Letters
“Sears, Roebuck, and Co., Chicago,
Dear Sir: I received the buggy in good shape and am highly pleased with it. I saved $10-$15 in buying of you. Everyone who sees the buggy thinks it is a great bargain. You will receive my future orders, and anyone I see wanting to buy anything in your line I will direct them to you. Mollie Moore" |
From an Alabama Clergyman:
“Here is something original and will give you joy. A little child in one of my church schools was asked the other day, What was the Tenth Commandment? The reply was ‘Thou shalt not covet.’ When asked what covet meant, she replied, ‘not to want other folks things, but to get Sears, Roebuck Catalogue and buy for yourself.’”
“Dear Sears,
My husband has always bought all his clothes from Sears. We are separated now and I haven’t seen or heard from him in quite a long time. Please check your records and see if you can locate any of my husband’s orders so you can let me know his address. If you can do this service for me, it will sincerely be appreciated.
Yours truly,
Mrs. D. U.
Jackson, Tennessee"
My husband has always bought all his clothes from Sears. We are separated now and I haven’t seen or heard from him in quite a long time. Please check your records and see if you can locate any of my husband’s orders so you can let me know his address. If you can do this service for me, it will sincerely be appreciated.
Yours truly,
Mrs. D. U.
Jackson, Tennessee"
“Dear Sears Catalogue,
You always have been an integral part of my life. Some of my fondest memories are of you. The first words I learned to read were not, “Oh, Oh. Look, look. See Jane.” I learned more useful words; such as, “Page 1. Dress. Coat. Lantern.” During the years of the Depression, the year-old issues of the “Sears and Roebuck” Catalogue were used as reading material and toilet paper in the outhouse. One of the first objects I learned to make was a huge doorstop. Materials: one Sears & Roebuck catalogue. Method: Stand on end and fold pages down neatly from the upper right-hand corner. Stand in a circle. As a teen-ager, I played a game with my girlfriends. We spent hours looking through our “Dream Book” (You!) and selecting what we would buy when we married a millionaire. When my husband (not a millionaire!) and I set up housekeeping, one of the first things we did was establish credit with you, and buy a television set. Since then we've had four children. You have furnished our house, clothed us, and entertained us. The biggest thrill of the year for our children, aside from Christmas itself, is to go through your pages and mark what they would like to receive on Christmas day. Last weekend, when my husband and I placed our yearly Christmas order in a modern catalogue store, we began to discuss the part you have played in our lives, and realized our lives would not be as rich without you. We also wondered how you have changed over the years. What items were offered for sale in your very first catalogue issue? Merry Christmas to you and all your employees. Many thanks, too. Sincerely, F. S. B. Aiken, S. C." |
Feb. 12, 1966
Dear Mr. Livezey:
Thanks so much for the offer of Sears new catalog...Mr. Livezey, would love to tell you a story, a true one, and hope it won’t take too much of your busy time. For years, have been wanting to say THANKS to Sears, hope in some way you can do it for me.
Was born and raised in a remote part of these Hills of Tennessee. But we did have a mail carrier and he brought us a Sears catalog. My parents used it to buy most of our things. It was like looking for Santa Claus, to look forward to our order coming. It was a spirit lifter for those trying days.
One night, before I had started to school, was sitting in front of a big, roaring fire, looking through the catalog and asking questions. When suddenly the picture of a nurse’s uniform, cap and all caught my eyes. And the questions really did start.
My mother told me, “it says under the picture that is a Professional Nurse’s uniform.” My parents were not sure if Knoxville had a hospital or not, but they would try to find out. But they did know women worked in hospitals caring for the sick and dying, also helping people get well. My dream was born then and there. Told my parents that I was going to be a professional nurse when I grew up and got big.
My dream came true and soon after I graduated from nurse’s training, I entered the Navy Nurse Corps and served for 8 years. Got to travel a lot and see so many interesting places. Then, I did marry a handsome Lieut. We traveled more and saw more.
Through the years, people have asked me how on earth I ever knew about a hospital much less being a nurse, in that ‘back-woodsey’ place I lived? Would laugh and say, ‘Oh, I owe my dreams of being a nurse to Sears and their catalog. I saw the picture of a nurse one night and followed the picture. And here I am!’
Truly, truly, do give credit to the catalog for opening the door to LIGHT, LEARNING and SERVICE for me. And then, to a father who could farm and buy some of our needs. To a mother who could read and write and order.
Often think how I might have drifted along, without aim or purpose in life, finally letting the hardships and trials get me down. No telling what might have happened. But my dream of a white uniform walked before me, as I walked to a one room school, through the mud, dust and snows. So, you see I can’t help lovin’ Sears.
And may I add a light note to my little story? Used to feel sorry for people when I went to their toilets to find them using newspapers or corn cobs. True. Not even rich enough to have an old Sear’s catalog to use. Poor indeed I thought.
Been so nice telling this story to one connected with Sears. For your company is a big part of America now, my life too. The catalogs are truly dream books. I know.
Goodnight,
G. E. R.N.
Knoxville, Tenn
Dear Mr. Livezey:
Thanks so much for the offer of Sears new catalog...Mr. Livezey, would love to tell you a story, a true one, and hope it won’t take too much of your busy time. For years, have been wanting to say THANKS to Sears, hope in some way you can do it for me.
Was born and raised in a remote part of these Hills of Tennessee. But we did have a mail carrier and he brought us a Sears catalog. My parents used it to buy most of our things. It was like looking for Santa Claus, to look forward to our order coming. It was a spirit lifter for those trying days.
One night, before I had started to school, was sitting in front of a big, roaring fire, looking through the catalog and asking questions. When suddenly the picture of a nurse’s uniform, cap and all caught my eyes. And the questions really did start.
My mother told me, “it says under the picture that is a Professional Nurse’s uniform.” My parents were not sure if Knoxville had a hospital or not, but they would try to find out. But they did know women worked in hospitals caring for the sick and dying, also helping people get well. My dream was born then and there. Told my parents that I was going to be a professional nurse when I grew up and got big.
My dream came true and soon after I graduated from nurse’s training, I entered the Navy Nurse Corps and served for 8 years. Got to travel a lot and see so many interesting places. Then, I did marry a handsome Lieut. We traveled more and saw more.
Through the years, people have asked me how on earth I ever knew about a hospital much less being a nurse, in that ‘back-woodsey’ place I lived? Would laugh and say, ‘Oh, I owe my dreams of being a nurse to Sears and their catalog. I saw the picture of a nurse one night and followed the picture. And here I am!’
Truly, truly, do give credit to the catalog for opening the door to LIGHT, LEARNING and SERVICE for me. And then, to a father who could farm and buy some of our needs. To a mother who could read and write and order.
Often think how I might have drifted along, without aim or purpose in life, finally letting the hardships and trials get me down. No telling what might have happened. But my dream of a white uniform walked before me, as I walked to a one room school, through the mud, dust and snows. So, you see I can’t help lovin’ Sears.
And may I add a light note to my little story? Used to feel sorry for people when I went to their toilets to find them using newspapers or corn cobs. True. Not even rich enough to have an old Sear’s catalog to use. Poor indeed I thought.
Been so nice telling this story to one connected with Sears. For your company is a big part of America now, my life too. The catalogs are truly dream books. I know.
Goodnight,
G. E. R.N.
Knoxville, Tenn
Rachel Keifer, Emily McGovern, and Alayna Stepp
Word Count: 1199 |
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