During a recent clean out at my parents’ house, I found four postcard related to Nobel Prize winner Philip Showalter Hench.  The first card is a card featuring Third Presbyterian Sunday School in Pittsburgh.  The message is written by a 13-year-old Philip Hench to Master Russell Showalter (age 13).  Hench writes that his father Jacob Hench was the superintendent of the church and that he (Hench) was using “your pencils” and “they are fine.” The card is dated 2/21/1909.  It appears that Philip and Russell were quite chummy at a young age.

 

The second card is a Christmas/New Year card from Philip to Russell from 1914.  They would have both been 18 years old.  Philip wishes Russel (one l) “Xmas wishes Your cousin P.S. Hench.”  While both of these cards contain signatures they are both “juvenile or under 18 years old” signatures.  Nonetheless–both unique and cool.

 

Two more postcards from Clara Hench (Philip’s mother)–one to Russell and the other to Mrs. Frank Showalter (Russell’s mother).  One is from the Ridgeview Park Hotel in Pittsburh from August 17, 1908 (or it could be 1903).  The other is from Highland Park in Pittsburgh dated Oct. 9, 1914.   She mentions Atcheson and Philip in her message.