling Pa and Ma that she wanted name cards, but Pa surprised her that night with twenty-five cents so she could order her own cards.

Laura picked out delicate pink cards with pink roses and blue cornflowers. When she got her cards she exchanged one with Almanzo Wilder, her future husband. His cards were plain white with his name spelled out in Old English letters.

One of Laura's calling cards still exists - a beautiful pale pink card, with pink roses and a scroll containing a small oriental shoreline scene.