54 personal ads from American newspapers, 1855 to 1944, transcribed from the original pages. Each comes with its source, a plain-English reading, and who it was written for.
For as long as there have been newspapers, people have used them to say what they want. The ads collected here come from American newspapers that are now in the public domain, most from the decades when a personal ad had to do everything in a few lines: describe the writer, state the wish, and name the reader it was meant for. Every transcription links to the original page at the Library of Congress, and every ad is dated and citable.
New to old personals? Start with The History of Personal Ads, a short guide to where these ads ran, the four kinds of notice you will find here, and how the column changed.
A note on the capital letters. The transcriptions keep each ad exactly as it was printed, including its capitals. Newspapers set the first line of every classified ad in capital letters to make it stand out, then switched to lowercase wherever that line ended. That is why an ad can begin A YOUNG LADY OF MEANS WILL BE and continue in lowercase, and why the capitals sometimes stop in the middle of a word, as in AS REquested. It is how the ads appeared in the paper, not an error in the transcription.
Looking for what the shorthand means? The Personals Dictionary explains the language of the form, from nineteenth-century phrases to modern abbreviations. For the form’s life in fiction, from Sherlock Holmes to opera, read Personal Ads in Literature.
INFORMATION WANTED OF WM. FARRILL, who left Cabbottsville, Massachusetts, three years ago last March. His wife is now stopping at the St. Charles…
IF MRS. D. E. HAS RETURNED TO NEW YORK, SHE will much oblige her friend (who had the pleasure of paying some attention to her in the cars to…
IMPATIENCE.—YOUR LETTER RECEIVED. HAVE NO one I could trust. Am very anxious to see you, but am perplexed how to arrange a meeting. Can you come to…
LATIMER.—I WAITED AT NINETEENTH TILL 8. Scarcely expected you. Can't we name Saturday, at 7—14—2, for half an hour or more? I would name to-morrow,…
CORRESPONDENTS WANTED.—TWO GAY Buckeys, whose sweethearts have deserted them and turned Butternuts, wish to correspond with as many young Ladies as…
OSKALOOSA, IOWA, Jan. 5th, 1865. MR. EDITOR:—Misses Mollie and Nellie present their compliments, and hope this letter will not be considered an…
PERSONAL.—If Miss SARAH HALL, formerly of Richmond, Va., is in the city, she will please drop a line through the Post Office, to ANDERSON.
RETURNED TO THE OLD PLACE, 65 (NEW NO. 118).—Would Charley please call and oblige? CARRIE WHITE.
PERSONAL. A lady wishes correspondence with a gentleman of cents and refinement. Object, matrimony. Photographs exchanged. Address, PYCHON L. LEE,…
ELAINE WILL ADDRESS LANCELOT AS REquested.
PERSONAL—FRIDAY, 5 P. M. WILL LADY IN black in drug store who recognized gents on corner send address to A 16, Tribune office.
A YOUNG LADY OF MEANS WILL BE pleased to correspond with a young gentleman of position and polished habits. Ultimate object, matrimony. Address E. A.…
PERSONAL—FROM H. TO L.—CALL MONDAY afternoon sure. I leave the city on Tuesday.
PERSONAL—"YOURS FAITHFULLY" IS VERY anxious to hear from you; remained all the week, and will as much longer as possible; believe in him under any…
PERSONAL—A LADY OF 40 DESIRES THE ACquaintance of a few gentlemen over that age. Address X 58, Tribune office.
PERSONAL—INDIANA-AV. CAR TO TWENTY-third-st., 5:30 p. m. yesterday: will "Bouquet" (second occasion) grant acquaintance? Address "Opposite," Z 55,…
PERSONAL—TWO LADIES YESTERDAY P. M., Washington-st., last at Boston store. Short lady please address Y 99. Tribune office.
PERSONAL—BALCONY, SEC. C, SATURDAY afternoon, Haverly's. If agreeable, will lady please communicate with gentleman on right? Address E 71, Tribune…
PERSONAL—A YOUNG MAN WITH a good business wishes to form the acquaintance of some lady with some means; object matrimony. Please address, in…
WANTED—A young man of moral habits wishes a young lady correspondent. Object matrimony. Address, S. Martin, Silver City, New Mexico.
