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A Victorian Passage has published 146 articles on a diverse range of subjects. Most of our growing archive of Victorian Era subjects are taken directly from 19th century sources to achieve a closer look into how our ancestors really lived. We have also been expanding our historical eras to include Early American from 1790-1839 and the Edwardian period of the early 20th century. Latest article added June 1, 2009
Featured Article
Victorian Shoes in the Making
Different regions were known for wanting different characteristics in shoes. For example in the United States the Northerner liked shoes that were comfortable, neat but also stylish. The southerner was known to desire a pair that were fancy and handsome. Then the westerners would demand a shoe that had solidity and fullness to deal with the rough terrain. There were many resources were put...Continue Reading
The Strawberry
June and Strawberries Half a dozen people, more or less, have been credited with the saying, "Doubtless, God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did;" and the declaration regarding this most delicious and wholesome of all berries, goes without questioning, no matter by whom it was first uttered. The strawberry, whose name is probably derived from the common and ancient...Continue Reading
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Cleaning Bottles
Many persons clean bottles by putting in some small shot and shaking them around. Water dissolves lead to a certain extent, and a film of this lead attaches itself...
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What Becomes of Old Shoes.
A contemporary answers this question by stating that they are cut up in small pieces, and these are put for a couple of days in chloride of sulphur, which...
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Wooden Toothpicks.
Every eating-house visitor of this city and other leading cities of the Union has doubtless noticed a small tumbler of wooden toothpicks upon the counter of the cashier, for...
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Baby's Announcement Cards.
It is quite common now to have cards printed in tiny form, announcing the birth of infants, and giving thereon the name of the new arrival, and weight and day...Continue Reading
Old Soap Recipes
ROSIN Soap {yellow soap}.--Fifteen per cent, of rosin can be saponified with potash or soda lye, and mixed with clear, warm tallow soap to a good purpose; more would...Continue Reading
Advertising and Wrapping Paper
WRAPPING PAPER. The use of wrapping paper as store advertising is a practice that is very generally followed, though not as much since the advent of the roll wrapping...Continue Reading
The Lunch Table - Some Suggestions as to its Decoration
In the country, where the hostess does not depend on the tender mercies of the florist and the caterer, the decoration of the lunch table grows to be a...Continue Reading
The Linen Closet - Tablecloths and Napkins
Most young housekeepers take a deep interest in the furnishing and equipment of their tables -- not alone with the food supplies which are there to be served, the...Continue Reading
Bed Sheets and Blankets
So much has recently been written and printed regarding sheets, pillow-slips and other white clothes for the bed that it may be quite as well to dismiss them with...Continue Reading
Edwardian Children's Winter Picnic
Margie Dean was a little girl who had been patient and good through a long illness, but now that she felt strong again it seemed hard to her that...Continue Reading
Covering Jam.
Jam Jars, Glass Jars, Tumblers, and Pails from 1894 A SERIOUS JAR. If Jem is the same as Jim, And G sounds the same as J, Then between a...Continue Reading
Displaying Small Kitchen Wares
In many stores we have seen window displays of small kitchen wares, they being usually laid on the show window floor. It is a somewhat difficult method of display,...Continue Reading
Broom Covers
To every woman who does her own housework, "those porches" are a daily nightmare -- particularly in dry, dusty weather. Mopping is wet, dirty work -- hard alike on...Continue Reading
Sarah J. Ames
Mrs. A. T. Ames Deputy Sheriff of Boone County, Illinois The excerpt below is about a Mrs. A. T. Ames who was elected as Deputy Sheriff in Belvidere, Boone...Continue Reading
The Shoe Bag
"A Place for Every Shoe, and Every Shoe in its Place." A spicy magazine article, entitled "Skeletons in Closets," enters complaint against the omnipresent shoe bag; protesting against "...Continue Reading
Bridal Gift Ideas For Housekeeping
Bed and Table Linen for Young Housekeepers. I notice a call in GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, from St. Louis, for information concerning Bed and Table Linen, and such other articles of...Continue Reading
Edwardian Pearline Soap Advertisments
The above Advertisements are from 1901 and show a similar style to today's marketing techniques. These are for Pearline Laundry Soap that was quite popular in the late 19th...Continue Reading
How Blue Monday was Named
An Advertisment for Pearline washing Soap - 1892 The custom of having wash-day on Monday has probably caused more inconvenience to the housekeeper's servants, in fact to the whole...Continue Reading