1904) of Worcester, Massachusetts. Her father operated a large book and stationery store, but Howland took her inspiration from an English Valentine she had received from a business associate of her father. Intrigued with the idea of making similar Valentines, Howland began her business by importing paper lace and floral decorations from England. A writer in Graham's American Monthly observed in 1849, "Saint Valentine's Day... is becoming, nay it has become, a national holyday". The English practice of sending Valentine's cards was established enough to feature as a plot device in Gaskell's Mr. Elizabeth Harrison's Confessions (1851): "I burst into spending my holidays with my Valentine: 'The stationery store, but Howland took her inspiration from an English Valentine she had received from a business associate of her father.'
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