Voting Station

Virginia O'Hanlon

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Educator

The Resume

    (July 20, 1889-May 13, 1971)
    Born in Manhattan, New York
    Birth name was Laura Virginia O'Hanlon
    Wrote to the New York Sun asking if Santa existed
    Received the editorial reply 'Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus' (September 21, 1897)
    As an adult, became a teacher and junior principal in the New York City school system

Why she might be annoying:

    She said she would start bothering her parents about Christmas gifts immediately after her birthday -- in July.
    She later admitted, 'I think I was a brat.'
    Despite its later fame, 'Yes, Virginia...' was the seventh item on the Sun's editorial page, running below an editorial about chainless bicycles.
    A Macy's commercial featured pitchmen like Donald Trump, Martha Stewart and Jessica Simpson quoting 'Yes, Virginia....' (2008)

Why she might not be annoying:

    Her father seems to have done some major buck passing in telling her to ask the Sun instead of answering himself.
    'Yes, Virginia...' became the most reprinted editorial to run in an English-language newspaper.
    Throughout her life, she would receive letters asking if she still believed, to which she responded by sending a copy of the editorial.
    The building where she lived when she wrote the letter became a school and established a scholarship in her name.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 66 Votes: 77.27% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 23 Votes: 39.13% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 24 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying