The American Issue, December 20, 1912
Dublin Core
Title
The American Issue, December 20, 1912
Subject
This image shows what’s supposed to be a cute family moment. Children writing a letter to Santa for Christmas gifts which the parents would actually provide. The moment is ruined by the father’s absence due to drinking. It also highlights how the family provider fails in his role by spending money on alcohol rather than his family. Like other prohibition images, this focuses intensely on family, portraying alcohol as poison to American households.
Description
A brother and a sister are writing a letter to Santa for what they want for Christmas. Their father is in the background with his booze while his wife is working hard in the house. They will not get any presents unless their father stops drinking, and starts providing for them.
Creator
The American Issue (Westerville, Ohio)
Source
Library of Congress
Publisher
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL
Date
December 20, 1912
Rights
Public Domain
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Front comic of newspaper
Identifier
Library of Congress Control Number: sn2008060406
Coverage
Prohibition
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Comic on newspaper
Physical Dimensions
8.53 × 12.42 in
Files
Collection
Citation
The American Issue (Westerville, Ohio), “The American Issue, December 20, 1912,” Visuals of Prohibition, accessed September 28, 2026, https://www.prohibition-visuals.leadr.site/items/show/33.