March 9th - Bright Eyes in Brockton, MA

Women's History Month - Day 9 

While exploring Concord, MA today, I stumbled upon this young lady. Her bright eyes and smile are rather captivating. She is solidly middle class and dates to around c. 1889.  The original photo is a cabinet size card and was taken at the Astrom & Co in Brockton, MA.

I know little of Brockton, MA, so I looked it up, and found that these bright eyes were witnessing a dynamically changing city located in Plymouth County. Today, Brockton is a diverse city of around 100,000, and her generation would have begun to see this city very differently than those before her. Brockton was changing dynamically - In 1874, the city's name changed from North Bridgewater to Brockton (after local merchant, Isaac Brock). In 1881, officially became a city with a population around 13,000 and was quickly becoming "the shoe factory to the world". ...and maybe most interestingly, in 1884, Thomas Edison introduced his 3 wire electrical system to the world in Brockton, MA.

What does that mean to her and other residents of Brockton? Brockton became the first city on earth to have centralized electric power through a 3-Wire or 3 Phase system, and help Edison prove that efficient, affordable electric power could be brought to average people.  The technology was simply too new to electrify every home, but major public outlets (including schools) would be electrified. Brockton would not remain the center of his experiment, choosing instead (for many reasons) to complete his project in New York City.

How this young women with her bright eyes and smile fit into this progressive city -- along with her name is lost to history. Yet, we are still able to relate to her. She grew in or near a dynamic technologically and progressively changing community. Being so young, memories of great events which came before would be lost on her. She would never remember the Civil War, though she was surrounded by its veterans.  She would never remember Frederick Douglass speaking to the community, though she could visit the tree at the site where he gave his speech. She would never remember Brockton as a farming community nor really remember the political hubbub over its name change. She would bear witness to world changing technology right in front of her eyes, though we don't know how it personally affected her. Her name is lost to history and presuming she met a healthy adulthood, those bright eyes and smile would experience the triumphs and challenges which accompany a society driven by advanced technological changes -- not so differently than us.

Photo provenance: Purchased at Thoreauly Antiques, on Waldon Street in Concord, MA
www.thoroughlyantiques.com

March 7th & 8th - Sisters

Women's History Month - Day 7 & 8

Ready for an outing in the early 1900s these two lovely ladies bear a resemblance - quite possibly sisters or cousins. Dressed in their winter finery, these two may be ready for a fun outing in the city...or some other amusing excursion - just imagine...

...In the same spirit, I am spending time with my sister for the next few days in Massachusetts.  Although we unfortunately will not be sporting such fabulous hats as these two, we will be embarking on a some sisterly adventures.

Cheers...and may you capture special moments with the special women in your life just as these two did...

My sister, Cathy (on the left), and I enjoying fresh lobster last evening... Thank you to my my brother-in-law, Chris, for snapping this photo. 

March 6th - Bathing Beauty w/Beach Boots

Women's History Month Day 6 

Missed a couple days due to technical difficulties... but this bathing beauty from the 1920s and has enough to say for a few days. 

Little needs to be said about her. She clearly speaks for herself in her Beach Boots which were popular in the early 1920s. 

Interesting Note: This is part of a postcard size photo.  She was cut out of the larger photo, but this is the only portion which remains. This postcard was mailed to Waukesha, WI. It also appears she is one of 3 people in the the original photo (presumably 3 women). The remaining writing reads: "you like the Best? The Middle One?"  ....Wonder if she was the middle one? 

...and oh my, do I covet those beach boots... 

Photo Purchase in Southeast Wisconsin

March 3rd - Mother & Child...

Women's History Month Day 3

These two have many of the same features...

This image of presumably a Mother and Child, is from a Cabinet Card. The photo was taken at the Holdmann Photo Studio on Grand Avenue in Milwaukee in the 1890s.

Card Purchased in SE Wisconsin

March 2nd - Fritzi & Flinty...

Women's History Month Day 2

Label on Back of Photo: Fritzi & Flinty in front of the cabin we occupied for one night enroute. Taken at Lassen National Forest

Although labels cannot always be trusted, the handwriting style fits the this 1920s photo. Fritzi must be the lady as Flinty refers to the car. The Flint Automobile was assembled in Flint, MI from 1923-1927 when it was discontinued. (It was priced to compete with the Buick). Another interesting note: The young women in her cotton sun dress would've have most likely viewed the stiff, formal photos of the 19th century to be as old-fashioned as we often do. ...and Yes, this photo comes complete with the photographer's finger in the photo.

Bibliography:Consulting, F. C. (2017). History. Retrieved March 2, 2017, from http://www.flintmotorcompany.com/History.aspx

Photo Provence: Wisconsin Purchase.

