Category Archives: 1950s

Summer at Martha’s Vineyard, 1950s

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Lynn

It is the wrong season for this picture, but I couldn’t resist since it contains some of my favorite elements—the many kinds of pants and shorts worn in the 1950s and a stark generational contrast between the old and young. … Continue reading →

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Mae Reeves, Queen of Hats

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Lynn

You might know the names of famous black fashion designers—Ann Lowe is having a moment on sewing sites right now.  But how about black milliners?  One the biggest names in that field is Mae Reeves (1912-2016), who ran an extremely … Continue reading →

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Portrait of a Woman with Butterfly

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Lynn

In honor of Black History Month, I’ve been searching for collections of photographs of African Americans that might include older women.  One rich source I discovered is the private collection of Mike Cochran, given to the Portal of Texas History.  … Continue reading →

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Holiday Greetings from Ida Arneson, 1957

Posted on December 25, 2020 by Lynn

Is anyone named Ida anymore?  It might be due for a comeback. This card was a lucky eBay find combing two favorite elements—an unlikely Christmas greeting and a sewing theme.  I suspect Mrs. Ida Arneson is a widow, since there … Continue reading →

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Say It With Flowers, 1958

Posted on December 4, 2020 by Lynn

Standing out like a canary among the pigeons, the woman in the yellow dress catches our eye.  With her light colored hair, bare arms, and fit and flair dress, she looks a lot younger than her companions to the left.  … Continue reading →

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Hiking in Pearls, Late Fifties or Early Sixties

Posted on November 17, 2020 by Lynn

From the recent showing of The Crown, I know that some older women (Queen Elizabeth, for example) hiked wearing skirts well into the 1980s.  However, Elizabeth’s outdoor outfits looked considerably more rough and ready than the sheath dress worn by … Continue reading →

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Getting Out the Vote, 1956

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Lynn

The current election has reminded us once again that African American women are the bedrock of the Democratic Party.  They also did a lot of the hard work of turning California from red (as it was when I was growing … Continue reading →

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Down Mexico Way, 1956

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Lynn

What do you with your travel souvenirs after you get home? For me the trick is finding something that I will actually use, something that will remind me in a glance that I had been away. This couple (Grace and … Continue reading →

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Two Sisters, Two Styles

Posted on October 3, 2020 by Lynn

A reader from Colorado sent this wonderful photo along with a story, my favorite kind of contribution. Center and right are two sisters, with facial shapes, hair styles and eye glasses looking very much the same.  However, the similarity ends … Continue reading →

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Sewing for a Cause, 1959

Posted on September 25, 2020 by Lynn

Celebrity endorsements are nothing new.  Here’s a photo of Eleanor Roosevelt, then in her mid seventies, with a needle in her hand. She is meant to be sewing in the new label for the International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union. It … Continue reading →

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