F is for Father’s Day #AtoZChallenge
The A to Z Challenge asks bloggers to post 26 posts, one for each letter of the English alphabet, in April. Most of us choose to make these posts on a particular theme. My theme for 2023 is 1943 Washington D.C., the setting of the novel that I’m writing. Visit daily in April for a new post on my topic.
F is for Father’s Day
Father’s Day in 1943 was Sunday, June 20.
The Washington Post ran a contest for the “Ideal Father” during the first half of the month of June 1943. The previous year’s Ideal Father, Sgt. William C. Harpold, was interviewed about his experience in the article containing the initial appeal for letters to nominate dads. He said that the award had done him and his family “a world of good.”
It gave me something to think about and a great deal to live up to. You see, I’m still stationed at Marine Corps Headquarters in Arlington, Va., and I have to drive 30 miles to work each day from the farm we purchased recently near Brandywine, Md. What with commuting, taking care of our livestock, working in the garden and everything, sometimes my disposition isn’t as good as it should be–and then I remember that I was chosen as an ideal father, after all, and I ought to live up to it.
Several announcements appeared in the paper over the next two weeks, requesting nomination letters before the June 15 deadline.
Apparently, the “dad joke” was a thing even back in 1943, although it didn’t have that title. One of the prompts the Post provided to inspire nominations was “How is his supply of jokes?”
From a photo shoot for a June 1943 Collier’s magazine cover. Photographer, Tonie Frissell. From Library of Congress.
On June 18, the Washington Post announced that the Ideal Father of 1943 was Edward R. Curtis, a D.C. fireman detailed to protect the White House in the event of an air raid or other fire. He was nominated by his daughter, 13-year-old Edith Curtis, in a very moving letter that was published in full.
As might be expected in the war years, besides his usual fatherly attributes like generosity and being a good pal to his two daughters, Mr. Curtis was also a patriot. He bought war bonds, planned and cooked nutritious foods around ration points, and repaired things instead of buying new so that valuable resources could be used in the war effort.
Here are the Washington Post articles that informed this post:
Post begins 'ideal father' quest today. (1943, Jun 01). The Washington Post (1923-1954) Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/post-begins-ideal-father-quest-today/docview/151648181/se-2 Post seeks 'ideal dad' nominations. (1943, Jun 02). The Washington Post (1923-1954) Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/post-seeks-ideal-dad-nominations/docview/151645842/se-2 Letter written by his daughter tips scales for him. (1943, Jun 18). The Washington Post (1923-1954) Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/letter-written-his-daughter-tips-scales-him/docview/151679613/se-2 Curtis, E. (1943, Jun 18). Ideal pop's daughter shows talent as ace press agent. The Washington Post (1923-1954) Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/ideal-pops-daughter-shows-talent-as-ace-press/docview/151673214/se-2
I don’t know if there is such a thing as an “ideal” dad although mine was pretty great.
This is such an interesting theme and so valuable for your book. I look forward to reading more.
My dad could definitely have qualified in the humor department — he was a font of jokes and droll stories. Cooking? Not so much.
It must have been quite a morale booster to have something like that going during the war. Who got to decide the winner?
I’m not sure. The articles mention “judges” but never describe who they are. The nomination letters were sent to the “Father’s Day Editor,” so my guess is that it was a team selected by the editorial staff.
I love that lots of jokes was considered an important factor! My dad is especially good with doggerel.
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