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The Glory of Woman: Prescriptive Literature, 1940 - 1949
- 1003 Household Hints and Work Savers. New York: Handibook Library, 1947.
A small but comprehensive collection of ways to save time, money, and materials in the home. A section entitled "Don't Throw It Out!" advise women to salvage wool from old sweaters in order to knit a creation of their own design.
- Aaberg, Jean Littlejohn. Don't Phone Mother. Philadelphia: David McKay Co., 1943.
Aaberg teaches the new bride “how to prepare meals, how to serve the first company dinner, how to clean the house, how to get the wash on the line before 8 A.M., how to interview a servant,” and much more.
- Collins, Clella Reeves. Army Woman’s Handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, inc., [1942].
This manual “for every American woman with a husband, son, or sweetheart in the Service” outlines army etiquette, pensions, insurance, wills, and financial management for military families.
- Erminger, Lila Willingham and Marjorie R. Hopkins. Food and Fun for Daughter and Son. Chicago: The Illinois Children's Home and Aid Society, 1947.
"The planning of varied and nourishing meals is of prime importance to the intelligent mother... Each day she keeps in mind and provides the seven basic foods required for robust health."
- Groves, Ernest Rutherford. Marriage. New York: H. Holt and Company, [1941].
"When the woman who marries goes on with her career or her out-of-the-family occupation, she commonly accepts a double burden, attempting to establish and maintain a family life while at the same time carrying on her vocation...". Groves provides advice on courtship, the wedding and honeymoon, sexuality, venereal diseases, birth control, children, and divorce.
- Hesburgh, Theodore Martin. Letters to Service Women. Washington, DC: National Catholic Community Service, 1943.
Counsels Christian service women on making the most of their opportunities and avoiding dishonor: "A girl cannot philander around during her term of service and then expect to settle down and raise a good family after the war."
- Miller, Basil. Patty Lou of the Golden West: a girl's adventure story. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1942.
In this "clean-cut story" for teenage girls, Patty Lou accepts Christ as her Savior and embarks on a spiritual adventure.
- Popenoe, Paul Bowman. Modern Marriage: a handbook for men. New York: Macmillan, 1944.
This handbook helps “men to understand women, [and] also helps women to understand themselves.” Chapters include “You Do NOT Understand Women,” “Are You Old Enough to Marry?” “What Kind of Wife Do You Want?” and “What Will Your Parents Say?”
- Recipes for Today. New York: Consumer Service Dept., General Foods Corp., 1943.
An advertising booklet with hints for cooking during food shortages: "Eat the plentiful foods, but only what you need, never waste a morsel, work on each meal, [and] use that old American ingenuity."
- Scott, Clarice Louis. Work Clothes for Women. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1942.
Advises women on how to dress for their particular job in an attractive, economical, and work-efficient manner.
- Sherman, Pearl Cole. The Bride’s Primer. Chicago: Ziff-Davis Pub. Co., [1948].
“The exchange of marriage vows, for most young women, means the beginning of a brand-new career – the business of managing a home.” With advice on housecleaning, entertaining, and work plans for every day of the week.
- Stockwell, Grace. Change Your Weight for Beauty’s Sake. United States: Capital Times Reader Service, 1945.
Discusses dieting, exercise, weight reduction, and weight-gain: “Angularity is as great an enemy to beauty as an overstuffed look.”