Phenomenal Women - Women's History Month 2017

Phenomenal Women - Today, marks the first day of Women's History Month. In the past, I've posted daily on Facebook for Women's History Month...and in fact, it's been a couple years since I have actively posted daily for Women's History Month at all. This year I choose to resume, but I do so in a different light and I'm moving it to my blog. With today's constant discourse, another voice is not needed in a sea of voices. I would rather provide the opportunity to see "ordinary" Phenomenal Women through period photos. Not much verbiage will go with the photos - instead I'll let the photos and the women in them speak for themselves. I will only add text where it may be needed. I have celebrated women who have made names for themselves, but these ladies names' may often be lost to history...yet phenomenal  they remain. My only apology is that the selection may not be as diverse as everyone may like, but the photos will come mainly from our personal collection. For several reasons, there is not much diversity in our collection - including funds at the time my husband and I were actively collecting as well as the fact most of them are from the Upper Midwest in the 19th century when diverse photos are scarce - but it is not because there was not any desire for diversity. I will try to supplement from other sources when I am able. Enjoy!

...and you may ask where I found my theme. Indeed I was inspired by the great lady Maya Angelou and her poem: Phenomenal Women...

By Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. 

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size   

But when I start to tell them, 

They think I’m telling lies. 

I say, 

It’s in the reach of my arms, 

The span of my hips,   

The stride of my step,   

The curl of my lips.   

I’m a woman 

Phenomenally. 

Phenomenal woman,   

That’s me. 

I walk into a room 

Just as cool as you please,   

And to a man, 

The fellows stand or 

Fall down on their knees.   

Then they swarm around me, 

A hive of honey bees.   

I say, 

It’s the fire in my eyes,   

And the flash of my teeth,   

The swing in my waist,   

And the joy in my feet.   

I’m a woman 

Phenomenally. 

Phenomenal woman, 

That’s me. 

Men themselves have wondered   

What they see in me. 

They try so much 

But they can’t touch 

My inner mystery. 

When I try to show them,   

They say they still can’t see.   

I say, 

It’s in the arch of my back,   

The sun of my smile, 

The ride of my breasts, 

The grace of my style. 

I’m a woman 

Phenomenally. 

Phenomenal woman, 

That’s me. 

Now you understand 

Just why my head’s not bowed.   

I don’t shout or jump about 

Or have to talk real loud.   

When you see me passing, 

It ought to make you proud. 

I say, 

It’s in the click of my heels,   

The bend of my hair,   

the palm of my hand,   

The need for my care.   

’Cause I’m a woman 

Phenomenally. 

Phenomenal woman, 

That’s me.

Maya Angelou, “Phenomenal Woman” from And Still I Rise. Copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou. Used by permission of Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.

Source: The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou (Random House Inc., 1994)

Mint Tea on a Sunday Afternoon...

What better on a muggy afternoon that a cup of mint tea?…and it is even better if you have the luxury of enjoying it rural 1860-style. Luxury? Yes, luxury.

Typically, when we desire a cup of mint tea today, we most often find a teabag w/mint tea or open a canister of the loose-leaf variety stored in our cupboard. We turn the knob on the stove to heat the tea kettle and return a few minutes later to the same kettle to fetch the fully heated water. We pour the water over our tea. Voila! Mint Tea. Delicious. Refreshing. What more could we want?...

On a still, muggy Sunday summer afternoon in 1860 in Wisconsin, how a about a trip to the garden to pick the mint…and for good measure a little lemon balm? The fragrance of the garden hangs in the muggy air…all the sweetness of the flowers…all the savory scents of the herbs…. Run your hands through the plants to find the best stems to pick. The scent of the fresh herbs is so strong it can be tasted.

Dining Room Stove as seen in the 1860
Yankee House at Old World Wisconsin

A small fire will be needed to heat the water.  Why not use the parlor stove? The small fire will dry they room adding comfort while not being large enough to add heat.  If possible, this would be the day to choose fragrant logs like cedar.

As the water heats, it’s time to trim the mint and lemon balm leaves from their stems, and add them to the warming water. As the water heats, the scent is released into the still, heavy air.

Informal Parlor as seen in the 1860
Yankee House at Old World Wisconsin

When steeped to your perfection, pour yourself a cup and take a sip. Your mouth fills with lemony mint flavor and your nose with a lemony mint scent. In this setting, have a seat next to the parlor

window and breathe deeply. Luxury.

The contemporary method is quicker. …and well, you probably won’t break a sweat, but fresh mint tea in 1860 allows us the luxury of experiencing it with all of our senses.

….and if you are so moved. You may also add 1860 style clothing…

Me in my favorite 1860s cotton summer dress