Category Archives: General

A Very Colorful Kitchen

For those fond of pattern mixing, here is one for you!  We have plaids and geometrics on the walls and floors, flowers on the table and apron, a paisley dress, and a figurative drawing on the curtains.  In short, there … Continue reading

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Felipe Family Women, 1979

In family photos that span the generations you can often see how women hold on to styles that make them feel comfortable, regardless of current trends.  In this photograph of a Mexican American family in Corona, California, the three older … Continue reading

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Dancing at the Senior Center, 1980

When did older women decide to give up dresses and turn to pants as their basic mode of dress?  The answer surely depends in part on location.  The City of Commerce, where this photo was taken, is in Southern California … Continue reading

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Marcella in Milan, 1981

Marcella could be a tourist from anywhere, but the writing on the back of this photo has a distinctly American look.  And would a European tourist be wearing what is essentially a pair sweatpants in Italy’s fashion capital?  Perhaps European … Continue reading

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Joshua Tree, 1940

Those strange shaggy bushes in the background are Joshua Trees, native to the Mojave Desert.  According to the writing on the back, this photo was taken in Joshua Tree, California in 1940s.  In those days, the plants were plentiful.  Rising … Continue reading

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Sunkist Group Photo in Orange, 1961

The city of Orange–located in Orange County, California–is named after citrus. When I grew up in the fifties, there were still orange groves everywhere. No surprise that the major citrus company, Sunkist, had a big packing plant there. Today the … Continue reading

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The Navy Blue Suit

Reader and contributor Nann Hilyard recently sent me a page from the humorous book Going, Going, Gone: Vanishing Americana by Susan Jonas and Marilyn Nissenson.  Among their list of things gone the way of the milkman is the navy blue … Continue reading

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Ukrainian American Women, 1938

According to the caption, this photo documents a political meeting of Ukrainian American women in 1938.  What was it about?  Politics in their homeland?  It was before the start of the Second World War, but after the Great Famine of … Continue reading

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Ho, Ho, Humbug–Thoughts on the Christmas Sweater

When it comes to Christmas sweaters, call me Scrooge.  What is the point of making or buying something that is meant to be either silly or unattractive and can only be worn a limited time of the year?  Surely this … Continue reading

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An Old Woman Meets the President, 1976

I’m glad that I didn’t pay a lot of money on eBay for this photo, which was listed as “artist Grandma Moses and President Ford.”  Just a minute’s research after it arrived revealed that the famous artist had been dead … Continue reading

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