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Collection in Focus - September 2007
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Godey's Lady's Book, 1830-1898
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December 1844 frontispiece printed in gold and three colors
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Founded in 1830 by Louis A. Godey, Godey's Lady's Book,
was one of the most popular and long-lived women's magazines. Each issue
included fiction, non-fiction, poetry, advice on interior decorating,
fashion and domestic arts, instructions for needlework and handicrafts,
and music. The magazine evolved into an important literary magazine and
published articles, book reviews, etc. by many notable nineteenth-century
writers including Edgar Allan Poe.
Godey's Lady's Book continued to flourish throughout the Civil
War under the long editorship of Mrs.Sarah Hale, but by 1877, Louis Godey
sold the magazine and Mrs. Hale retired. The magazine was purchased by
several owners and in 1898 ended its 68 year existence
Presented by Severance A. Milliken
Call Number: A20 G582, 1842-1844 |
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Click on an image for a larger view.
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The success of Godey's Lady's Book was due to the
efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, editor until 1877, when she retired. Mrs.
Hale, known as "the lady editor," had, from 1828-1836, published the American
Ladies' Magazine and Literary Gazette where her editorial mandate
was "...to provide quality material to benefit and educate the female
reader." In 1836, the American Ladies' Magazine and Literary Gazette
merged with Godey's Lady's Book and Mrs. Hale continued to edit
the magazine from her home in Boston. In 1840 she relocated to Philadelphia.
Just prior to the Civil War, Mrs. Hale had built the Godey's Lady's
Book subscription list to more than 150,000, the largest circulation
attained by any monthly magazine at that time.
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Volume XXVIII, January-June 1844
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Volume XXIV, April 1942, page 238
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In addition to her editorship of the magazine, Mrs. Hale
was an early advocate of women's rights. She argued for the retention
of property rights by married women; started the first day nursery; helped
organize Vassar College; and worked for the advancement of women's wages,
better working conditions for women and the reduction of child labor.
She was also the author of twenty-four books and numerous poems, including
the nursery rhyme, "Mary Had a Little Lamb".
The mezzotint "Beauty and Innocence" illustrates a poem of the
same title written by Mrs. Hale and published in the April 1842 issue.
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Volume XXIV, April 1842
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Volume XXIV, April 1842, page 181
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"The Fourtune Teller," engraved for
Godey's Lady's Book by S. Jones Pinxt and Alfred Jones Sc., illustrates
another short story by Mrs. Hale.
Volume XXV, August 1842, page 61 |
Edgar Allan Poe (1840-1849) American poet,
critic and short story writer, is often referred to as the "father
of the detective story." His chilling tale, "The Oblong Box,"
was first published in the September 1844 issue of Godey's Lady's Book.
Volume XXXIX, September 1844, page 132 |
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"The November [1842] issue included a "portrait
of the celebrated author and favorite writer, Mr. T. S. Arthur. We court
a comparison between this admirable production from the burin of Armstrong
and those of any other publication of the day." Mr. Arthur wrote
stories for Godey's Lady's Book including "Anna Milnor: The
young lady who was not punctual."
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Volume XXIX, November 1844, page 193
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Volume XXIX, October 1844, page 147
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Godey's Lady's Books - Fashion
Plates
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One of the most popular features of Godey's Lady's
Book was the La Belle Assemble; each month, beautifully illustrated
hand-colored fashion plates depicting the latest in women's fashions were
published. More than 150 women were employed to hand tint the plates for
each issue. Black and white steel and copper engravings were also used
to illustrate the published articles.
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"Paris plates of fashion in the present
number (from left to right)
Fig. 1- Dress of India muslin, over a pale yellow under dress...
Fig. 2- Dress of light blue pou de soie..
Fig. 3- Dress of nut brown striped pekin...
Fig. 4- Dress of sea green gos de Naples... "
Volume XXIV, September 1842, page 156 |
"There appears to be considerable 'flouncing'
of late among some 'cap'-tious individuals of the masculine gender on the
subject of the pet-fashion plates. Would you believe it, ladies, that objections
have been raised against our publishing them at all, because forsooth, the
artist happens, in his devotion to the subject, to press a little too tight
the waists of some of his figures, or the colorist to add a deeper tinge
of carmine to the pictured complexion than quite natural? Yet so it is."
Volume XXV, October 1842, page 204 |
The fashion plate reproduced here is especially
charming. Note that a small child, probably enthralled with looking at the
latest fashions, has taken a blue crayon and added whimsical touches of
color to the models' clothing and accessories.
Volume XXVII, March 1844, page 152 |
Each issue of Godey's Lady's Book included
scores and text for popular music.
The July 1842 issue featured "Oh! Sing No More that Gentle Song"
in three verses.
Volume XXV, July 1842, page 56 |
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