Hilda C. Landers Library & Archives

Everyday Life and Women in America is a collection of pamphlets, rare books, periodicals, and broadsides from the 19th and very early 20th century in the United States. It’s a fantastic collection of primary source materials and digitized history for anyone interested in the history of American women, domestic life, gender relations, marriage and sexuality. It’s a rare glimpse into the very personal lives of women, men, and children at a time when the world was changing rapidly.

I spent the morning browsing through this collection, which I’ll admit to not having looked at until today, and was blown away by some of the amazing things I found like

• Etiquette lessons
• Suggestions for promoting “beautiful feet and hands”
• Marriage advice
• Career opportunities for the 19th century woman (including library work!)
• Fashion plates (and advertisements for “healthful” corsets)

If you have even a passing interest in the lives of your great-great-grandmothers, or what a daily routine might be for a 19th century woman, take a moment to browse this excellent collection.