A phrase from historical newspaper personal ads, explained with real examples from the archive.
Someone to exchange letters with. Wanting a correspondent could be the first step toward marriage, or simply a wish for letters.
| Type | Historical language |
|---|---|
| Category | Reply and contact |
| Earliest example in the archive | January 21, 1865, Soldier's Letter |
| Most common | 1860s to the 1920s |
Before telephones were common, a courtship often began on paper. During the Civil War, women wrote to soldiers' papers asking for correspondents in the ranks, and the archive's 1865 letter from two women in Iowa is one of them. Later ads use would like to correspond in the same way.
OSKALOOSA, IOWA, Jan. 5th, 1865. MR. EDITOR:—Misses Mollie and Nellie present their compliments, and hope this letter will not be considered an intrusion. We, each of…
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. S., Democrat office.
WANTED—A young man of moral habits wishes a young lady correspondent. Object matrimony. Address, S. Martin, Silver City, New Mexico.
A gentleman, widower, age 60, holding an official position, wishes to correspond with a lady from 40 to 55, having means. Advertiser can introduce her to some of the…
A STRANGER SOLICITS CORRESPONDENCE of ladies who are matrimonially inclined, from the ages of 20 to 30 years; only those who are sincere need apply. Address "Siva," News…
PERSONAL—A good looking, intelligent young man of about 25 years of age, and of average moral character, who is unfortunately in a crippled financial condition, wishes…
RESPECTABLE WIDOW LADY wishes to correspond with GENTLEMAN, age about 48, with view to MATRIMONY. Strictly confidential. Address “Nellie,” P.O., Port Adelaide.
An industrious Scotchman, aged 30 years, wants to correspond with a frugal and industrious lady of 25 or 30 years, with a view to matrimony. Must exchange photographs.…
An Aspen lady would like to correspond with gentleman about forty years old object matrimony. Miner preferred. Address A. B. C., Aspen, Colo.
A lady would like to correspond with a middle-aged gentleman, object matrimony. No triflers need apply. A miner preferred. Address 1144, Times office.
CORRESPONDENCE with refined, healthy, educated American gentleman out of Denver, 45 to 55 years, not stout or undersized, with reasonable means; X-82, News.
WIDOW, 35 years; neat housekeeper; good cook; lonely; nice looking; would like correspond with man with some means. Reply T-82, Union.
I WISH to correspond with the party that rode with me to the depot on New Era motorcycle New Year, and helped me to find a room at Majestic hotel. J. J. Reid, Los…
AMERICAN GENTLEMAN, 40, with few thousand dollars, would like to correspond with a good kind lady of means. If interested, write Box 353, Manchester, N. H.
HEALTHY widower with comfortable home, wishes to correspond with unincumbered, healthy christian lady, 30 to 35 years, object matrimony. Box 33T, Republican. dn
REFINED, healthy bachelor, 45, best of references, wish to correspond with healthy lady, 30 to 40. Catholic preferred. Box 38-T Republican. dl
Will the gentleman who wrote me at Ottowa, Kan., and signed Tom, write again and give full name? (Signed) S. B. bs
FARMER, 34, desires correspond young lady take on dairy farm, view mat., genuine; Box B120, “Telegraph.”
RECEIVED letters Wednesday from lady 50, was waiting appointment, 8 o’clock. Reply letters again your full address 46 York street, Boulder.
The pen pal and, later, the slow exchange of messages on a personals app both descend from the correspondent.
Know a term we are missing? Suggest one.
How this fits into 170 years of personal ad shorthand: From Object Matrimony to LTR: How Personal Ads Learned to Talk in Code.
All dictionary entries · The Personals Archive · How to write a personal ad
The form is still open. Say who you are, what you want, and who it is for, and choose exactly who can see it. Free on iOS and Android.