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<blockquote>

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.<br>

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.<br>

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.… <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newseum.org/exhibits/online/yes-virginia-there-is-a-santa-claus/|title="Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Clause"|publisher=Newseum|date=September 21, 1887|accessdate=May 13, 2020}}</ref></blockquote>

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.… <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newseum.org/exhibits/online/yes-virginia-there-is-a-santa-claus/|title="Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Clause"|publisher=Newseum|date=September 21, 1887|accessdate=May 13, 2020}}</ref></blockquote>

O'Hanlon lived in the [[Manhattan]] borough at 115 West 95th Street at the time the letter was written. As an adult, she became a classroom teacher and principal for a total of forty-seven years in the public schools of New York City. She held a doctorate from [[Fordham University]]. Her 1913 marriage to Edwin Malcolm Douglas (1887-1939), ended quickly in divorce. The couple had a daughter, Laura Virginia Douglas Temple (1914-1998). T<ref name=fiindagrave>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10184308/virginia-o_hanlon|title=Virginia OI'Hanlon|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 13, 2020}}</ref>

O'Hanlon lived in the [[Manhattan]] borough at 115 West 95th Street at the time here letter was written. As an adult, she became a classroom teacher and principal for a total of forty-seven years in the public schools of New York City. She held a doctorate from [[Fordham University]]. Her 1913 marriage to Edwin Malcolm Douglas (1887-1939), ended quickly in divorce. The couple had a daughter, Laura Virginia Douglas Temple (1914-1998).ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10184308/virginia-o_hanlon|title=Virginia OI'Hanlon|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 13, 2020}}</ref>

O'Hanlon died at the age of eighty-one in a nursing home in Valatie in Columbia County, [[New York]]. She is interred at Chatham Center Rural Cemetery in North Chatham in Columbia County. The famous  letter remains in the possession of O'Hanlon's heirs.<ref name=findagrave/>

O'Hanlon died at the age of eighty-one in a nursing home in Valatie in Columbia County, [[New York]]. She is interred at Chatham Center Rural Cemetery in North Chatham in Columbia County. The famous  letter remains in the possession of O'Hanlon's heirs.<ref name=findagrave/>

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[[Category:New York City]]

[[Category:New York City]]

[[Category:Christmas]]

[[Category:Christmas]]

[[Category:Educators]]

[[Category:Educators]]