In the modern day, few Thanksgiving cards can be found in shops, but earlier in the nation's history Thanksgiving post cards were popular. This card, sent to a friend here by a well-wisher in 1912, was typical. It was published by Raphael Tuck & Sons of London, art publishers to the royal family, and was lithographed in Germany. President George Washington in 1789 issued the first presidential Thanksgiving proclamation. It was in honor of the new Constitution. During the 19th century each state appointed its own date for the annual Thanksgiving day. Due to the efforts of Mrs. Sarah J. Hale, editor of Godey's Lady's Book, President Abraham Lincoln, October, 1863, by presidential proclamation, designated the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving day for all the United States. Each succeeding president made similar proclamations, until President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 moved the day up to the third Thursday of November. Two years later, however, Congress, by joint resolution, set the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving day, a national holiday. Kansas City Times, November 26, 1970.
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