August is almost here! Time to shop for school clothes. One can’t be seen in last year’s fashions.
Young women flock to the department stores (an invention of the first half of the 20th century). Sweater sets, pleated skirts, peter-pan collars, penny loafers. Plaid, mother-of-pearl buttons, short cotton gloves for day, long kid ones for evening.
Accesories include sweater guards, bangle bracelets, clip-on earrings (pierced ears were avant guarde), and, of course, matching beads.
Victorian ladies frequently entertained friends and family. A decanter of sherry, marsala, madeira, or other fortified wines was always on the sideboard with a set of matching glasses. When the guests (expected or not) arrived, the hostess offered a glass of wine and cookies or cakes while conversation flowed.
As time passed, the wines were replaced with whiskies by the mid-20th century, but the idea was the same… My mother had a half dozen decanters with different liquors. Even today, there are a couple of decanters with wine and spirits in my home on my mother’s sideboard.
-maimeo
Today we honor those who have fought for our freedom. In the heyday of postcards, late 18th and early 19th century, service men were frequently used as a subject. Ships, army bases, military parades, and battles were also typical subjects. In this postcard, sent in 1908, sailors are drilling for hand-to-hand combat with the U.S. Man O’War in the background.
Before photo processing was easy and inexpensive (relatively) and long before digital cameras, travelers would not have the option of taking many, or indeed any, pictures of their trips. Instead they bought postcards as rememberances. Packets of 10 or 20 small postcards in a mailer like the one shown here were very popular. Also available were strips of many postcards that were attached by perforations so they could be separated for mailing. These were folded accordion-style and were fun to drop open to show pictures of your trip to friends. A number of publishers specialized in photos of towns and cities all over the world and printed them on linen. Of course, we still buy postcards but no longer have to rely on them to jog memories.
One reason I loved visiting my grandmother was because her house was filled with interesting knick-knacks and pictures. I particularly liked her collection of small animal figures which she kept in a large curio cabinet. And framed family pictures were liberally distributed on top of most of the end tables and open shelves in the parlor and dining room. This type of elaborate frame was saved for the very special formal portraits of engagements, weddings, and children. My grandmother told me many family stories based on these old photos.
Every Wednesday in the 1940s through the 1960s, my mother would play bridge with three friends. The location rotated through the group so each woman hosted about once a month. Before bridge playing, lunch was served; tea or coffee and sweets were served in mid-afternoon. This was an opportunity to serve aspics, caper-laden salads, and all manner of small fishes – foods that were not family friendly. A silver tea and coffee service was polished and brought out for these occasions.
Dress was very refined and elegant with hats and kid gloves. I was always delighted when I came home from school on the days Bridge Club was at my house because I could snack on the leftover cakes and cookies.
I never really thought much about the term “picture postcard” and thought it redundant or confusing. However, we have recently acquired a group of ephemera that contains many such items. In the very early 20th century, it was common to have a photograph taken and printed on a postcard. Somtimes these were actually sent through the mail to family or friends. But it seems that it may also have been selected for the heavier paper compared to what they were generally using for prints. Also, the 5 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ size was handy for carrying or for albums (very popular at the time). A most interesting one has side-by-side pictures of an older man and an Indian woman. On the reverse in pen and ink is “Marig itis is Broken Ribs daughter isn’t she sweet. I am very jealous of Will’s lost love. Ella.” Ella was Mary Welsh Shirk’s aunt and Will was Wm C Smith. (see Harold & Mary ephemera).
Mary Welsh was born December 11, 1894 in or near Topeka, Kansas where she lived as a child in the midst of her family and small circle of friends. Harold Shirk was the boy-next-door who she started dating in about 1912 -1914. Harold attended the University of Chicago but enlisted in the army in May 1917. While on furlough in February 1918, he and Mary became engaged.
Harold fought in France during World War I with the American Expeditionary Forces, specifically in the Argonne Forest. Mary saved a number of his letters during his time in the army including one written the day after the Armistice while still in France. He was very happy to think of returning to his “Own Darling Marietta” (even though he had “cooties”). The letters are funny and warm and speak about his lonliness and his faithfulness, hoping that Mary also was being true to him. He must have looked at her picture many times on long nights. In it, Mary is standing on a porch in a loose white dress and high white shoes while leaning her head against the porch post.
Harold brought back souvenirs he purchase while on furlough after the Armistice including two ladies handkerchiefs that Mary saved.
Harold and Mary were married on Saturday, October 8, 1921 in Topeka, Kansas with family and friends sharing their happiness.
-Maimeo
Typically charms are meant to elicit remembrances; a token of a past trip, a life event, a loved one, a favorite pastime. Bracelets and necklaces with one or many charms have been worn for hundreds of years but high popularity comes and goes with fashion trends. The mid-twentieth century was one of the high times. My mother, sisters, friends, and I each had a charm bracelet (or two!) and would acquire a new addition on gift-receiving occasions. These cherished memories are passed down through generations of daughters and granddaughters. But just hearing the quiet tinkle of a charm bracelet on her wrist makes a girl smile.
When I was young, no lady would be seen in public without her hat, gloves, and pearls. 
We had long gloves, short gloves, kid gloves, black gloves, and gloves with buttons. And a lady had several strings of pearls with matching earrings. 
Earrings were likely uncomfortable since piercing was not popular. But they came in many forms like the enameled one here. Hats finished the ensemble. My mother, like many ladies, regularly met with her milliner to design her hats. It was like Easter every day!
