Valentine collection on display at BYU

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Feb 14, 2008

PROVO -- A valentine exhibit, "Sentiment and Satire," is on display during February in Room 1130 of the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University. The library acquired the collection of original Victorian valentines in 1969.

During the Victorian Era, in the 19th century, valentines became intensely popular and ranged from the rude and slightly vulgar to the over-embellished and truly sentimental.

These rude and crude valentines were popular among the lower classes and were used as a way to mock the upper classes. Though they were mass-produced, each colorful valentine was probably the work of a hired woman or child.

The exhibit is available Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free.