House Work Collection (#3)

She didn t know what to do
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, she had so many children, she didn t know what to do -- an illustration to the nursery rhyme, showing the old woman not knowing where to start

Washing up
A woman in apron and scarf washing up a mug and plate outside her home, 1910. Date: 1910

She made them some broth
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, she had so many children... She made them some broth -- an illustration to the nursery rhyme, showing the old woman in her kitchen

Ware rite surfaces advertisement
Advertisement for Ware-rite kitchen surfaces, guaranteeing brighter homes and lighter work. c.1950

Helping Mother hang up the washing
Two children Helping Mother hang up the washing. 19th century

Little girl on washing day
A little girl on washing day. 19th century

AMERICAN AD, 1927. American magazine advertisement, 1927

REFRIGERATOR AD, 1959. Adverstisement for the new Westinghouse refrigerator with cold injector system
REFRIGERATOR AD, 1959. Adverstisement for the new Westinghouse refrigerator with " cold injector system, " from an American magazine

ADVERTISING: KITCHEN, 1947. You ll Be Sure of the Finest When You Plan Your New American Kitchen
ADVERTISING: KITCHEN, 1947. " You ll Be Sure of the Finest When You Plan Your New American Kitchen" : American magazine advertisement, 1947, for American Kitchens

TELEPHONE ADVERTISEMENT. Bell Telephone advertisement from an American magazine, 1959

ELECTRIC UTILITY AD, 1957. How does your kitchen rate on the electrical living scale
ELECTRIC UTILITY AD, 1957. " How does your kitchen rate on the electrical living scale?" : advertisement for local electric utilities, from an American magazine of 1957

HOME APPLIANCE AD. Hughes Electric Range advertisement of 1927, from an American magazine

STOVE POLISH AD, c1861. American advertising poster, c1861, for Congress Stove Polish

MAGAZINE ADVERTISEMENT. Advertisement for Johnsons Electric Floor Polisher and Johnsons Liquid Wax from an American magazine of 1927

ADVERTISEMENT, 1920. American magazine advertisement, 1920

HOME APPLIANCE AD, 1926. American magazine advertisement, 1926

FRENCH KITCHEN. A kitchen in a middle-class household in Paris, France. Oil on canvas, 1815, by Martin Drolling

THE IRRESISTIBLE LOVER, 1927. Film still

IRON, 19th CENTURY. A charcoal iron with bellows, foreground, and other irons, English, 19th century

WOMAN DOING LAUNDRY, c1902. An young African American woman hanging laundry to dry in Newport, Rhode Island. Photograph by Gertrude Kasebier, c1902

CHEYENNE WOMAN, 1890s. Using a stone mortar and pestle, a Cheyenne woman prepares wild cherries, pits and all, for the making of pemmican. Oil over a photograph, c1890s

HOPI: GRINDING CORN, c1911. A Hopi woman grinding corn in a dwelling in Arizona. Photograph, c1911

WOMENs RIGHTS, 1930. One of Lifes Little Ironies. American cartoon comment, on the occasion of the national census of 1930, on Uncle Sams low opinion of womens work

SILENT FILM STILL. Tully Marshall pressing pants under mattress, 1920s, from an unidentified film

MERELY MARY ANN, 1920. Shirley Mason as the title character from the film

SILENT FILM STILL. Billie Dove

SILENT FILM STILL. Anna Q. Nilsson and Ben Lyon

SILENT FILM STILL, 1920s. Aileen Pringle

TENTH AVENUE, 1928. Film still

THE MAILMAN, 1923. Martha Sleeper in a scene from the film

THE GIRL AT HOME, 1917. Vivian Martin in a scene from the film

THE PLAY GIRL, 1928. Madge Bellamy in a scene from the film

THE SEA WOLF, 1926. Snitz Edwards in a scene from a film adaptation of Jack Londons novel

MILKING, 19th CENTURY. The White Cow. Etching, French, late 19th century, after a painting by Julien Dupr (1851-1910)
MILKING, 19th CENTURY. The White Cow. Etching, French, late 19th century, after a painting by Julien Dupr© (1851-1910)

Making soap
Woman making soft soap by hand with an outdoor kettle to render lard. Hand-colored halftone reproduction of a photograph

Romance on a city rooftop, 1800s
Woman hanging laundry talking with a mason on a city rooftop, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Woman washing a sheet in a river in Portugal
Woman washing a sheet at the side of a river in Portugal. She is kneeling on a specially designed wooden platform, which stops her getting too wet

Woman hanging out the washing on a line
A woman hanging out the washing on a line (or two), apparently at the side of a stretch of water

Washing Day by Millicent Sowerby
Two jolly girl guides and a little Brownie hard at work on washing day. One washes clothes in a soap sud filled wash tub while another hangs gleaming sheets on a line

Hanging out the washing
A young housewife takes advantage of a breezy day and hangs out her washing on the line

Suds, 1930s style
A woman smiles as she stands up to her elbows in soap suds while doing a bit of hand washing in the sink

Gas Council advertisement 1954
Advertisement by the Gas Council stressing that the gas industry makes the best use of the nations coal, allowing busy housewives the luxury of instant hot water with Mr Therms Sink Water-heaters

Drying Machine
Several engravings illustrating an ingenious device for drying clothes; a forerunner of the fold-up telescopic clothes drier used instead of a line and pegs

Ironing a Shirt 1911
Photograph demonstrating how to iron a shirt or blouse in 1911

Advert Vacuum Cleaner
Advert for the housewife for christmas! Western Electric Vacuum Sweeper with the motor driven brush

Dusting for Exercise
A young lady in shorts with buttoned falls gives these windows a vigorous rub with a checked cloth - a great way to tone up the waist and bust without the need of a gym!

Domestic Communism
COMMUNISM IN THE HOME The servants share the familys clothes and possessions, the ladies take part in the housework

Housemaid Scrubbing 1886
Friday: The housemaid scrubs the staircase

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"Unveiling the Invisible: The Evolution of Housework Through Time" In the spring of 1972, Ms. Magazine made a groundbreaking debut, shedding light on the often overlooked realm of housework. This cover symbolized a turning point in history, as women's voices began to rise against societal expectations. Traveling back in time to c1850, we find ourselves immersed in a Mexican kitchen where two women diligently work side by side. Their efforts may have gone unnoticed then, but today we recognize their contribution to our understanding of domestic labor. The story takes us even further back to biblical times with Jesus, Mary, and Martha. While Martha busied herself with household chores, Mary chose knowledge over traditional gender roles - an act that sparked contemplation about the value society places on housework. Fast forward to 1975 when an English politician named Margaret Thatcher posed for a photograph at her home in Chelsea. Little did she know that shortly after this moment captured in time, she would become leader of the Conservative Party and challenge gender norms within politics. Meanwhile, advertisements from 1926 showcased advancements in home appliances like the Hoover vacuum cleaner - revolutionizing cleaning methods and easing some burdens associated with housework. Arthur Rackham's depiction of Cinderella reminds us of timeless tales where women were expected to fulfill domestic duties before finding their happily ever after. These stories perpetuated societal expectations surrounding housework for generations. Ethel Parkinson's paintings "Baking Day" and "Cleaning Day" transport us into scenes filled with both hard work and joyous moments shared among family members during daily tasks - reminding us that there can be beauty found amidst mundane routines. As we conclude our journey through time, we witness Mrs. Margaret Thatcher making history once again as she sweeps away barriers within British politics on February 2nd, 1975. Her determination serves as inspiration for all those who strive for equality regardless of gender or occupation.