The Vineland, New Jersey Dress Reform Convention, 1875
Next, for Women’s History Month, we pay a second visit to the Vineland, New Jersey, Dress Reform Convention. A major element targeted by 19th Century Woman’s Righters (not yet called Suffragettes), was what women wore. Women’s fashions were viewed as part of what kept women in servitude to men, as popular dress designs (for the [...]
Gray Parker’s “The Reconstructed Female”, 1883
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we present my absolute favorite Gray Parker comic. Parker was an upper-class NYC dandy, whose cartoons populated the (New York) Daily Graphic and, later, Life magazine. His comics were nearly always set amongst the aristocratic rich, often marching in step with them, but — when he was at his funniest — taking aim at [...]
When Women Get the Vote
Florence Claxton’s 1870s comic book Adventures of a Woman in Search of Her Rights, which we presented the past four Mondays, was by far the exception to the kinds of cartoons on the subject, drawn, edited and published mostly by men, which were the norm. (Even Leslie Publications, run eventually by Frank Leslie’s widow, knew where its readership stood, [...]
Flash those Chemically Embalmed Pearly Whites!
More proof of how purchasing the correct product can lead to Romance! You might even snag European Royalty! This circa 1870s cartoon advertisement for Van Buskirk’s Fragrant Sozodont tooth wash, was illustrated by comic artist Gray Parker, known for his depictions of social life amongst New York City’s aristocracy, of which he was a member. He continued [...]
