More of this Feature • Advertising in 1904 • Fashion in 1904

Join the Discussion "I found my grandmother's wedding dress. She was married in 1905. Should I wash [it] and if so what would be the best way to do it?" Susan

Related Resources • An Evening in Paris • Give 'Em a Hand • Vintage Compacts Mirror the Past

From Other Guides • 1902 Beaded Purse Pattern • Victorian Jewelry: Old and New

What's your favorite aspect of collecting? For many people the answer is somehow associated with history.

I must admit, being able to tell a story with an antique or collectible's always been fun for me and I know I'm not alone. Looking back on how manufacturing, personal tastes and popular culture influenced what people bought and saved over the years can be quite enlightening.

Just about any historical event can be associated with some type of collectible. We can even link collectibles with Women's History Month during March.

It wasn't so long ago that the woman's role was primarily that of homemaker. Leafing through a copy of Ladies Home Journal from 1904, many obvious differences between the women of today and those living at the turn of the last century come to light.

The long cumbersome dresses and wasp waist corsets worn by women back then probably serve as the most obvious reminder of how things have changed. I found some of the subtle characterizations to be even more surprising, however.

On the inside cover, a woman wearing a cap and gown, as if she just come straight from graduation to the photo shoot, holds a box of "James Pyle's Pearline Washing Compound." The caption reads, "The more you know the better you like it."

How many modern women obtain a diploma so they'll know what brand of washing powder to purchase? I doubt that many women did back then either, but this portrayal certainly makes us think about the role our female ancestors played early in the 20th century.

On the other hand, viewing advertisements for Pillsbury's Best Flour and Ivory Soap bring about an air of acquaintance that seems to serve as a grounding element. A Cream of Wheat ad, with the familiar black chef so many advertising collectors seek today, takes a spot on the inside back cover. Even Roseville Pottery's ads for its early wares and the beautifully crafted silver plate of Rogers Bros. can be viewed within the pages.

Beyond stepping back in time through the ad campaigns of yesteryear, many elements of the magazine reflect modern women's publications. Information on gardening, raising families, decorating, recipes and needlecrafts all find a place in this publication mirroring magazines of today.

Other elements, like two pages of sheet music for popular songs, seem strangely out of place. A grand spread on vacation clothes featuring high collars, layer upon layer of fabric, and long sleeves that seem terribly uncomfortable for summer travel, makes quite an impression on the modern reader as well.

The featured artwork in this publication probably stands out more than anything else, however.

Referenced as "Mr. Taylor's great "Mammy" Picture," the illustration originally accompanied a story titled "Those Days in Old Virginia" that appeared in the magazine several years earlier, according to the caption. The magazine offered a larger print of the same picture as a premium with a magazine subscription in 1904. This striking illustration, shown above, depicts a wistful young woman being consoled by her mammy who sits proudly behind her looking amazingly strong.

While this remarkable image makes a definitive statement about how much has changed in the life of the American woman, the magazine as a whole offers a glimpse at how many things have remained the same. Women still cook, clean and care for children. They still take responsibility for decorating their homes and cultivating gardens when time permits.

But the progress they've made allows them to step out of the sole subservient role depicted in 1904. A woman of any race or social status can now serve her country as a leader and her family as a breadwinner. All this in addition to being the person who nurses her loved ones while they're ill.

Even the magazines published during the 1940s and 1950s reflect women's history in a different light. If you have old women's magazines stored away in your home, take them out and look them over during the month of March. It's great way to celebrate the women of yesteryear during their designated month.

Scan by Pamela Wiggins

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