Victory Park
1201 N. Pershing Ave.
Stockton, CA  95203
(209) 940-6300   
info@hagginmuseum.org

Representing faithfulness and devotion, violets have long been connected with romance. Greek legend tells how the powerful god Zeus turned the tears of a beloved nymph into dainty, sweet-smelling violets. Poets like Shakespeare and Wordsworth wrote eloquently of this small flower. Napoleon sent his beloved Josephine violets on every anniversary and after her death, wore violets in a locket around his neck.

Over the years violets have been a popular decorative motif on valentines. They were especially fashionable during the Victorian era in the late 1800s and early 1900s, inspiring sentimental messages like “Sweeter than the breath of violets sweet is the love of my heart I lay at your feet.” Beautiful examples of valentines from this period, many printed in Germany, will be featured in this display.

These valentines will be selected from the Ruth C. Ottley Collection donated to the museum archive by her family after her death in 1992. They represent only one small portion of her vast collection accumulated over 50 years.