Valentines on display at Special Collections

    A holiday-themed exhibit, Valentine Sampler, is currently on display at USU’s Merrill-Cazier Library. Organized by the library’s Special Collections and Archives division, the exhibit is on display in the library’s foyer gallery through March 8 and was assembled by Rose Milovich, art and book arts curator.
    “One of the most beloved traditions of Valentine’s Day is the exchange of small gifts or cards to express love or friendship felt for a special recipient,” Milovich said. “Fragile and ephemeral by nature, paper valentines are none-the-less cherished, sometimes so dearly that these delicate love tokens are kept for years, the mementos often passing from one family generation to the next.”
    Valentine Sampler highlights three such collections that are held by Special Collections and Archives at USU.
    Featured samples from the collections date from about 1882 to 1925, and include multi-layered, plain and gilt paper lace valentines, color printed embossed cards and valentine greetings designed for children.
    In addition to valentines from the library’s collection, the exhibition includes several valentines on loan; children’s penny valentines, sentimental postcards, as well as comic and “vinegar” valentines are on view.
    Valentine Sampler is free and open to all.