This is Amy Wagenaar from the Historical Society of Michigan with a Michigan History moment. Ah, the Victorian era. A time of horse drawn carriages, bustles and parasols, top hats and walking sticks. It was a much simpler time in Michigan. Or was it? The rules for visiting or making calls and using the all important calling card were anything but simple. In fact, one misstep on the well beaten path of calling card etiquette could mean insulting a notable acquaintance or being branded as presumptuous. A visit to a typical middle class or upper class Victorian home began in the front hall. There a caller was met with three common a mirrored hall stand for holding hats, coats and umbrellas, straight back chairs and an ornate card receiver which held an array of calling cards. Usually the cards were collected by servants and deposited into the card receiver to be later sorted or reviewed by the gentleman or lady of the house. Some cards included a city and state, but most offered only the bearer's name. White or off white cards engraved with script type usually signified the ruling class, while cards decorated with colorful artwork tended to denote someone of a lesser class or lower social rank. And much like current business cards, the size of a calling card needed to fit into an acceptable range. He who presented an oversized card was considered flamboyant and cards that were too small were regarded as humorous. Etiquette books overflowed with rule after rule concerning calling cards, but they also offered a simple gesture that could make a card even more meaningful. In Victorian times, elation, empathy or enlightenment would be be conveyed by a simple bent corner of a calling card. A bend on the right hand upper corner meant that the individual was just paying respects and did not expect to be admitted. The left hand upper corner expressed congratulations. The left hand lower corner symbolized condolences. And finally, a crimp on the right hand lower corner showed that the caller was going to be out of town for an extended period. Personal calling cards were definitely an art form. Lost now, but in their time, these grandparents of today's business cards were a crucial part of Michigan's Victorian society. This Michigan history moment was brought to you by michiganhistorymagazine.org.