A Look Back

HALLMARK® KEEPSAKE ORNAMENTS

In 1973, Hallmark Cards Inc. — long known for producing sentimental greeting cards — introduced a line of Keepsake ornaments. According to the company, these were intended to help people capture meaningful moments, honor special relationships, relive timeless memories, and express their personal interests and identities. The first Keepsake ornaments looked essentially like greeting cards on traditional ball-shaped ornaments. Over time, figural ornaments (ornaments sculpted into three-dimensional shapes) became much more popular.

DID YOU KNOW? / The Henry Ford recently acquired a collection of more than 6,600 Hallmark Keepsake ornaments dating from their origins in 1973 to 2009. Illustrating the depth and everexpanding scope of Keepsake ornament topics, the collection will be on permanent display as part of the Miniature Moments: A Journey Through Hallmark® Keepsake Ornaments exhibition, which debuts this winter in Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. cThe Henry Ford’s

Hallmark Keepsake ornament collection spans 36 years, and includes traditional ball-shaped examples such as “Grandmother” 1982 (top) as well as figural-style options like

“Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat: The Cat Arrives” 2003 (at right).

THE HENRY FORD ARCHIVE OF AMERICAN INNOVATION