File consists of advertisements from the 20th century for women's work.

Advertisement trade card for Agate Iron Ware showing a group of women holding hands in a circle around an iron tea pot. The caption reads "The growing triumph." Verso reads "For sale by Davis, Wright & Co., 41 Main Street, Keene, N.H."

Advertisement trade card for Armour's Mince Meat and Canned Meats showing an older woman teaching a group of younger women how to cook. Verso reads "It is admitted by every prudent housekeeper, that our Condensed Mince Meat is equal in every respect to the old-fashioned home-made article. Our well known connection with the beef industry, enables us, to put a Mince Meat on the market second to none. We use only the best and purest ingredients, and it is the universal verdict that our product retains its sweetness longer and goes farther than any other brand. Packaged in 12 oz. (net) cardboard cartons. Enough for two large pies. 2 packages for 25 cents. At all first-class grocery stores. Armour and Company, Chicago."

Advertisement for B.T. Babbitt's 99 soap showing a mother washing an infant with the soap while her daughter does laundry with it and her son blows soap bubbles in the kitchen. The advertisement reads "For the laundry or bath try B.T. Babbitt's 99 soap."

Advertisement trade card for Bacon, Stickney, & Co., enterprise baking powder, coffee, spices, Albany, N.Y. depicting a young woman washing clothes in a wash bucket while a man with a riding crop looks on. Caption reads "The handsomest girl in town."

Bendix Automatic Home Laundry pamphlet detailing uses for the housewife, worker, nurse or chief. The advertisement makes reference to the use of Bendix during the Second World War.

Puzzle card postcard advertising Bissell Carpet Sweepers showing an unhappy couple with a regular broom and a happy couple with a Bissell Carpet Sweeper. Recto reads "Why is this gentleman so perplexed, why is this lady sorely vexed? Why does this gentleman now smile. and she be happy all the while? The reason will be plain, if you can but this puzzle card see through."

Advertisement trade card showing a girl holding the tail of a cat as it tries to scratch a bird in a cage. The caption reads "Cats can but Bon Ami can not scratch for it lacks grit." Verso reads "Bon Ami is a modern improvement in the list of household necessities, doing the work of a metal polish, a scouring soap and all powders used for cleaning purposes (not for washing of clothes). It will clean anything cleanable and polish anything that can be polished. It contains no grit to scratch or acid to corrode; neither is there any alkali to redden or roughen the hands; on the contrary, it leaves them soft. It is always used in the form of a lather, which is applied to the surface to be cleaned. It requires so little water for this that slops and muss are avoided. It is made of the best and finest materials, and is so constituted that while it is too fine to scratch, it is coarse enough to clean. Coarser cleaners gradually and surely wear out the article cleaned, but Bon Ami removes the dirt without injuring or wearing off the surface. Don't fail to try the sample. Read carefully directions with each package. For sale by all grocers. The Bon Ami Company, 66 Maiden Lane, New York City."

Conqueror wringer advertisement showing three women and one young girl ironing clothes titled "Ironing Day." The young girl is seated at a stool holding up a dress in front of a Conqueror wringer. Verso reads "The Conqueror excels all other wrings in having 1. A forged steel spring, tapered and tempered, and the temper not "drawn" by galvanizing. 2. The extension crank, which gives double power, without loss of speed. 3. Composition metal bearings, which neither rot, rust or wear out. 4. Patent solid white rubber rolls, fastened immovably to the shaft. 5. Malleable iron swivel clamps, which fit either round or stationary tubs. Foote & Gaskill dealers in hardware, agricultural implements, also stoves, hollow ware, house furnishing goods, &c. wringers repaired. Hamilton, New York."

Conqueror wringer advertisement showing three women and two children on washing day titled "Washing Day." The women are washing, wringing, and hanging out clothes to try while the children are playing with a boat and a doll near the wash bucket. Verso reads "The Conqueror excels all other wrings in having 1. A forged steel spring, tapered and tempered, and the temper not "drawn" by galvanizing. 2. The extension crank, which gives double power, without loss of speed. 3. Composition metal bearings, which neither rot, rust or wear out. 4. Patent solid white rubber rolls, fastened immovably to the shaft. 5. Malleable iron swivel clamps, which fit either round or stationary tubs. Foote & Gaskill dealers in hardware, agricultural implements, also stoves, hollow ware, house furnishing goods, &c. wringers repaired. Hamilton, New York." Includes illustrated depiction of the wringer.

File consists of four advertisement trade cards featuring women and girls working in the kitchen.

