Herman: 1940s Lonely Hearts Search

In this biography, author Wendell Affield researches the life of his stepfather, Herman. Follow Herman’s four-year search for a wife through Lonely Heart’s Club publications. Herman, a shy WWII veteran, eventually responds to the personal ad of a New York pianist with four children. In 1949, Barbara moves out to his rural Minnesota farm with her young children, including the author.

Part II of this book includes a rare 52-page Lonely Hearts Catalogue from 1945. This book is a great resource for those researching family history. It is an excellent glimpse of post WWII womens’ plight in the United States and an intriguing text for Women’s Studies programs.