1950s Housewife illustrations

[Gigi]

Okay ladies, I'm in desperate need of some images of 1950s housewives, particularly smiley, cheesy illustrations. I need them for a project I'm doing and I used to have a collection (seeing as I want to be one). It's become darn near impossible for me to find any good images of the sort, but I know they're out there. Please help if you can. Thanks.

 

[AmateisGal]

Have you tried looking for old magazines like Woman's Day and Ladies Home Journal? I bet they would have some.

 

[Josephine]

Do you need them in hand, or off the internet? There are the Another Day in Paradise postcards http://www.amazon.ca/Another-Day-Paradise-30-Postcards/dp/0811844447

 

[Josephine]

Here's Anne's (the artist) own site: http://www.annetaintor.com/

 

[Doctor Strange]

Take a look at http://www.plan59.com/main.htm - there's lots of great old stuff there.

 

[Audrey Horne]

Just illustrations, or photos too? I came up with these:

http://www.mediabistro.com/unbeige/original/50shousewife.jpg

 

[dhermann1]

Styles evolved a lot during the decade. The above lady is probably about 1953 or earlier, from her clothes, the sink and the tiled walls. I would suggest focusing on the 1955 to 57 period to get a really "pure" 50's look. Those were the classic Chevy years, and a lot of other stuff, too.

 

[sixsexsix]

you should be able to do a search on flickr and come up with tons of hits!

 

[ohairas]

I remember seeing some good ones while searching for something, check out the links in this thread,
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=26555&highlight=clip+art+business+cards
Nikki

 

[leaette]

omg! i love that picture of the lady at the sink. i want her sink!

look on ebay. there are many sellers who sell old ads seperately. i have a small collection of WW2 era ones that I get off ebay.

 

[SarahLouise]

Research 1950s advertisements too as they predominately feature a very pleased looking housewife with a hoover/iron/fridge etc! You can find images online, in books (the Taschen series on advertising springs to mind), calenders etc aswell as original adverts on Ebay if you want the real deal.

 

[ShortClara]

Just illustrations, or photos too? I came up with these:

http://www.mediabistro.com/unbeige/original/50shousewife.jpg

There is no way this smile is real. Look at all those dishes! Unless she's on the Xanax of course, which always makes my housework go faster.

 

[Decodence]

This is actually a hoax/spoof as indicated by snopes, but the image should work for you.

I have a framed copy in my home

 

[leaette]

i printed out copies of that for my sister's bridal shower and put one at each seat. the ladies at the shower had a good laugh.

 

[dhermann1]

For a reality check, make sure to watch a good few episodes of the Honeymooners!

 

[ohairas]

Ha! Leaette I did the same for my sil's shower. I rolled them up and put those fake rings around each one. I didn't tell anyone what they were, and later I made everyone turn them over so they could not read them. The one who could remember the most got a prize. It was fun!
Nikki

i printed out copies of that for my sister's bridal shower and put one at each seat. the ladies at the shower had a good laugh.

 

[Helen Troy]

Are you sure that the "Good wifes guide" is fake? I think I read almost the exact same article in a Norwegian copy of "the House Wifes Encyclopedia" from the 50s.

 

[Decodence]

Are you sure that the "Good wifes guide" is fake? I think I read almost the exact same article in a Norwegian copy of "the House Wifes Encyclopedia" from the 50s.

http://www.snopes.com/language/document/goodwife.asp

 

[ohairas]

Says "undetermined". While I know the ad photo is used from something else, I would not be surprised if the test itself was true. I have other vintage books that lean to the same kind of ideas.

Even my 40's sewing book says to always have your makeup and hair done while you're sewing, lol...for you don't want to open the door and look a mess!
Nikki

 

[RetroBabydoll]

Says "undetermined". While I know the ad photo is used from something else, I would not be surprised if the test itself was true. I have other vintage books that lean to the same kind of ideas.

Even my 40's sewing book says to always have your makeup and hair done while you're sewing, lol...for you don't want to open the door and look a mess!
Nikki

I'm surprised a sewing book would have that. It sounds like how my mom used to be until she didn't care anymore. I think she passed this thinking onto me. I know that my friend who is part of a certain religion looks at the ad as a guide for how she should be for her husband. It's not like she has to do any of it, but it's a guideline to help her. It does seem like a nice guide for some who are somewhat into that ideology already. I heard it was fake also, but then who knows.