David's Prize Soap advertisement trade card showing a vital looking woman washing laundry in a washing bucket with David's Prize Soap while a young girl looks in. Looking in through the door way is a sallow looking older woman. The caption reads "Get David's Prize Soap if you want to avoid hard labor and save your health and strength in washing besides you may get a small fortune as a prize into the bargain." "Verso explains that prizes can be won by purchasing David's Prize Soap, including 2 grand pianos."

David's Prize Soap advertisement trade card showing an older woman standing at a washing bucket with a bar of David's Soap while two young women play the piano in another room. It reads "All got by using David's Prize Soap besides the excellent washing it does" as well as a caption under the women at the piano which reads "The prize pianoforte." Verso outlines details regarding incentives to try David's Prize products where users can exchange product wrappers for tickets that can be put toward a list of presents.

Advertisement trade card showing a group of children playing including a young girl preparing sausages for the other children. Caption reads: "compliments of the Domestic Sewing Machine Co." Stamp on verso reads "H.C. Palmer dealer in sewing machines, 7 West Street, Danbury, Conn."

File consists of two advertisement trade cards featuring women and girls dusting.

Advertisement trade card showing a woman seated using a clothes wringer while a man stands next to her holding a tennis racket and a cat stands at her feet. The caption reads "George: Come into the garden Maud. Maud: Wait George until I finish these clothes it won't take three minutes with this new Empire Wringer. "Verso reads ""You can do twice the work! And no more labor required. Our ""purchase gear"" reduces the labor one-half! By giving added power, and the strength thus saved every week is worth much more than the small additional cost. The gears and bearings of rolls need no oil, so cannot soil or grease the clothes the crank is not attached to either roll, as in other wringers, thus saving wear or rolls and cost of repairs. The rolls are solid white rubber. Empire wears longest and is warranted against defects. Look for brass bushing on the crank journal: our latest improvement. Use the Empire Wringer - will pay for itself. For sale by S.A. Ball, Le Roy, N.Y."""

French Laundry and Soapine advertisement trade card illustrated by Charlotte Perkins Gilman showing a young woman standing in a frame holding a washing board and a box of soap. The frame is held up on either side by two young men standing on upside down washing buckets that read Soapine. "Verso reads ""French Laundry is the best soap ever made for all purposes. It is the oldest popular soap, having outlived all its rivals. It has won its way into public favor solely on its merits, and thousands of families who are now using it would not be without it. One trial with convince you. Soapine is the best article known for the laundry and general household use. Use no soap, sal soda, borax, washing crystals or other preparations with it. For washing dishes, glassware, silverware, milk cans, dairy utensils, windows, marble, paint or oil cloth, and house cleaning, use Soapine. Kendall Mfg. Co. Established 1827 Providence, R.I."""

An 11 page booklet titled "Home service" published by The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston with information on course on home cooking and lighting using electricity. Published before 1936.

A 23 page booklet titled "How to wash and iron a man's shirt...perfectly" published by General Electric and Manhattan men's wear.

Advertisement showing three women of different generations at a water pump with a washing bucket washing clothes and holding up a box of Ivorine. In the background are two men standing looking into the distance carrying farm implements. Verso reads "Ivorine the wonderful cleanser the best and purest article for all washing purposes that it is possible to produce; also, unequaled as a disinfectant. Use it, and clothes, money, and life will last longer. We use the same care in the selection of materials and the preparation of Ivorine, which, for almost half a century has given Williams' "Genuine Yankee" shaving soaps their wide popularity. A handsome silver plate tea-sponn is given with each one-pound package of Ivorine, and, with each two-pound package, either a substantial silver plated table spoon, knife, fork, butter knife, or sugar shell as the purchaser may prefer. By this way of advertising Ivorine and inducing the housekeeper to give it a trial, we are giving to them, directly, what others spend in newspapers and other expensive advertising from which the purchaser gets no benefit. As this plated-ware is made for us by the Williams Bros. M'f'g Co., of this town, under our direct supervision, we can guarantee each article to be of good quality and to wear well. Ask your grocer for Ivorine. The J.B. Williams Co., Established 1840, Glastonbury, Conn."

French advertisement for J. Calvet & Co. winery showing a woman holding a French flag and stirring a pot.

Advertisement featuring illustration of young girl holding a dust pan, broom and bucket with a box of James Pyle's Pearline Washing Compound in it titled "My Busy Day." Verso reads "James Pyle's Pearline washing compound the great invention for saving toil & expense without injury to the texture, color, or hands. New York. Front of every package of Pearline should look exactly like this cut, or it is an imitation. Don't use an imitation of anything, much less an imitation of Pyle's Pearline. Peddlers and some unscrupulous grocers will tell you the stuff they offer is "Pearline," "same as Pearline," "or as good as Pearline." IT'S FALSE; Pearline is the Original Washing Compount - has no rival - no equal - never peddled - gives no prizes - but stands on the foundation on which it was reared – MERIT."

