BEMIDJI — Long before people began swiping right to find true romance, our ancestors picked up the pen to place advertisements in papers and magazines nationwide to seek love — or, at least, marriage.
Women were scarce in the developing Midwest, and advertisements for “mail-order brides” helped bridge the miles between husbands and brides-to-be. Corresponding couples could only hope their partner turned out to be an ideal companion.
Join local author and historian Wendell Affield at noon Thursday, April 20, at the Beltrami County History Center to hear the story of his parents, who met through Cupid Columns. Attendees are welcome to bring lunch to enjoy during the program.
At the free event, Affield will share excerpts from his book Herman, about his stepfather responding to the personal ad of a New York pianist with four children. In 1949, Barbara moved to his rural Minnesota farm with her young children, including the author.
Participants will be able to see examples of original mail-order bride advertisements and correspondence and learn more about this centuries-old tradition and its impact on one Minnesota family. Books will be available for signing and purchase.
The Cupid Columns and correspondence are on temporary donation by Affield for the History Center’s “I Thee Wed” exhibit, featuring histories and images of marriage in Beltrami County. This exhibit is available in the History Center and through the Historical Society’s Facebook page through mid-May.
For more information about the Historical Society’s exhibits, programs, and volunteer and membership opportunities, visit beltramihistory.org.
