15 Forgotten Letter-Writing Customs From the 1950s

Shop the look: Love the 1950s style featured in this video? Browse Unique Vintage's full 1950s collection, dresses, separates, and accessories inspired by the era: https://tidd.ly/4xXHpZH (As an affiliate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.) I explore 15 forgotten letter-writing customs from the 1950s, highlighting the significance of written correspondence in American social life. Through a detailed examination of these customs, I illustrate how letter writing served as a vital form of communication, expressing friendships, gratitude, and emotions in a time when personal connections were often maintained through the mail. In this video, I share the intricacies of letter-writing etiquette and the various customs that defined communication in the 1950s. I recount the cultural practices surrounding stationery, the writing desk, and the importance of penmanship, while also touching on the societal norms that shaped how letters were written and received. I cover everything from the types of paper used to the rituals and sentiments embedded in the act of writing. What's covered in this video: - I start with the concept of a "stationery wardrobe" where different types of paper served specific purposes in correspondence. - I explain the significance of the dedicated writing desk, stocked with essential tools for letter writing. - I explain the practice of using fountain pens and the cultural importance of neat handwriting in social letters. - I explain the historical context of mail delivery, including the twice-daily service that shaped correspondence rhythms. - I explain the impact of the three-cent stamp on letter writing and its role as an affordable means of communication. - I explain the etiquette surrounding forms of address, which conveyed marital status and respect in letters. - I explain the principle of replying in kind to invitations, emphasizing the importance of timely responses. - I explain the tradition of writing "bread-and-butter letters" as a form of gratitude after being hosted. - I explain the rule of handwritten correspondence for social letters, contrasting it with the use of typewriters for business communications. - I explain the significance of monogrammed stationery, particularly for newly married women, as a symbol of identity. - I explain the use of mourning stationery, signaling loss before the letter was even opened. - I explain the approach to condolence notes, focusing on brevity and sincerity. - I explain the custom of the "Sunday letter home," connecting scattered families through weekly correspondence. - I explain the emotional weight of courtship letters, often kept tied and untouched after marriage. - I show the kindest custom of all: writing letters for no reason, simply to express friendship. Mentioned in this video: Emily Post, Pride and Prejudice, the Institute of Emily Post. #LetterWriting #1950sCustoms #SocialEtiquette 00:00 The Ribbon Bundle 00:24 Fifteen Customs 00:48 How The Machinery Worked 01:10 The Paper Wardrobe 01:35 The Color Code 02:00 The Five Sentence Card 02:25 A Place You Went 02:48 The Paper Traffic 03:14 The Mirror On Paper 03:42 A Nation's One Hand 04:12 No Crossing Out 04:35 When Mail Came Twice 05:02 The Sound Of The Slot 05:25 The Man On The Block 05:52 Three Cents 06:15 Four Words Of Story 06:42 Reply In Kind 07:13 Sending Regrets 07:39 Speed Was The Manners 08:01 Bread And Butter 08:24 A Receipt For Kindness 08:46 A Collins 09:12 Type For Facts Ink For Feeling 09:37 The Christmas Exception 10:03 What Your Attic Keeps 10:26 Initials At The Head 10:52 The First Box 11:19 The Black Border 11:46 The Hardest Letter 12:17 Grief Writes Back 12:45 Collected In Print 13:06 Sunday After Supper 13:34 What Rode Along 14:00 The Bundle Untied 14:31 The Keeper's Choice 15:00 The Letter For No Reason 15:27 One Custom Really 15:55 One Letter This Week 16:15 Tell Me Who You Wrote 16:37 The Lamp Stays On