Explore American History Through Letters

Get "snail mail" from Lincoln, Clay, FDR, & other noteworthy historical figures.

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Three-Month Membership

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12+ Real Letters

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First-Class Postage

Order three months today for just $79.

As Seen In

as featured in ny times history .com buzzfeed mental floss and others

— Andrew W.

★★★★★

“Gave Letterjoy to my Dad for Father’s Day. He loves the letters. Best gift I ever gave him!” — Lisa L.

★★★★★

“My husband said this is the best Father’s Day gift he has ever gotten. He loves the letters!” — Susan L.

★★★★★

“Got our first one yesterday! My 12 year old history obsessed son loved it.” — Jen M.

★★★★★

“My father really enjoys his letters. Received his first one after Father's Day and looks forward each week to the next one.” — Robert K.

★★★★★

“Got my dad Letterjoy for his birthday, and the first one arrived today. Heard from him right away - he loved it!”

Meet Your Future Pen Pals (From The Past)

Letters and telegrams from Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt

President Theodore Roosevelt is among our most popular pen pals, writing to discuss everything from the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine to the construction of the Panama Canal and his fight against corruption in New York City.

Letters and telegrams from Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart

Legendary aviator Amelia Earhart wrote Letterjoy members to discuss some of her most famous flights and her infamous final journey.

Letters from Thurgood Marshall

Thurgood Marshall

Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall wrote Letterjoy members to discuss life on the court and his experience as an expert litigator for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Among other cases discussed are "The Groveland Case," and Marshall's work defending GIs in Korea.

Letters from Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie

Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie wrote Letterjoy members to discuss how he built his empire and his reacton to the Homestead Strike of 1892.

Letters from Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams

First Lady Abigail Adams is another frequent Letterjoy author, writing about her experience during the Boston Blockade and the American Revolution and to advise her son and husband on their budding political careers.

Letters from William T. Sherman

William T. Sherman

General William Tecumseh Sherman wrote Letterjoy members to discuss his famous "March To The Sea" and the rationale behind his controversial decision to burn the city of Atlanta.

Letters from CIA Director Allen Dulles

Allen W. Dulles

Long-time CIA Director Allen W. Dulles wrote Letterjoy members to discuss notable CIA programs and operations, including the U-2 Spy Plane, Operation Paperclip, and the Bay Of Pigs invasion.

Letters from Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony wrote Letterjoy members to discuss her arrest and trial for voting as a woman and her work advocating for women's suffrage.

Letters from Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

President Lincoln frequently writes to Letterjoy members. Topics covered include Civil War military strategy, his debates with Stephen Douglas, his life as a circuit-riding country lawyer, and more.

Letters from Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass wrote Letterjoy members to discuss life in slavery, his famous memoir, and his work attempting to rescue the struggling Freedman's Savings Bank in the aftermath of the Civil War.

Letters from Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight D. Eisenhower

President Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote Letterjoy members to discuss his efforts to de-escalate the Cold War and his work as Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe.

Letters from Henry Clay

Henry Clay

Henry Clay wrote Letterjoy members to discuss foreign policy in his role as Secretary of State under President John Quincy Adams. He's also written to discuss his work in Congress as the "Great Compromiser".

Letters From Julius & Ethel Rosenberg

Julius & Ethel Rosenberg

Julius & Ethel Rosenberg wrote Letterjoy members to discuss life on death row, their claims of innocence, and their convictions for spying on behalf of the Soviet Union.

These are just a few examples of the figures Letterjoy members receive letters from. A more thorough list can be found here

Member Testimonials

★★★★★

"My 12 year old history obsessed son loved his Letterjoy. It’s not just the letter- it’s the info that comes with it. My son is on Scholar Bowl and he sees these as a treasure trove of info. Took it to school today to share with team. Thank you!"

— Lauren, Florida

★★★★★

"If you are looking for a great holiday gift for someone in politics or who likes history I have really enjoyed @Letterjoy . They send you a historical letter each week and they are fascinating. One week might be from a WWII general & the next week about natural ice in the 1920s."

— John, Alabama

★★★★★

"We did the Letterjoy thing as a Christmas gift for our son, and I’m definitely the biggest beneficiary. I read them aloud to the whole family, in the accent/voice I imagine each author would have had."

— Stephanie, New York

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About The Letterjoy Experience

Legendary Pen Pals

Each week, you’ll receive a reproduction of a real letter from American history in your (physical) mailbox.

Over the course of your membership, you’ll read dispatches from a variety of famous or eloquent historical pen pals. Recent letter writers include Benjamin Franklin, Sitting Bull, Sojourner Truth, and Douglas MacArthur.

