CLASSIFIED according to Webster's Dictionary, the word "classified" is an adjective meaning "divided into classes or placed in a class."

AD the word "ad", short for "advertisement", is a noun meaning the act or process of advertising; a public notice, especially one published in the press.

From the first public notices found painted on stone in the ruins of Pompeii to today's Internet, a story of our culture is represented in our advertisements. These ads tell a tale of basic human needs throughout the centuries and give us a glimpse of who these people were and what their lives were like. Clues provided in these ads show us such historical details as their way of life, what clothes they wore and what tools they used.

In 15^th century England, handwritten notices appeared nailed to posts and walls in public areas. As early as the mid 1600's, news books were printed with early examples of want ads for lost property. In the United States the first published newspaper was printed in 1690 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but the first classified ad did not appear until 1704 in the Boston News-Letter. This ad asked readers if they wanted to list any houses, land, ships, goods, or merchandise in the newspaper for a reasonable rate from twelve pence to five shillings. It proved to be a success, and the concept of advertising grew and spread around the world. Some interesting examples of early classified ads from Lost and Found:

Found last week, a pair of SADDLE-BAGS, containing a number of Apples, and other valuable eatables, &c. Enquire at Mrs. Jones's Inn-holder, Worcester.

 ---January 1, 1778, Massachusetts Spy or, American Oracle of Liberty

LOST AN OPERA GLASS IN A BLACK MOROCCO CASE, was lost on Monday Night at the Winter Garden by the young Man who fainted.� The finder will be Suitably rewarded by returning it to no. 59 Bleecker St. or no. 630 Broadway in the store.

---March 22, 1865, New York Times

A reflection of the times and culture became more evident with ads in the early 1800's for the capture of runaway slaves. The ads would include such things as directions on what to do with the slave when he is captured, how much reward is offered, and an extra monetary incentive to punish the slave by lashing him. Conversely, ads were also placed to find the master if a runaway slave was found. If the master did not respond in a stipulated amount of time, the slave would be sold to the highest bidder. 

After the Civil War, African-American newspapers were popping up, allowing freed slaves to place ads searching for members of their families who had run away or had been sold many years before.

Events of the times were now showing an expanded need for an "Information Wanted" section in a newspaper. Not only were former slaves being sought, but immigrants from Ireland were searching for relatives who came to the United States during the Potato Famine. Many men who had immigrated to this country from Europe had a difficult time finding work. They would leave their families for long periods of time, prompting their wives to place an ad in the newspaper seeking information about the whereabouts of their husbands.

Hundreds of years later people are still searching, but today it's more likely to be for employment, housing, cars, antiques, household items, or a mate. Lost and Found sections are still printed, but the ads now are for lost pets and personal items, not people.

Another change has been the World Wide Web, bringing classified ads into a new light. Hundreds of newspapers now provide an Internet listing on their Employment pages along with an ad in the actual paper. In fact, in many papers you cannot place an ad in the paper without also posting it on their Internet ad page. 

The evolution of classified ads has brought us to a place where the times have changed but human nature stays the same. No matter what century we are in, people will always be placing ads trying to sell their belongings, find lost articles, seek employment, and find a bargain. Classified Ads are timeless.

www.ChiTownAds.com is the premier online classified ads service for the Chicago area.