“Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.”

Many years ago, I worked as an archivist for the Newspaper Association of America. Basically, it’s the national association for all newspaper publishers/owners. One of the great things about working at NAA’s library was the fabulous special collection of original newspapers and other documents that dated back to the 18th century and were once personally owned by publishers like Joseph Pulitzer.

But this time a year, our reference desk was inundated with information about one of the most famous editorial letters ever written–the response to an eight year old girl’s question about whether or not Santa Claus exists. Our special collection had one the last remaining original copies of this letter which ran in the New York’s Sun newspaper, and every year we sent out copies to whoever requested one.

The letter, reprinted below (it’s now in the public domain) was published on September 21, 1897 by veteran newsman Francis…