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The Glory of Woman: Prescriptive Literature, 1930 - 1939

Chadwick, Mary. Woman's Periodicity. London: N. Douglas, 1933. E 12mo #5827
Chadwick addresses the physical and psychological effects of menstruation: "When crockery is broken wholesale by the domestic staff or the charwoman, the cause is often that she has her period, or it is an act of unconscious retaliation upon a mistress who, owing to the same cause, has been doing a round of petty fault-finding." H, M, SR
Claire, Mabel. Macy's Cook Book for the Busy Woman. New York: Greenberg, [1932]. E #20972
Believing that "the modern woman's time may be spent more profitably than in hours of pot-watching," Claire offers recipes for quick meals, advice on kitchen decorating and furnishing, and tips on using modern kitchen conveniences. C

Household Magazine cover

The Household Magazine [serial]. Topeka, Kan.: A. Capper, 1937. E Pam f#965, v.37, no.5 Library has: v.34, no.7; v.37, no.2, 5; v.38, no.8, 10.
This serial features articles on "fiction, fabrics, fashions, foods, building, health, [and] children." C, F, H, MO, PA
The New York Woman [serial]. New York: The New York Woman, Inc. 1936. E Pam f#952, v.1 no.12
A magazine with opinion pieces, fashions, domestic hints, and advice for working women: "...the girl who essays journalism as a career will find that she is faced by many limitations. However well she may write, her stories won't hit the front page often enough to give her a bad case of ego." D, F, M, PA, W
The One Hundred Best Books by American Women During the Past Hundred Years, 1833-1933. Chicago: Associated Authors Service, [1933]. E 12mo #6255
A list of outstanding books by female authors, compiled by The National Council of Women. Works were chosen for being "representative of the period in which [they] appeared and for [their] influence in molding public thought and opinion." P, RF
Pictorial Review [serial]. New York: Pictorial Review Company, 1934. E Pam f#993, v.36 no.1 Library has: v.32 no.10; v.33 no.3; v.35 no.5; v.36 no.1-2; v.37 no.12; v.38 no.1.
A mix of poetry, short stories, current events coverage, and homemaking advice: "The business woman and the housekeeper, who hurries home from a busy shopping day or an afternoon party, face the same problem of making the most of little time. The first thing for most women to learn is that elaborate meals are not necessary...". C, D, F, MO, PA
Price, Lita. Maidcraft: a guide to the art of housekeeping. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1937. E #20336
This manual expounds the proper conduct and specific duties of household maids: "...it is the mistress's privilege to have everything done the way she wants it and the maid's duty to do it without being sulky." D, SR

This Way to Beauty cover

Rubinstein, Helena. This Way to Beauty. New York: Dodge Pub. Co., [1936]. E #19978
"This book is the beauty bible for the busy woman, written by one of the world's foremost beauty specialists. Every page offers information scientifically exact and thoroughly practiced. There are many charts and diagrams." F
Van Duzer, Adelaide Laura, et al. Everyday Living for Girls; a textbook in personal regimen. Chicago: J.B. Lippincott Co., [1936]. E 12mo #6677
A handbook designed to help high school girls "develop standards of living and appreciations of the value of personal and social development." E, ED, F, H, P, W
Welton, Thurston S. The Modern Method of Birth Control. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1934. E #20696
This book explains the rhythm method of birth control, which "teaches AVOIDANCE and not CONTRACEPTION," and is therefore sanctioned for Catholic women. Includes a calendar-wheel and 65 charts for determining "fertile" and "sterile" days. H, S

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
Last modified June 29, 2006 2:31:41 PM EDT

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