Vintage Father’s Day cards showed how kids shared sweet sentiments with dad
Father’s Day got off to a slow start in the U.S. The first recognized event was organized in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to honor her own dad — a Civil War veteran and single parent. While the idea caught on gradually, it took until 1972 for Father’s Day to be officially recognized as a national holiday. (Find out more at the end of the page!) That delay didn’t stop greeting card companies from getting in on the occasion early, though. By the 1950s, shops were stocked with bright, funny and sometimes sentimental cards just for dad.
The design of these cards reflected the times. In the 1950s, you’d find classic themes like slippers, neckties and newspaper-reading dads, along with cartoon dogs mowing the lawn or bears going fishing. The 1960s and 70s saw more variety, with some cards poking gentle fun at the daily grind of fatherhood while others kept it sweet and simple. Many were clearly aimed at kids choosing a card for their dad or grandfather, full of wide-eyed animals and rhyming messages.
By 1975, over 66 million Father’s Day cards were expected to go through the mail, according to Hallmark. That’s a lot of envelopes and stamps, all leading to one Sunday morning in June. Companies like Gibson and Hallmark made sure there were plenty of choices — funny or heartfelt, elaborate or plain — and helped shape the way generations of Americans expressed appreciation for the father figures in their lives.
We’ve gathered a collection of vintage Father’s Day cards from the 50s through the 70s that capture this charming part of the holiday’s history. These old cards show how kids celebrated their dads in a time before emails and texts, when a card in the mail meant something extra.
While these cute and child-friendly vintage Father’s Day cards represent just a fraction of the millions sold over the years, they do a good job showing the kind of sweet sentiments that kids expressed for dad (and grandpa) in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.
To Daddy, from your little girl
Vintage Father’s Day cards – From your son
For you, Dad, from the both of us – A first-class wish
Grandpa, I love you
A Father’s Day wish — just for you, DAD
Vintage card: A little bear fishing
With love to Daddy on Father’s Day
To my Daddy on Father’s Day
Rooster reading: For my Dad on Father’s Day
Puppy mowing the lawn: To you on Father’s Day
For you, Dad, on Father’s Day
Sure hope your day rolls right along without a single care, and that the year ahead is filled…
Vintage Father’s Day cards – From your little girl
Here’s a young daughter bringing dad his slippers and the newspaper
A brief history of Father’s Day (1975)
Mother having had her day, now it’s dad’s turn. Sunday, June 15 [1975] marks the 65th celebration of Father’s Day.
The occasion is likely to be a big one for retailers of gifts like ties, pipes, slippers and sporting goods. Post offices, too, will be busy.
George L. Parker of Hallmark, the world’s leading publisher of greeting cards, estimates that more than 66 million Father’s Day cards will go through the mail this year.
According to Parker, the earliest known forerunner of the Father’s Day card is a clay tablet written almost 4,000 years ago in Babylonia. It was chiseled by a certain Elmesu and petitioned the gods to grant his father good health and long life.
Observance of Father’s Day in America, says Hallmark’s Parker, was brought about by a woman. Mrs Bruce Dodd of Spokane, Washington, who was one of a family of six children whose mother died in 1898. Her father, William Jackson Smart, brought up his motherless offspring single-handedly.
To honor both her own father and fathers everywhere, Mrs Dodd arranged a memorial church service on the third Sunday in June 1910. Father’s Day has been celebrated annually on that day ever since.
It was only as recently as 1972, however, that Father’s Day became ‘official’ by presidential proclamation. The Mother’s Day proclamation, on the other hand, was signed by President Wilson back in 1914.
Just as men are different from women, says Parker, so are the cards sent to greet them. Greeting cards for fathers, unlike most of those sent to Mom on Mother’s Day, are often humorous.
Father’s Day shoppers this year will find more than just greetings at card shops and stores. In addition, many shops selling Hallmark products have such masculine gifts as wood-crafted pens and pencils, playing cards, gift books and a selection of jigsaw puzzles and adult games by Springbok, a Hallmark subsidiary.
Father’s Day cards you can buy today
- UNIQUE DESIGN: This Father’s Day pop-up card opens to reveal a classic car cruising down the road, a tribute to timeless style, unforgettable journeys, and the dad who drives them all.
- SURPRISING & MEMORABLE: The 3D design creates a delightful surprise, making the card more special and unforgettable.
- PREMIUM DURABILITY: Made from premium cardstock, these cards are sturdy and long-lasting. Hand-assembled by the skilled craftsmen, our pop up greeting cards look charming, can take anyone by surprise...
- Hilarious Tribute to Dad: Celebrate your dad's legendary multitasking with a card that perfectly captures his "hands-on" talents—beer in one hand, remote in the other. This clever card delivers a...
- Retro Vibes, Timeless Humor: Featuring a bold, vintage-style illustration, this card combines nostalgic charm with cheeky humor. It's the perfect fit for dads who enjoy a throwback aesthetic paired...
- Blank Inside for Personal Touch: Whether it's a heartfelt note, a classic dad joke, or a loving memory, the blank interior gives you the freedom to make your message personal and unforgettable.
- uper Mario Fathers Day Card : Wish every funny dad a special day from their favorite daughter and son, with this greeting card or Father's Day card. Your dad, grandfather, or expecting dad will love...
- Card Stock: thick card stock, high quality paper, environmentally, 360 microns thick and 300gsm the natural white embossed paper board has a quality look and feel.BLANK ON THE INSIDE to allow you to...
- NO INK SMUDGES: There is nothing worse than writing inside a card to find that the shiny surface makes the ink smudge. This is why we use a high quality one sided coated board. The uncoated side will...
- Show appreciation to a true classic with this unique and heartwarming card, perfect for Ford car enthusiasts and lovers of retro aesthetics.
- Crafted with high-quality materials, this card exudes a sense of nostalgia and pays homage to the old-fashioned charm of yesteryears.
- Ideal for expressing love and gratitude to an awesome daddy, this card is a thoughtful gesture that will surely make his day memorable.
- A SOLID GOLD HIT - Celebrate your dad with our the best dad card and gifts for dad. Whether you are on a lookout for Fathers Day gifts or a dad birthday gifts from daughter or son this card will be a...
- FOR THE BEST DAD - Our 'For the record' best dad ever gifts capture the essence of enduring love. With elegant designs and heartfelt messages, these papa gifts for him are the perfect way to express...
- CELEBRATING DAD'S JOURNEY - Birthdays and Father's Day commemorate significant chapters in your dad's life. From his first steps into fatherhood to the seasoned wisdom of his golden years. Explore our...