WILL YOUNG LADY WHO WORE BOUQUET OF pink roses on navy-yard car, and got off at 8th and G sts. s.e., at 6 p.m. April 24th, communicate with gentleman…
WILL YOUNG LADY WHO, FRIDAY EVENING about 8 o'clock, rode in 14th. st. car with a gentleman from L st. and changed for Georgetown, and who noticed…
PERSONAL—CANNOT SEE YOU TODAY; Saturday's letter received; will see you soon.
GENTLEMAN, age 30, has rich claim Klondike, wishes lady of some means to accompany him. Box 1479, Call office.
PERSONAL—A HARDWORKING, HONEST widow, struggling to support her little family, would like to meet a good and true-hearted old gentleman (widower) of…
AM A NEW YORK MAN, young, good-looking, clever; returned this week from Atlin solely for purpose meeting young maiden or widow matrimonially inclined…
MIDDLE-AGED widow, with some means, is desirous of meeting gentleman, with view to matrimony. Address S 8, Bee.
I AM a business man, aged 40, good home and several thousand dollars; would marry. Address S 9, Bee.
Mrs. Isabell Moore, Booneville, Miss., wants information of her brother, George Campbell. Was near Cotton Wood Point, Mo., when last heard from, two…
WILL the tall gentleman who sat opposite brunette young lady on Park avenue car Saturday about four p. m. address U. 56, care Bee.
A GENTLEMAN, 32, fairly good looking, good dresser and fond of good time, desires to form the acquaintance of an attractive brunette, not over 25.…
YOUNG lady who wore lavender dress, got on Farnam street car going west Saturday, little after noon, can meet refined gentleman, who is an admirer,…
FARNAM car, between 3 and 4 Sunday; will good-looking young woman dressed in black grant interview to tall gentleman who sat opposite?
MIDDLE-AGED lady would like to meet congenial gentleman; object sociability. Mable Dodge, General Delivery, City.
HONORABLE, INTELLIGENT, WELL to do farmer, widower, aged 45, wishes the acquaintance of a lady not over 40. Object matrimony. Address by letter, J.…
LADY WOULD LIKE TO SEE GENTLEman that asked her to go to Branning's Chili parlor on Saturday night, June 22nd. Address N-7, Tribune.
LADY WOULD LIKE TO SEE OR hear from gentleman who so kindly assisted her to her home on night of July 11, when she fainted. Address N 16, Tribune.
GENTLEMAN, 45, WANTS TO MEET Gentile lady of loving disposition, 35-40; object matrimony. N-46, Tribune.
A WIDOW LADY, STRANGER IN city, well educated, some means, would like to meet a gentleman not over 45; object matrimony; no triflers need answer.…
PERSONAL—Harry Horgan; write to Pat as soon as possible.
REFINED widow, 42, excellent housekeeper, fine cook, desires to meet elderly gentleman of sufficient means to provide comfortable home; object…
WILL the lady who occupied, with others, the second box from the stage on the right hand side of the second floor of the Tivoli, on the evening of…
A gentleman of 40 in moderate circumstances, wishes to get acquainted with lady, object matrimony. No trifler need apply. Address J. A. P., this…
AMERICAN GENTLEMAN, 40, with few thousand dollars, would like to correspond with a good kind lady of means. If interested, write Box 353, Manchester,…
WIDOWER of 45 wishes acquaintance of lady with view to matrimony. Box 210 Tribune.
WILL the young lady who before marriage bore the name of Ella Mae Bowers please communicate at once with the undersigned on matter of grave…
WOULD like to meet girl to go hiking to Portland, Ore. Call Miss Anderson, 573 24th street.
I WANT the acquaintance of a young lady for a young gentleman friend of mine. She should be about 22—23 years of age, rather pretty, of medium…
INTELLIGENT YOUNG LADY, 25 years of age, brunette, taller than medium height, considered attractive, both in personality and appearance, refined and…
PRETTY, intelligent American girl 22, from wealthy parentage, seeks acquaintance with young good-looking professional man, brunette, from orhtodox…
WISH TO HEAR FROM ADVANCED GREGG student or stenographer employed who would like to study shorthand evenings Address Box 67-A. Star office.
A CLUB IS BEING FORMED FOR NON-smoking, cultured, middle-aged people. Write fully. Box 394-H. Star.
YOUNG WOMAN ATTORNEY will share modern cottage, Lake Jackson, Va., with congenial couple, girls or service wife; furn. transp. D. C. daily; must love…
IF YOU PLAY SKAT, communicate with Box 389-K, Star.
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