October sure was a great month for history news! I have been looking forward to sharing this roundup for multiple weeks now. A few of my favorites:
-The match safe – a Victorian trinket I had never heard of until now.
-Lois Bell’s passion for fashion
-A traveling museum of spooky Victorian artifacts
-Female artists you should know
Did I leave any history news stories from October out? Let us know in the comments.
October history news
HR Brew: A brief history of office dress codes for women
Imagine being told you can’t wear pants to work…
That’s how this article starts and I have to say, this isn’t a topic that I would have thought of. But it makes sense. When women emerged into the professional world they had a lot of expectations upon them to prove they weren’t taking too much from men. The clothing they wore was one of these expectations.
Today – the sky is the limit. But as someone who wasn’t allowed to wear pants on Sunday, this article appealed to me. What about you?
The Conversation: The History of the Yellow Book
Wow – there really was a progressive vein in the Victorian literary community. Those behind the Yellow Book were a part of it. Though it was only published for three years; from 1894 to 1897, it was among the first magazines to elevate female writers and left enough of an impression to be discussed still today. Reads The Conversation:
“It considered the Victorian artistic ideal of morality as the highest quality in art to be prudish and lacking in a future.”
It also had an interesting aesthetic that I may explore in a future post. The “Beardsley women” were depicted in black and white (similar to the Gibson Girl) and featured in each issue. It was also widely popular enough to be the inspiration for the following painting.
Fine Homes and Living: Everything You Need to Know about Victorian Coving
A building’s ceilings and moldings say a lot about the era it was designed. Also called “covings,” there is a particular style that is a hallmark of Victorian architecture. Do you want to add some 19th-century flavor to your home? This Fine Homes and Living post covers the types of Victorian coverings and their advantages. A great post!
Publishers Weekly: The 10 Histories of Women in WWII
What more is there to learn about WWII? Well, the stories of women, of course! And a lot of historians are doing it. This post recommends ten different books telling the stories of how females impacted the war. Pick one out today!
Good Good Good: 68 Independent Women Quotes
Independent women say wise things and they should be remembered. This great post features no less than 68 great quotes by females through time, from Dolly Parton to Charlotte Bronte. My favorite:
“Beware, for I am fearless and therefore powerful.”
— Mary Shelley
Tribune-Star: This Match Safe was a Necessity in the Victorian era
We love talking about trinkets on this blog. And this post opened my eyes to a new one that I need to explore more. Match safes were just that – containers to keep matches safe and secure. Fire, after all, was one of the biggest dangers of the Victorian era, and one needed to be selective about using it.
I don’t know about you, but I think this match safe would make a great necklace!
Kokomo Tribune: Passion for Fashion
Lois Bell is my hero! Her 1845 house has two rooms full of vintage clothing and accessories. And what’s more, she knows each piece and the story behind it, even if the story is one she wrote herself. Kokomo Tribune, a newspaper out of Indiana, featured her recently and I think her story needs to go all the way to the New York Times!
Do you have a collection of vintage clothing? What is your favorite piece?
Fronteras: Arizona Woman Turned Her Love of Spooky Victorian Artifacts into a Traveling Museum
When was the last time you visited a museum on the go? It may be the perfect hobby or side gig for some of our readers.
Sarah Kennard, from my home state of Arizona, has taken her love of spooky Victorian items and turned it into just that, a museum that hits the road to share the history far and wide.
Named Flitter Mouse Traveling Victorian Museum, Kennard hosts public and private showings of her collection. I’ve got to see this on my next visit.
The Collector: Forgotten Female Artists You Should Know
You probably know some of the big names when it comes to the last century or so of female art, but do you know the names Janet Sobel, Jeanne Mammen, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Shirin Neshat, or Mickalene Thomas? You will be very glad to learn about them each in this blog post.
Which woman would you most like me to cover in an upcoming blog post?
Do you enjoy history news and trends? Make sure to click on these posts:
Four fashion icons and the history of lipstick
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