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1916. Washington, D.C. "Miss Clara R.A. Nelson, Dead Letter Office." Another peek behind the scenes at the P.O. Remember, folks: If you must send cash in the mail, include a valid return address, otherwise Clara here ends up with a stack of orphaned $2 bills. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
Clara Nelson died on May 12, 1963, and she was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on May 17, 1963 beside her parents. A photo of her tombstone can be found here.
$2 and $5 doesn't seem like much, these days.
Keep in mind that those bills could be exchanged for gold or silver coins in 1916.
A 5 dollar gold piece of that era contains almost 1/4 oz of gold -- and is worth about $385 bucks today!
That stack represents a HUGE amount of money.
Miss Nelson wore her satin blouse and her velveteen jacket --nice workmanship on those cuffs -- on the day she knew her picture would be taken. The top buttonhole is the only one she ever used on the much-beloved jacket. I wonder what colors these were. The ruffle is a wonderfully revealing feminine touch. Her hair is put up with care. She knew she wasn't naturally pretty, but she liked to feel pretty, as any woman does, and I think she rose to the occasion that day. Bravo, Miss Nelson!
Sister Mary Clara used to punch my head for miscounting in 1953 when I was in first grade and looked just like this lady. I am certain they're related and were in a conspiracy to count things and punch little boys!
Clara graduated from the Spencerian Business School (corner Ninth and D streets N.W.) in 1886. She was mentioned in the Washington Post several times, first starting in 1894 when she was listed as organist for Mount Vernon Commandary. From 1913 to 1923 she was associated with the Sunshine Home of Washington, eventually rising to the position of vice-president and superintendent. Apparently still alive in 1952, she is mentioned in the obituary of her brother, Halvor G. Nelson. I cannot find her obituary nor any information on her employment at the Dead Letter Office.
I am loving the Postal Theme on Shorpy, especially since we are fortunate to have our own retired postal worker to aid as curator. Perhaps there might someday be a 'Postal' tag?
A lot of people are surprised at the existence of $2 bills. I've heard they are (or at any rate were) commonly found around race tracks. Very convenient for your basic $2 bet.
These appear to be the $2 and $5 bills that are showing. They don't make 'em like they used to!
Our Miss Nelson was born in Detroit in November 1870 to Halvor Nelson (b Norway 1840) and Miranda S Wilson (b Geneva NY 1842, d 31 Jan 1923). She had a brother, the quaintly named Justus C. Nelson (b 1880 Washington DC).
Unfortunately I can't find any more information on our note counter (at least not without paying for it!)
What I wouldn't give for that stack of bills! That's a treasure nowadays.
Bartleby worked in this office, and it was bad enough even before Miss Clara showed up and took charge of the money. ...
"Dead letters! does it not sound like dead men? Conceive a man by nature and misfortune prone to a pallid hopelessness, can any business seem more fitted to heighten it than that of continually handling these dead letters and sorting them for the flames? For by the cartload they are annually burned. ... A bank-note sent in swiftest charity: - he whom it was meant for, perhaps, moulders in the grave; a bank-note sent in swiftest charity: - he whom it would relieve, nor eats nor hungers any more; pardon for those who died despairing; hope for those who died unhoping; good tidings for those who died stifled by unrelieved calamities. On errands of life, these letters speed to death."
Presumably, the majority of the monies that didn't make it were never claimed by their owners. I imagine the problem was exacerbated by the growth of mail order businesses at that time, with huge sums passing through your mail system. A large amount of cash must have stopped at the desks of Misses Nelsons in all major cities. Does anyone know what happened to those unclaimed monies? Did they simply head for the Treasury's coffers?
Think there's a video cam in the room recording her every move?
to the Christmas party fund!
Those are some bodacious eyebrows -- reminds me of my relations.
There is a strong resemblance to Groucho. Check out the eyebrows.
By today's standards, those are some runaway eyebrows!
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