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The Glory of Woman: Prescriptive Literature, 1900 - 1909

Athletics and Out-Door Sports for Women. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1903. E #20544
"College women are beginning to recognize the true relation of the body and mind and to value physical training as an aid to the best intellectual activity." A collection of essays on dancing, tennis, swimming, skating, rowing, golf, basketball, and more. ED, H
Buckrose, J.E. The Art of Living: social problems solved in a novel story. London: "The Gentlewoman Offices", 1903. E #19599
In this novel, three women discuss the importance of social and domestic propriety: "My sister-in-law is always looking right across the thing she has toward the things she hasn't...It is not what she has which makes a woman happy, it is just her power of making the best of it.'" D, E, ED, F, M, N
Carter, James Thomas. The Law of Life: woman's triumph over man. [s.l.]: The Author, 1902. E #20285
Carter explains the science of reproduction, while contending that "A woman who can and won't have children blights her own life, defies her Maker whose law she disobeys, and casts a reproach upon womanhood." M, MO, R, S
Cooke, Maud C. Three Meals a Day: a choice collection of valuable and reliable recipes in all classes of cookery and a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home... Chicago: L.W. Walter, [1902]. E #19475
"The responsibility of the cook, who sees in her work not only food for the body, but inspiration for the mind, becomes weighty and far-reaching in its possibilities." C, D, F, H
Coolidge, Emelyn Lincoln. The Mothers' Manual: a month by month guide for young mothers. New York: A.S. Barnes, 1904. E 12mo #6020
"Probably no being in the world is ever so conscious of helpless inability to confront an alarming situation, as is the young mother left alone with her first child." Coolidge discusses a child's development and health from birth to age seven. H, MO
Flatbush, Adda M., Mrs. How She Was Lost, or, Methods and Results of Rescue Work. Kansas City, Mo.: Hudson-Kimberly Pub. Co., 1904. E 12mo #6139
Flatbush relates stories of girls in desperate circumstances, based on her "ten years of active service in mission work." P, R
Fontenoy, marquise de, pseud. Eve's Glossary. New York: Duffield, 1906. E #20224
"Feminine beauty depends fully as much on the mode of life, surroundings, and state of mind, as on the actual shape of features or color of hair, skin, and eyes." A comprehensive guide to cultivating attractiveness and personal charm. E, F

Little Cook cover

The Little Cook: and other stories. New York: McLoughlin Bros., 1903. E q#2197
"Little girls cannot too soon learn that good food and good temper often go together and help to make a happy home." This children's book features narrative and poetry with an instructive message. C, CH, N, R
Melendy, Mary Ries. Vivilore: the pathway to mental and physical perfection. [Chicago: s.n.], 1904. LSC 1091
"[T]he life-knowledge which brings health to body, mind and soul, is the practical, crying need of the twentieth century." A fascinating volume addressing health, etiquette, beauty, marriage, and motherhood. F, H, M, MO
Mitchell, John Kearsley. Self Help for Nervous Women. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, [1909]. E 12mo #6169
"The preventatives of nervousness are a sound body, a healthy mind, and a wholesome life. With these, barring accidents and inherited deficiencies, you should not grow nervous." H
Praga, Alfred, Mrs. How to Furnish Well and Cheaply. London: George Newnes, 1901. E 12mo #5599
A guide for "the many young couples just starting life, who find themselves compelled to furnish a whole house or flat upon a very limited sum." D
Sangster, Margaret Elizabeth Munson. Fairest Girlhood. London: Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier, [between 1906 and 1912]. LSC 818.5 S226F1
A conduct-of-life book with chapters on education, health, beauty, falling in love, conversation, what to wear, and duties within the family: "It is a girl's province to suggest agreeable ways of spending home evenings and to take the lead in home entertainment." CH, E, ED, F, H, PA, R
White, Annie Randall. Twentieth Century Etiquette: an up-to-date book for polite society... Chicago: Wabash publishing house, 1900. LSC 395 W582T
White outlines the rules of conduct at school, at parties, in the street, with servants, and during courtship, along with "up-to-date" etiquette topics such as driving, telephoning, and working women. E, ED, F, M, SR

Subject Guide

Throughout this bibliography, these subject letter codes are used to identify works relating to a particular topic. The guide is displayed at the bottom of each page.

  • C = Cookery
  • CH = Children's prescriptive literature
  • D = Domestic management
  • E = Etiquette/conduct
  • ED = Education
  • F = Fashion/beauty
  • H = Health
  • M = Marriage
  • MO = Motherhood
  • N = Narrative/fiction/poetry
  • P = Political and social issues
  • PA = Pastimes
  • R = Religious life/morality
  • RF = Reference works
  • S = Sexuality
  • SR = Servants
  • W = Work/employment outside the home