Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: Sunday schools

Handwritten note on the other side of this calendar: "Ida Massimore. For faithful attendance at Sunday School. From your teacher, Mrs. E. W. Gregory." Mrs. Gregory is wearing a cross necklace in the blue-tinted cyanotype photo on this calendar, which she used as an attendance reward for her Sunday school students.

In 1900, the Sunday schools of churches in Landisville and Salunga, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, organized a trip to Penryn Park, a trolley park that was located about eighteen miles away near Cornwall in Lebanon County (YMCA Camp Shand, a children's summer camp, occupies the park site today). Grand Excursion and Picnic By Landisville and Salunga Sunday-schools, Wednesday, July 25, 1900, Penryn Park. Adults' ticket, 45 cents. Pluck Print.

The Sunday school of the Third Moravian Church of Philadelphia used share certificates like this to raise funds for the purchase of a church bell. The sale of all 2,500 shares at 10 cents each would have raised $250, and perhaps that would have covered the cost of a bell in the 1870s, which is when these certificates were issued. For another nineteenth-century fundraising strategy that involved buying bricks rather than shares, see The Owner of This Card Has Purchased One Brick in the People's Church, Boston, Mass., ca. 1880 (below). Third Moravian Church Sunday School, Harrowgate, Philadelphia. 2,500 shares. 10 cents each. This is to certify that John Diehne is entitled to one shares in the bell of the Third Moravian Church at Harrogate, Philadelphia. Chas. Thieley, president. J. Lietz, secretary, Senseman & Son, Printers, 416 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia.

The inside of a Rally Day Treasure Chest , which has a postcard backing. Mouse over the image to see the closed (folded) treasure chest . Next Sunday is Rally Day The day of 100% attendance in our school. We must have you present to make our goal! Let's make our school better than ever! The contents of the treasure chest are all for you: The Book of Books. A Place of Prayer. A Place of Song. A Happy Place. God Is Here! Helpful Friends. Truth and Honor Taught Here. Golden Hours.

A folded die-cut Rally Day postcard. Mouse over the Rally Day Treasure Chest to open it and see what's inside .

"Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16.24." Compare this with the advertising trade card for J. G. Lutkenhoff, Dealer in Dry Goods and Notions, Covington, Kentucky :

"Be sure to get back for Rally Day. 'The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.' Psalm 19:1." Rally Day is a special celebration held by some Protestant churches in September or October to promote family attendance at church services and children's participation in Sunday school. This postcard, which was used to remind church members (and astronauts, too, I guess) to attend Rally Day activities, likely dates to the 1960s when the Space Race was taking place. For some earlier aeronautical Rally Day reminders, see Rally Day Airship and Visit Our Sunday-School Air Port :

"Diligence. The hand of the diligent maketh rich. Prov. X. 4." Stamped on the back of the card: "Union S.S., Churchville, Penn'a." Handwritten name on the back: "Kate." Kate evidently received this small Sunday school card as a reward for her attendance (or perhaps for some activity like reciting a Bible verse) at the Union Sunday School in the appropriately named town of Churchville, Pennsylvania.

A poetic invitation to a church fundraising event featuring pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Day. The card is not dated, and I have not been able to determine the city or state where James P. Wolff's residence on South Broad Street may have been located. A Google search turned up a brief mention of a similar gathering in 1896: "A Pumpkin Social at Thanksgiving was a novelty, the proceeds furnishing eleven baskets of food for our poorest families" ( Sixteenth Annual Report of the General Board of Managers of the Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the Year 1896-97 , Cincinnati: Western Methodist Book Concern Press, 1897, p. 115). -------- Pumpkin Social Thanksgiving Day Evening Residence Mr. J. P. Wolff, South Broad St. A pumpkin seed in my garden fell, And it grew, and grew. And it said to the Rose of Sharon blossoms "A Thanksgiving pumpkin I'll be to you. Let me be of use to get, Money on the new church debt. My heart when freed form all its eyes, Makes delicious pumpkin pies. Call your friends and make a feast. Give each one a great big piece, Accompanied by a glass of milk. Soon over town, 'twill be the talk. Some wax candles you must put, In the arm holes of my coat, For a jack o'lantern fine, On the gathering throng to shine. In my pocket there is room for a lot of silver coin. Even my seeds may be of use, While concealed they're hard to guess." Now have the roses of Sharon agreed, To the plan of Thansgiv'g pumpkin seed So we've come to invite you to the treat, At the home of Jas. Wolff, South Broad St. Remember the time, Thanksgiving day, Don't anyone think of remaining away. Bring all your friends, don't let the time pass Without lending your aid to our S.S. class.

"Search me O God and know my heart. Ps. CXXXIX.23."

"Looking unto Jesus. Heb. XII.2."

"Children, obey your parents in all things. Col. III.20. Marcus Ward & Co." For another Bible verse card by Marcus Ward, see Be Sober, Be Vigilant .

"Sorry you were sick last Sunday. Want to assure you of my sincere sympathy . Hope you will soon be well and able to meet with our class. A. B. C. No. 41. Copyright, 1913, the Standard Publishing Co., Cincinnati, O." For other don't-forget-to-attend-Sunday-school postcards, see One Out of Our Sunday-School Class Last Sunday and Hello! Who Is This? You're the One We're After .

"Next Sunday will be Rally Day in the school. Will you help make it a grand success by being present early yourself? Bring someone not already a member. Urge your parents to come. cordially yours."

"Richland and Newmanstown Joint Sunday Schools' excursion to Hershey Park, Saturday, July 7, 1917. Richland, Pa., adult's ticket, 65 cts. Special train leaves Sheridan at 8:00 a.m., Richland at 8:05. Returning, leave Hershey 8:15 p.m."

"Hello! Who is this? You're the one we're after. Missed you last Sunday. Come to Sunday school next Sunday sure! A. B. C. No. 56. Copyright, 1917, the Standard Publishing Co., Cincinnati, O." For other don't-forget-to-attend-Sunday-school postcards, see One Out of Our Sunday-School Class Last Sunday and Sorry You Were Sick Last Sunday .

See also a detail showing a close-up of the flag image (below). Lasting Impressions Stare at this flag, dear friend, Then look away, The image still stands by you. If next Sunday, you'll attend Our Rally Day, Like impressions will then ensue. Directions. Take card in both hands, look steadily at small diamond shaped speck on flag, try not to blink, and count to 40 slow, then look up at sky or a light wall and picture will appear greatly enlarged. Keep looking at one spot for 10 seconds. Result--the actual picture will appear and disappear several times.

See also the full version of this postcard (below). Directions. Take card in both hands, look steadily at small diamond shaped speck on flag, try not to blink, and count to 40 slow, then look up at sky or a light wall and picture will appear greatly enlarged. Keep looking at one spot for 10 seconds. Result--the actual picture will appear and disappear several times.