Timely & Timeless Topics

Each month, you'll receive letters from a few different eras. You may find yourself reading letters from infamous Wild West Gunslingers one week and Manhattan Project scientists or Civil Rights icons in the next.

Old-School Charm

No screens are required to enjoy Letterjoy. Opening your letters is as “old-school” an experience as can be. Each is mailed in an ivory envelope with a real first-class stamp, and all of your letters will arrive on fine stationery, vellum, or parchment with letterhead and other design touches engineered to transport you back in time.

The Context To Dig Deeper

Alongside each of your letters, you’ll receive “the postscript”, an article written by our expert researchers with detailed background information on your letter.

Each postscript is brimming with historical details perfect for inspiring an afternoon of reading or helping you win your next pub trivia game.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Letterjoy gives you a reason to check your mailbox, something to look forward to every week, and the opportunity to study history in a fun & intimate format.

For gift-givers, Letterjoy is a constant reminder that you care. Each time a Letterjoy letter arrives in your recipient's mailbox, they'll think of you.

We hear often stories about gift recipients who call the person who gave them Letterjoy whenever a new letter arrives to discuss it.

For recipients, Letterjoy is an immersive offline escape. Our letters, produced on premium stationery or parchment, are the perfect break from your overwhelming email inbox or social media feed.

Anyone! We have seriously seen it all. Letterjoy is particularly popular as a present for lawyers, grandparents, teachers, veterans, and college students, but we've seen Letterjoy gifted to governors, comedians, plumbers, and more.

We have gift members on six continents, including spouses, bosses, parents, grandparents, children, great grandparents, and more.

We have also seen Letterjoy gifted to people of all professions, from top politicians and captains of industry to local reverends and teachers.

Of course! Treat yourself to any of our packages. You deserve something to look forward to as you check the mail each week.

Yes. The historical letters we mail to your door are reproductions of real letters (or telegrams) written by legendary figures and eloquent eyewitnesses. They are sourced from some of the finest archives, special collections, and private sources on the planet.

For more information on sourcing, and the philosophical debate over what constitutes authenticity (and our stance on it), reach out to Support[at]letterjoy[dot]co.

Our signature American History collection tells the story of our nation from 1776 through 1960.

A few of the major eras covered include the American Revolution (obviously), the early republic, the Civil War, World War I, the Industrial Revolution, World War II, the Civil Rights movement, and the Cold War.

A few of the specific events this collection includes letters from are The Alamo, Pearl Harbor, John Brown's raid, and the Constitutional Convention.

For the most detailed and up-to-date list of topics you'll receive letters about, please refer to this page.

In addition to this collection, we offer a growing list of additional topic-specific collections. Our current offering includes:

Please Note: All collections with the exception of our signature American History collection are offered only in six-month packages.

We do. You can download our customizable explanation letter here. Mail it, email it, send it as a telegram, or wrap it and put it under the tree. However you deliver it, our welcome letter is an excellent way to introduce your gift.

In addition to our main "Letters From American History" collection, we offer a few topic-specific "special collections". Please Note: Special collections are only available in six-month increments.

These are the special collections currently available for purchase:

Yes. All Letterjoy packages include free USPS First-Class postage. Members with mailing addresses outside the United States will incur a modest international postage surcharge.

Every Letterjoy letter is accompanied by "The Postscript," a detailed article about your letter, the person who wrote it, and the events described within it.

For more details on how we write "The Postscript" and why many Letterjoy members consider it the highlight of their experience, visit this page.

Yes! No screens are required to enjoy Letterjoy. Our letters arrive via First-Class mail, and "the Postscript," the article about each letter, arrives in the very same envelope.

Letterjoy is a great way to decompress and disconnect from the digital world.

Of course you can! Our samples page has high-resolution PDF scans of a few of our past letters.

Yes. We mail to addresses around the world. Charges for additional postage may apply (and letters may take 2-3 weeks to arrive, depending on the quality of your local postal carrier).

Letters are sent via first-class mail once per week. Newly activated orders usually go out in the first mailing of the month you selected at checkout.

If you purchase within a week of the start of your start month, your first letter will (in most cases) go out with our 2nd mailing of the month.

Recently moved? On an extended vacation? You can change your address right from our self-serve member portal (Members.letterjoy.co).

We’re here to help! Visit our support page or send us an email. We’ll be in touch soon with an answer.

You can also reach us by letter at 1101 14th St N.W., Suite 910, Washington, DC 20005.

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