I inherited several newspapers from the 1950 and 60s

The Moon landing, JFK assassination, Ask Ann Landers and much more covered in the pages of newspapers from decades ago.

My grandmother was a bit of a hoarder, a fact that became even more obvious when we sorted through her belongings when she passed away about a decade ago. There were church bulletins (“The Admonisher”), a draft deferment letter, assorted bills, letters from family members (including a few from me) and a treasure trove of miscellaneous materials.

But there was also a large tub of assorted newspapers from the past several decades. My grandparents raised their kids in Chicago and there are newspapers from that time (Chicago Daily News, Chicago Tribune) but other places my grandparents lived and visited (Rocky Mountain News, The Northern Wyoming Daily News, The New York Post). And Ireland? There’s some Irish heritage in our family, but I’m not sure the story behind these newspapers, like the Irish Independent.

It’s possible my grandmother was especially interested in “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland.

The tub stayed with my grandfather until he passed away earlier this year. And now this tub is in my possession. I had had my eyes on it for a while. Below are just a few of the news articles and headlines that graced the pages of these newspapers decades ago. (I plan to make this a series of posts.)

The Moon Landing

“They took their first steps onto the moon cautiously, like prudent boys testing the first ice of winter on a country pond,” is how the New York Post chose to lead their headline story on “Moonday, July 21, 1969.” The author chose a second terrible metaphor to describe the first men on the moon as “plodding heavily like tired old cops on a beat in Staten Island,” which perhaps didn’t sound ridiculous to New Yorkers in 1969 like it does to me.

Many papers covered not just the reaction at home but around the world to this moment in human history. The pope tuned in, as did various world leaders. TV sets around the globe watched the moment and “enthusiasm spilled into Communist countries as Russia’s Luna 15 mission finished distant second to Apollo in Eastern Europe,” a not-so-subtle dig at our competitors in the Space Race.

Apparently, enthusiasm did not spill into America’s combat troops in Saigon since many GIs “agreed that it was a fine scientific achievement and they were praying for the safe return of the astronauts. But they wondered what it had to do with the war [in Vietnam].” As one soldier put it: “You might think a country that can put a man on the moon could end a crummy war like this.” One wonders if this was the first use of the phrase, “If we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we XYZ.” African Americans and “the young” also did not share the unqualified enthusiasm.

The newspapers also covered the second moon landing. The astronauts (whose names few people remember) described themselves as “covered with moon dust but happy.”

JFK Assassination

Two days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, The Park Forest Star, which served a suburb of Chicago where my mother grew up, reported on plans for the national day of mourning that would occur the following day. All schools would be closed, meetings were postponed, a planned helicopter arrival of Santa was cancelled.

Local churches had seen a flood of visitors as residents sought solace amid the tragedy. Special church services, masses and religious events were planned.

As the paper reported, “Indicative of the impact of Mr. Kennedy’s death on south suburban residents was the great volume of telephone calls which followed the first news reports. In early afternoon, one-third to one-half of the people attempting to place a call were unable to obtain a dial tone.”

The Northern Wyoming Daily News

Among the newspapers was the February 14, 1959, issue of The Northern Wyoming Daily News. It doesn’t take much sleuthing to figure out why my grandmother kept this newspaper: it included the engagement announcement of my grandparents:

Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Walton of Laramie announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Carolyn Sue, to Franklin Ribble, son of Mrs. George Ribble of Worland.¹

But there were other fascinating items in the news more than 65 years ago:

Ask Ann Landers

An earnest young woman asked the popular advice columnist about navigating some familial tension with her elitist parents:

Dear Ann: I’m 21 and a college graduate. I plan to become engaged to a grand fellow. His father was killed in a logging accident and he had to quit school in the 10th grade to support his mother and the younger children.

My parents keep telling me I’ll regret marrying beneath myself intellectually. They say it will be a “disgrace” when the engagement announcement appears in the paper and mentions I’m a college graduate and my fiance went to the 10th grade.

I love this boy deeply and admire him for doing so well without a formal education. He has an excellent position and a bright future. What can I say to my parents when they harp on this?

Ann told this young woman, “to make no apologies for your fiancé’s abbreviated schooling,” and that it sounds like he has lots of good qualities.

Spiritual Values Needed to Combat Juvenile Crimes

On the front page was a report from New York about a U.S. Senate subcommittee investigating “youngsters in crime”:

Judge John Warren Hill…said that a return to normalcy was the best prevention of juvenile crime.

“We are overemphasizing material things such as money and credit and losing sight of spiritual values,” he said. “Homes of this kind produce selfishness and self-centeredness. Often they become broken homes.”

Such “disturbed and unsettled conditions” lead to juvenile delinquincy, Hill testified.

The paper also includes an article headlined, “Communists Declare War on All Christians in China.” Various news about churches in the area is offered, including “Theme Announced for Church Service,” which reports that “The sermon theme at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church Sunday will be on passages from the book of Revelation.” And in case readers wanted to know what music was going to be sung, the paper reported, “The special music by the choir will be ‘Come Hither Now and Ponder.’”

The residents of Northern Wyoming were very well-informed.

1. My grandfather’s father, George, died when my grandfather was very young. It was customary in the 1950s to describe a couple as “Mr. and Mrs. [Husband’s Name],” which is why my great-grandmother is described as “Mrs. George Ribble.” Also, my grandfather didn’t have a middle name, and it's likely neither did his father.