First Women's Fashion Magazine in 1830

In Philadelphia in 1830 Louis Antoine Godey (1804-1878) commenced the publication ofGodey's Lady'south Book which he designed specifically to concenter the growing audition of American women.

The magazine was intended to entertain, inform and brainwash the women of America. In addition to extensive style descriptions and plates, the early on issues included biographical sketches, articles nearly mineralogy, handcrafts, female costume, the dance, equestrienne procedures, health and hygiene, recipes and remedies and the like. Each result likewise contained two pages of sheet music, written essentially for the pianoforte. Gradually the periodical matured into an important literary magazine containing extensive book reviews and works past Harriet Beecher Stowe, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and many other historic 19th century authors who regularly furnished the magazine with essays, poetry and short stories.Godey's Lady's Volume as well was a vast reservoir of handsome illustrations which included hand-colored way plates, mezzotints, engravings, woodcuts and, ultimately, chromolithographs.

A Mode Plate

In 1836 Godey purchased the Boston-basedAmerican Ladies' Mag which he merged with his own publication. Nigh importantly, Sarah Josepha Hale (1788-1879) became the new editor ofGodey's Lady'southward Book. Mrs. Unhurt brought substance to the magazine, and wrote frequently about the notion of "women'southward sphere." In 1846 she stated, "The time of action is now. We have to sow the fields—the harvest is sure. The greatest triumph of this progression is redeeming adult female from her inferior position and placing her side by side with human, a help-mate for him in all his pursuits." Her steadfast devotion of purpose and her unwavering editorial principles regarding social inequalities and the educational activity of American women, made her one of the nearly of import editors of her time. Under Mrs. Hale'south tutelage the magazine flourished, reaching a pre-Ceremonious State of war circulation of 150,000. Godey and Unhurt became a force majeure in American publishing and together produced a mag which today is considered to be among the nearly of import resources of 19th century American life and culture.

This most successful publisher-editor relationship lasted for over xl years. Louis A. Godey died on November 29, 1878 and Sarah J. Hale 5 months later, on April 30, 1879. Information technology is interesting to notation that they were both interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery overlooking the Schuylkill river.

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Collection Notes

This collection provides the complete run ofGodey's Lady'due south Volume, and is the simply ane containing the color plates equally they originally appeared. Our search and retrieval organization allows searchers to limit by "Epitome Type," which includes chromolithograph, color plate and color plate fashion, every bit well as advertisement, drawing, drawing, engraving, way plate, illustration, map, mezzotint, portrait, sheet music, table and woodcut.

Particular consideration is due to The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, The Library Company of Philadelphia, Winterthur Library, and The Chester County Historical Society, without whom this projection would have been impossible. Dr. Roger Westward. Moss kindly permitted the use of the Archives's most important family set ofGodey's as a guidepost for this projection. Many of the plates were copied from this collection.

Godey's Lady's Volume is a complete collection in 9 sections:

• Part I: 1830–1845
• Part 2: 1846–1855
• Part III: 1856–1865
• Role Iv: 1866–1875
• Part V: 1876–1880
• Role Six: 1881–1885
• Office Seven: 1886–1890
• Part Viii: 1892, 1893 and 1896
• Part Ix: 1890, 1891, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1898

Read posts about Godey's Lady'due south Book in the Accessible Athenaeum Weblog.

Blog Posts

• The Ladies of New York
• How to Host a Successful Picnic (1878)
• Hints Upon the Doings of the Fashionable World (December 1882)
• Mod Marriages as seen in 1859
• Fifteen Rules for the Preservation of Health (October 1860)
• Reading Aloud for Ameliorate Health (1861)
• The New Adult female, Athletically Considered (1896)
• Dr. Gregory on Medical Instruction for Women (1860)
• Christmas in Germany and New Twelvemonth's Day in France (1848)
• The Colored Adult female of Today: Some Notable Types (1897)
• Adult female In Nippon – Godey'due south Lady's Book (1886)
• Paris Gossip and Fashion Notes in Godey'south Lady's Volume (November 1890)
• All Hallows Eve Explained in Godey'due south Lady'south Volume in 1873
• Reminiscences of Bonnets (1857)
• Newlywed Advice: A Whisper to the Husband on Expenditure
• Jaquarina: The Senorita* of the Sword
• The Importance of Female person Didactics [1840]
• Leap Cleaning with Godey'south Lady's Volume
• House and Home: The Infant (1887)
• How to Cook Potatoes in Godey's Lady's Book
• Christmas Puddings from Godey's Lady's Volume in 1870
• Giving Only Eye-Service
• Godey'southward Presidential Profiles: John Quincy Adams
• The Training and Life of a New York Fireman in 1896
• Preserving the Health of Trunk and Mind

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