on February 5, 2020
The very kind and wonderful storyteller Suzanne Adair has invited me to share how to “hold history in your hands” in this week’s Relevant History blog. And…here’s Suzanne’s scoop on the FANNY NEWCOMB giveaway: “A big thanks to Ana Brazil! She’ll give away a packet of four reproduction postcards and one original postcard of Italian… Read More
on February 5, 2020
“A Well Proportioned Figure is Always Attractive!” (So says the Wichita (Kansas) Daily Eagle of February 5, 1919.) “Good-looking women vary in type, but their proportions are always good. Great numbers of them wear Nemo Corsets. NEMO CORSETS, $3.50 and up. NEMO BRASSIERES, $1.00, $1/50 and up.”
on January 29, 2020
What she wore AFTER she “made this model at home” from The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana): “Why is the morning brighter? Because it’s both pleasant and easy to slip into this crisp and youthful house frock, knowing one is smartly and becomingly attired for “at home” hours. Truly a beginner’s fashion, with but five easy pieces… Read More
on January 15, 2020
What She Wore underneath it all–courtsey of the Davenport (Iowa) Democrat and Leader–is so luscious that I just have to include the second half of the advertisement!
on January 15, 2020
You might already know that most of the clothing advertisements in late 19th Century newspapers did not display many illustrations. And so it was in the Wednesday January 15 1896 issue of the Valley Spirit from Chambersburg, PA–the clothing advertisements were text only. The Battle Ax Plug Tobacco advertisement was another story. It featured… Read More
on January 8, 2020
From the pages of the Miami (Florida) Daily News… “The restaurant ensemble which caused such a furor when first shown in Paris promises to continue in favor throughout the winter months. Velvet is the favored fabric for these costumes, and while many of them are entirely of that material, in so far as gown and… Read More
on January 1, 2020
From the pages of the Oakland (California) Tribune…women are wearing “splendid plain tailored suits” a la Titanic or My Fair Lady. Underneath them they’re wearing silk petticoats. Men are wearing “suits with two and three button fronts with box, regular and form fitting backs, with the new shoulders and new lapels”.
on December 22, 2019
Makes about 55 Ping Pong ball-sized crullers. Ingredients 4 cups all purpose flour, sifted 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg 1 ½ teaspoon salt 2 eggs plus 1 extra yoke 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla extract ¼ cup melted butter 1 cup milk Vegetable oil for the fryer (about 2 quarts) Bowl… Read More
on December 18, 2019
I just got my “Ana’s Year in Books” email from Goodreads and I only read 4,413 pages across 14 books. 14 books over 12 months! What a slouch! I know I read more than 14 books this year; I just didn’t report them on Goodreads. I like this Goodreads feature–especially since we’re going to be… Read More
on November 28, 2019
Since it’s Thanksgiving week, right now I’m thinking about FOOD—smoked turkey, oyster stuffing, and gravy; sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce; and, one of my very favorites, fluffy ambrosia. My food thoughts made me wonder what Fanny Newcomb and her friends (and even her enemies, since Fanny is hunting down the Irish Channel Ripper in 1889… Read More