{"id":16086,"date":"2022-11-24T18:45:02","date_gmt":"2022-11-25T00:45:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.davenportlibrary.com\/sc\/?p=16086"},"modified":"2022-11-24T18:45:05","modified_gmt":"2022-11-25T00:45:05","slug":"happy-thanksgiving-another-serving-of-turkey-notes-please","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.davenportlibrary.com\/sc\/2022\/11\/24\/happy-thanksgiving-another-serving-of-turkey-notes-please\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Thanksgiving! Another serving of Turkey Notes, please!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

‘Tis the time of the year to warm our fingers, loosen our tongues and sharpen our minds to craft a delightful turkey note. Turkey notes are an annual tradition in the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center. Like many activities observed and dishes made, the turkey note has its stalwart fans and its fierce detractors. Are you curious about the history of this turkey-themed poem? We have a number of blogs about this poem including a few that touch on its story such as in our “Turkey Notes”<\/a> blog post. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Thanksgiving approaches, we also got the curiosity bug about these silly poems. In searching our Davenport newspapers, we discovered a few articles about the “turkey note” we would like to share with you all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1937, Harry Downer, the author of History of Davenport and Scott County, Iowa<\/a><\/em> and a number of other titles about Davenport, received an astoundingly long turkey note measuring 3 feet long comprising 76 different verses. The poems touched on topics ranging from autumn landscapes to scenes from the Friendly House playroom. The article shared one of the poems in this epic turkey note opus. It is a fun thought to ponder what the other poems contain. <\/p>\n\n\n

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“Downer Receives ‘Turkey Note’ 3 Feet Long,” The Davenport Democrat and Leader <\/em>(Davenport, IA), Nov. 26, 1937, 9.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This seemingly unrelated article to our topic notes captures an interesting trend in the 1930s to announce a recently engaged couple’s wedding date through the medium of the turkey note. A party was held at the bride’s home located at 1923 College Avenue where the announcement of Miss Gladys Hilbert and Mr. Wilfred Blaser’s engagement and the wedding date was formally made. In attendance were a few of Gladys’ friends who enjoyed, “an evening of games. There were covers for eight laid at the dinner table where the green and gold bridal colors were in decoration, with individual miniature chocolate turkeys as favors, containing tiny ‘turkey notes’ revealing the wedding date.” What a unique way to share special news with friends and family! <\/p>\n\n\n

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The Davenport Democrat and Leader<\/em> (Davenport, IA), Nov. 24, 1935, 11.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In this 1940 Daily Times<\/em> article, the author shares some traditions around turkeys that girls and boys partook in over the years such as wrapping their turkey notes in colored crepe paper with fringes and ribbons for extra adornments. Davenporters have celebrated this tradition for years, but have other cities or states ever scribbled turkey notes? A small survey of locals shows that the turkey note can only be found in Davenport, Iowa, not Wisconsin, Illinois, or South Dakota. <\/p>\n\n\n

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“Turkey Notes,” The Daily Times<\/em> (Davenport, IA,), Nov. 21, 1940, 3.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Local columnist, Bob Feeny, wrote in his column, Homemade Hooch<\/em>, about some of the specifics relating to turkey notes. He shares some fine examples in the newspaper clipping below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n