Pamphlet advertising L.I. Fisk & Co's Soaps. The cover shows three women washing and hanging out clothes with the caption "The suds is like velvet, I never used a soap like it. The water is settled and I find no grit in the tub. We never had such clothes they are whiter at every washing. L.I. Fisk & Co,'s Soaps for sale by all grocers who look to the interests of their customers by buying pure goods." The interior describes the qualities of the soap and gives examples of clothes washed in their soap and with others. The back cover shows a young woman and a caricature of a Japanese man holding a scroll which reads "All soaps bearing our name are warranted free from any of the many adulterations the best for economy, purity, cleanliness and washing quality of any in the world. L.I. Fisk and Co., Springfield, Mass." There are also testimonials on the back cover which read "It has cured my chapped hands. I'll use no other and keep them so. It is a delight to all in the bath. It is so soft and clean."

File consists of 16 advertisement trade cards showing women and girls engaged in laundry work, as well as one item of correspondence on the letterhead of Litchfield Steam Laundry.

Die cut Lenox Soap advertisement showing a woman standing next to a washing tub with a large pile of soap suds coming out of it. The advertisement reads "Lenox Soap. Lather from 1 oz in hard water. Lathers freely in hard water."

Correspondence from Litchfield Steam Laundry of Litchfield, Illinois. The letterhead shows women at work in the laundry engaged in tasks such as using washing drums, pressing, and folding clothes. The letter reads "...from 40 to 69 lbs. Also, the water is clear now to what is was one month ago. It is also a compound which if you would let stand one month no settling would be acceptable. But hoping you have a machine which can master it. [illegible] yours truly, Hugh Snell"

File consists of one advertisement trade card for mopping.

Advertisement trade card for Mt. Penn Stove Works featuring decorative floral illustration surrounding a woman cooking on a range with a caption reading "a complete kitchen always contains a pretty cook and a Penn Esther range." A large line of sizes and a great variety of styles. For sale by G.W. Rinesmith & Sons 114 North Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA. Made by Mt. Penn Stove Works, Reading, Pa."

Pamphlet from The National Federation of Bureaus of Occupations for Trained Women Workers, Organized April, 1917. Gives information on joining the organization as well as on types of careers for women.

Eight page booklet advertising the benefits of Pears Soap, specifically for use on women and children and in washing clothes. The cover shows a young girl holding a newspaper which reads "How to improve the complexion Soap" and the verso shows an illustration of a grandmother forcing a young boy into a bath with Pears Soap and the caption "You dirty boy."

Advertisement trade card for Sapolio showing two women cleaning marble statues with the caption "clean marble with Sapolio." Verso reads "1809 1880 Enoch Morgan's Sons' Sapolio for cleaning & polishing. Hand Sapolio for the toilet and bath. Sapolio being put up in an attractive style some persons think is a fancy article but the fact is that one cake is equal to three cakes of any 'mineral soap' and will do more and better work."

Advertisement trade card for Sapolio showing a woman scrubbing a tub while a baby bathes in a smaller tub with the caption "clean baths with Sapolio." Verso reads "1809 1880 Enoch Morgan's Sons' Sapolio for cleaning & polishing. Hand Sapolio for the toilet and bath. Sapolio being put up in an attractive style some persons think is a fancy article but the fact is that one cake is equal to three cakes of any 'mineral soap' and will do more and better work."

Advertisement trade card for Sapolio showing a woman scrubbing a tin pan while a young girl shows a cat its reflection in another. Caption reads "clean tins with Sapolio." Verso reads "1809 1880 Enoch Morgan's Sons' Sapolio for cleaning & polishing. Hand Sapolio for the toilet and bath. Sapolio being put up in an attractive style some persons think is a fancy article but the fact is that one cake is equal to three cakes of any 'mineral soap' and will do more and better work."

Advertisement trade card for Sapolio showing three women washing dishes with the caption "Wash dishes with Sapolio." Verso reads "There is no one article known that will do so many kinds of work in and about the house and do it so well as Enoch Morgan's Sons Sapolio. (Each cake is wrapped in Tin Foil, and surrounded with Ultramarine Blue-Band, and bears the above device) always note this. A cake of Sapolio, a bowl of water and a brush, cloth or sponge will make house cleaning a quick and easy job, will clean paint and all painted surfaces, will clean marble, mantles, tables and statuary, will clean oil-cloths, floors, shelves, etc., will clear bath tubs, wash basins, etc., will clean crockery, glassware, etc., will clean kitchen utensils, of all kinds, will clean windows without splashing of water, will polish tin, brass and copperware, will polish knives as you wash them, will polish all metal surfaces and will clean all household articles and is better and cheaper than soap, emery, rotten stone, etc. John Wanamaker, Grad Depot, Phila."

