Tag Archives: lace

The Gracious Lady in Polka Dots, 1938

Posted on September 17, 2022 by Lynn

I’m not surprised to see the “Gracious Lady,” Sears’ euphemistic attempt to address the older woman, wearing a polka dot dress!  A very popular print in the 1930s, polka dots were even more common for the older set.  In their … Continue reading →

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Mother Bloor in Life Magazine, 1938

Posted on July 29, 2022 by Lynn

You are forgiven for not knowing who Mother Bloor (Ella Reeves Bloor, 1862-1951) is, even though she got her own page of photos in Life magazine in 1938 on the occasion of her 76th birthday.  One of the United States’ … Continue reading →

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Burning the Mortgage, 1915

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Lynn

Photographs often document big moments in life—the wedding, the baby, the new house.  A tradition in Black churches is to mark the end of mortgage payments, the moment when property finally belongs to the residents, with a mortgage burning ceremony.  … Continue reading →

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Great Grandmother Caro Visits America

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Lynn

Reader Davrie Caro sent photos of a special family gathering in San Diego.  His great grandmother, second from right in the photo above, visited the United States for several months in 1992-93.  The photo above shows a surprise birthday party … Continue reading →

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Mary B. Talbert, Feminist Icon

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Lynn

Why isn’t Mary B. Talbert (1866-1923) better known?  I discovered her through a feature on black women suffragists at the Digital Public Library of America.  However, suffrage was just one of her causes.  She was involved in the anti lynching … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s, 1920s | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

On the Go, 1938

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Lynn

What trips have you given up this summer?  I had two planned, one to see my daughter in the Boston area and another to visit an old friend in England.  As a financially stable woman nearing 70, I am in … Continue reading →

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Graduation Day

Posted on May 9, 2020 by Lynn

As I continue thinking about things we can’t do now, I bring you this photo of what must be a college graduation day.  My guess is that it comes from the mid to late 1950s.  The photo is an old … Continue reading →

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Girl Group, 1940s

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Lynn

This lineup of women with great legs comes from a Chicago antique store.  Perhaps this is a family gathering of mothers, daughters, aunts, and nieces.  The skirt lengths and cuts indicate that this photo was most likely taken in the … Continue reading →

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Avon Calling, 1940

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Lynn

As someone who started historical research with a card catalog and a pencil, I am continually amazed at how much is available on line. Although it is surely not complete, a good bit of the Avon Company archive is available … Continue reading →

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Rookwoods, 1907

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Lynn

Sometimes you find astonishing information on the back of old snapshots.  This one turned out to be a treasure.  It reads: “1907–Miss Helen Culver and Miss French at their home Rookwoods, Lake Forest, Ill.  Back entrance.”  Imagine my delight when … Continue reading →

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