Photo Gallery · Season’s Greetings

Christmas Cards

Every holiday season, Sonny and Doris sent friends and family a Christmas card of their own making — often a staged photo with a playful scene and a handwritten greeting. Here are those cards across four decades, from 1963 to 2004.

39 cards · select any image to view it full size

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1963 — 1963 — “Season’s Greetings” from Sonny and Doris, pictured with their dog at home in Alabama.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1964 — 1964 — “Merry Christmas & Happy New Year,” with Doris and Sonny as Santa beside the tree.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1966 — 1966 — “Merry Christmas & Happy New Year” from the Jameses, relaxing by the hearth beneath their stockings.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1970 — 1970 — “Wishing you an Old Fashion Christmas,” Doris and Sonny in period dress.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1976 — 1976 — A horse-drawn carriage before a columned Southern home, with a handwritten holiday greeting.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1982 — 1982 — Aloha! A Hawaiian-themed card explaining “the meaning of ALOHA,” with Sonny and Doris in leis at sunset.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1983 — 1983 — “Modern machines and fancy trends will never replace good times, good friends. Happy Holidays!!!”

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1988 — 1988 — “Enjoy this Holiday Season with Those You Love,” a festive table set for family and friends.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1990 — 1990 — “Hope Christmas brings you all of life’s little pleasures!” Sonny and Doris with a basket of puppies.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1991 — 1991 — “Company’s Comin’! Have fun at your house. Happy Holidays,” baking pies in a country kitchen.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1992 — 1992 — “May prosperity and happiness be yours all through the New Year. Merry Christmas!”

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1993 — 1993 — “Holidays are Happiness and Joy!” with a visit from Santa Claus.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1994 — 1994 — “Wishing You a Happy Christmas and a Wonderful New Year,” a bicycle ride through autumn leaves.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1995 — 1995 — “Just couldn’t wait to wish you Merry Christmas!”

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1996 — 1996 — “Joy to the world… and especially to you. From the Two of Us. Merry Christmas!”

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1997 — 1997 — “Wishing you good times with family and friends. Happy Holidays,” gathered around the campfire.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1998 — 1998 — “Every tree at Christmas time has ornaments galore, and so with special love we’re sending you one more!”

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 1999 — 1999 — “May Your Heart Have Every Reason To Be Filled With Joy This Special Season,” a sleigh ride in the snow.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 2000 — 2000 — “Our Sock Runneth Over!!!”

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 2001 — 2001 — A dove of peace, with a prayer for the families touched by the attacks of that year and for those serving our country.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 2002 — 2002 — “Hi! We Hope Your Holidays Are Wonderful!” a snowy walk up their driveway.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 2003 — 2003 — “…except ye become as little children… you miss the Joy of Christmas…”

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James, 2004 — 2004 — Santa and Mrs. Claus, caught on the rooftop by the chimney.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — “Merry Christmas · Happy New Year” — a young Sonny and Doris framed in holiday greenery.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — “Christmas Greetings from Our Home to Yours,” a stolen kiss at a rustic country table.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — “Warmest Wishes, Doris & Sonny” — a cozy fireside Christmas.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — A visit to Santa’s workshop, signed Sonny & Doris.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — An autumn stroll down a wooded lane, signed Doris & Sonny.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — A moonlit holiday scene, signed Sonny & Doris.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — “Snow on the ground, Christmas is here! And we wish you and your folks a Joyous New Year!”

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — “Happy Holidays!” — a good-humored junkyard Christmas.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — “Merry Christmas,” written in the snow.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — “To wish you every happiness this Holiday Season and throughout the Coming Year.”

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — “May the Peace and Joy of Christmas abide with you throughout the coming year.”

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — “Hi there! Our Best Wishes in a Big Package — Enough to Last All Year!”

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — Santa goes fishing — “Merry Christmas.”

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — “Happy Holidays!” — a snowy ride on horseback.

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — “Thinking of you at Christmas… and wishing the best New Year ever!”

Christmas card from Sonny and Doris James — Carolers with Santa, and the sheet music to “My Christmas Dream.”

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