Advertisement trade card for Sapolio showing three women polishing glassware with the caption "clean glass with Sapolio." Verso reads "1809 1880 Enoch Morgan's Sons' Sapolio for cleaning & polishing. Hand Sapolio for the toilet and bath. Sapolio being put up in an attractive style some persons think is a fancy article but the fact is that one cake is equal to three cakes of any 'mineral soap' and will do more and better work."

File consists of seven advertisement trade cards for scouring showing women and girls.

Advertisement trade card for Soapine by Kendall Manufacturing Company of Providence Rhode Island and illustrated by Charlotte Perkins Gilman showing a woman from behind dusting figurines that spell out Soapine on a mantel piece. Verso reads "Cleanliness in the house, laundry, kitchen and workshop is best secured by the use of Soapine. All wise people continue to use it after one trial. Kendall Mfg. Co. Established 1827. Providence, R.I."

Soapine advertisement illustrated by Charlotte Perkins Gilman showing a woman hanging laundry out from a wash basket. The laundry on the line spells out "Soapine." Verso reads "Soapine the great dirt killer, will remove dirt of all descriptions! Without injury to hands or fabric. Kendall Mfg. Co. established 1827 Providence, R.I."

Soapona trade card advertisement featuring an elephant looking on while two women hang laundry on a line. Verso reads "Saves times, expense and labor. Makes hard water soft. Does not injure the hands or clothes. Makes linen perfectly white. Is a great disinfectant. Each package contains a set of handsome picture cards. Manufactured only by R.W. Bell & Co. 77 to 89 Washington St., and 8 to 20 Beaver St., Buffalo, N.Y."

Die cut card showing five women behind a fence with a caption reading "The look well on the fence! Much better on the other side. This road leads to success used by the million." The verso shows the backs of the women, each of whom are holding a Sweeperette sweeper. Verso reads "always in the push our Sweeperette. Sweeperette Company 76 5th Ave. New York Grand Rapids, Mich."

File consists of two advertisement trade cards for sweeping.

Tree Ball Washing crystal advertisement trade card showing an illustration of three women washing, hanging out, and ironing laundry. The women are accompanied by a dog and a bird in a cage. Verso reads "Nellie - mama, shall I go for the washerwoman, as you have been sick lately and are not able to do the washing? Mother - Oh no, my dear child, you just go to our grocer and get me a large 5 cents package of the Three Ball Washing Crystal, it makes washing so easy that no washwoman is required. Manufactured by C.H. Fischer & Co., New York"

Universal Clothes Wringer puzzle advertisement showing a young woman using a clothes wringer while a man looks in from the window. When the advertisement is held up to the light you can see that the man is looking in with a gun while the young woman leans in to kiss a young man and an older woman comes towards them brandishing a broom. As well, a caption on the advertisement becomes clear which reads "Buy the universal clothes wringer."

Advertisement trade card for the White Mop Wringer Company of Fultonville, N.Y. Serving as a business card for representative M.D. Alger. Recto shows a woman using a mop wringer and the verso shows illustrations of two mop wringers, one for family use and the other for hotel use.

Collection of advertisement trade cards, primarily from the Victorian era, that show the role of women in the household and the defining of gender roles in the period. There are also 4 items from the mid 20th century that speak to the changing and expanding role of women at the time.

File consists of paper doll advertisements. The first is a stand up paper doll of a sheep wearing a dress holding a duster advertising Enameline stove cleaner. The verso reads "Look out for imitations and parties who claim to have something 'just as good.' It is not as good. There's but one Enameline that's the best. For sale by all dealers. Manufactured by J.L. Prescott & Co. 11 Jay Street New York."; a set of six double sided paper dolls with two interchangeable heads, advertising Clark's O.N.T. Spool Cotton. The interiors of the dolls reads "if the child who receives this doll is sent to the store for thread she should ask for Clark's O.N.T. Spool Cotton and see that she gets it. Double Dolls "work and play" 12 in a set. By sending three 2 cent stamps, with name and address, to Clark's O.N.T. Spool Cotton Factory. Newark, N.J. a complete set will be sent by mail be careful to state that the double dolls are wanted."