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Dear Santa

  • Writer: Brian Grubbs
    Brian Grubbs
  • 1 minute ago
  • 4 min read
A letter, yellowed with age, written to Santa Claus by Chris Jones. It is the deliberate penmanship of a young child.

Dear Santa,


Please bring me a Drive Yourself Crazy game and a Tonka Racer and a rodio cantrolled car and a laser pistol. Thank you,


Chris Jones


December 1982

From the Springfield News-Leader Collection


Each year, tens-of-thousands of children pen letters to Santa Claus outlining their Christmas wishes. The tradition of corresponding with Santa is nearly 200 years old. Between the 1820s and 1860s, children typically received letters from Santa rather than sending them. In the 1820s, a young Theodor Cuyler received a letter from Santa at his home in western New York. The future Presbyterian minister and writer recalled the letter being filled with "good counsel."


Illustration of Santa Claus sitting at a desk and smoking a cigar. On the left side of the desk is a tall stack of papers labeled "Letters from Naughty Children's Parents." At right is a smaller stack labeled "Letters from Good Children's Parents."
Nast’s December 1871 depiction of Santa shows a disproportionate number of letters from naughty and nice children. The largest stack on the left is “Letters from Naughty Children’s Parents” while the smallest stack on the right is “Letters from Good Children’s Parents.” Harper’s Weekly, December 30, 1871. Internet Archive

These early Santa letters often commented on children's behavior. "[Y]ou have picked up some naughty words which I hope you will throw away as you would sour or bitter fruit," Santa wrote in one 1853 letter, reflecting his role as a watchful judge of childhood conduct.


It wasn’t until the 1870s that children turned the tables and began writing letters to Santa rather than simply receiving them. This shift came thanks to Thomas Nast, a German-American illustrator who worked for Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspapers and Harper’s Weekly. Nast popularized many elements of the modern Santa Claus story, including his naughty-and-nice lists, his toy workshop, and, crucially, his North Pole address.


Once children knew where to send their Christmas wishes, post offices began receiving piles of letters addressed to the North Pole. The volume of mail addressed to St. Nick increased with each passing year, and before long letters to Santa had become a holiday tradition all of their own.


Over the years, countless children from the Ozarks have written letters to Santa. Many of these letters are physically preserved in the Springfield-Greene County Library's Local History archive, while others were printed in historical newspapers. Some of these letters are presented and transcribed below. We hope that these letters were delivered to Jolly Old Saint Nick before making their way back to the Ozarks and ultimately to the Library District.


A letter, yellowed with age, from a child named Benji to Santa Claus. Midway through the letter, there is a post-script written in a different hand.

Dear Santa, I Love the Atari 400 Best of all

From Benji ̶L̶i̶t̶t̶l̶e̶ ̶k̶i̶d̶.


P.S. - My dad said we had to get the Atari 400.


I Love you Santa.


Author's Note: Curiously, Benji's penmanship improves noticeably once his father adds a note, and Benji suddenly able to write in cursive.


December 1982

From the Springfield News-Leader Collection

A letter to Santa Claus written by eight-year-old Jewell Ellison, printed in a newspaper.

Springfield, Dec. 5.—


Dear Old Santa Claus: I am a little girl eight years old. I go to Douglas school. Please do not forget to stop at my house. I want a pair of skates and my mamma is not able to buy me much. My little sister wants some candy and nuts. I want to hear your sleigh bells. I live at 928 South Grant street. Good by. —Jewell Ellison


Jewell Ellison attended the Douglas School, a public school for Black children in Springfield under legally mandated school segregation. Built in 1892, the Douglas School was located at the intersection of South Market Avenue and West Lombard Street. Visit the Library's Lincoln School Collection to learn more about Black public schools in Springfield during the Jim Crow era.


Springfield Daily Republican, December 9, 1909

A letter, yellowed with age and written on notebook paper, addressed to Santa Claus and written by seven-year-old Mindy Dunlap. A child's drawing of a snowman, a Christmas wreath, and a Christmas tree are in the letter. The recipient and sender's names are written in alternating red and green marker.

DEAR SANTA


DAD WANTS A NEW PEAR OF HOUSE SHOES


TO: SANTA


LOVE MINDY DuNlAP


7 year old girl


December 1981

From the Springfield News-Leader Collection

A photograph, reproduced in newsprint, of Ralph Harris laying in a hospital bed. His 9-year-old niece, Darlene Gale Morris, stands at right and holds Ralph's hand.

Dear Santa Claus:


I don't know if I deserve anything for Christmas this year, so I'm asking for an artificial foot for my uncle Ralph.


You see, last summer I was playing with him, and I kicked him on the leg and it hurt him very bad. Now then, he got real sick because of his sick foot, and mama said the doctor cut it off and threw it away. Uncle Ralph won't be able to walk without it, so please Santa, bring him a new foot.


Mama told me that I did not do it to his foot, but I know I did. She just don't want my feelings hurt. Mama said artificial feet cost lots of money, and we can't buy it. Uncle Ralph sure needs a new foot. He don't have any money either.


Nine-year-old Darlene Gale Morris wrote to Santa in 1961 asking for a gift for her uncle, Ralph Harris of Ash Grove. Harris suffered from diabetes, and that December his foot was amputated. Despite reassurance from her mother, Darlene felt responsible for the loss of his foot as detailed in her letter to Santa.


Springfield Leader and Press, December 14, 1961

A letter written on lined paper and yellowed with age. It is addressed to Santa Claus and written by a young girl named Allison.

Dear Santa Claus


I can not get me a real horse because my mom is lade of from work can you get me a real horse and satle I hope you can I really want one and a lot of other things I love you a lot from Allison


December 1982

From the Springfield News-Leader Collection


We hope that all of your holiday wishes come true this year. Thank you for your support of Local History & Genealogy, and we look forward to working with you in 2026 as we continue to preserve and explore the history of the Ozarks.



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