Houskeeping publications donated by Marshall Johnson

Hagley Library recently received a collection of fascinating 20th century housekeeping manuals and cookbooks. This gift from Marshall Johnson is an addition to his previous donations to Hagley. Many of these items include catalogs, office files, design drawings, and books that were acquired during his career as an industrial designer.

The recent gift to Hagley includes housekeeping publications which date from 1916-1952 and describe the ideals ascribed to housework during that period. Labor saving appliances and the creation of a housework schedule were touted as ways to reduce time and effort. Manuals for the Sechrist pressure cooker, the Mary Proctor iron, and the Ironrite automatic ironer illustrate proper operation of the product and promoted ease of use.

Domestic labor was highly gendered and women were the sole audience for housekeeping manuals. Housekeeping Made Simple (published in 1952) stated, "The part of housework which women like best is probably the cleaning of their prettiest things--silver, crystal, bric a brac, andirons."

These manuals and cookbooks complement and strengthen Hagley's collection of publications pertaining to household appliances and housekeeping which are housed in the Imprints Department. We thank Marshall Johnson for his most recent gift.  Some examples of materials from the donation are below:

How to use your Ironrite Automatic Ironer, 1948 

Asking the question, "Why do we Iron?," this publication answered, "everyone likes to wear nice clean clothing and well pressed garments.  Every lady also enjoys using clean and fresh linens."

Round the World Cook Book

By Ida Baily Allen and published in 1934 by The Best Foods, Inc., maker of the New Nucoa, "the double-purpose food" (margarine)

Mary Proctor's Ironing Book, 1949.  

This manual provides advice about laundry space, supplies, 

detergents, and methods as well as ironing instructions.

Twenty Lessons in Domestic Science

By Marian Cole Fisher and published in 1916.  

The book describes the function of food, provides kitchen advice, and contains recipes.

 Housekeeping Made Simple

Part of The Homemaker's Encyclopedia series published in 1952.  

The introduction states, "Homemaking today offers as much of a
challenge to the modern woman as it did to her great grandmother!"

The Sechrist Pressure Cooker Cook Book

Published by the Albert Sechrist Mfg. Co. in 1922.  

The company maintained that their cooker "will save you
one or two hours of cooking time every day, so you can well
afford to devote some time to a thorough study of these directions."

Manual of Smart Housekeeping, 1946

This manual claimed it was "as helpful as a maid and twice as
efficient; designed to give you more free time in a home you can enjoy."

The contents of previous collections donated by Marshall Johnson can be reviewed in the following finding aids:
Marshall Johnson Collection of Trade Literature and Ephemera
Wear-Ever, Kensington Ware Collection

If you have questions about research at Hagley, contact us at research@hagley.org or call 302-658-2400 ext 330.