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Category Archives: fitness

Phyllis’ Fallacies: A Fable for Seekers After Perfect Womanhood, 1906

01-Nov-09

I came across this story in the August 1906 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, and was very surprised at what I was reading. This is a story written from the point of view of the husband of a woman who has decided to get in shape, to “look like Edna May,” who was a famous [...]

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Physical Culture, 1904

15-Jun-09

The October 1904 issue of The Delineator magazine features an article that, to me, was far more interesting for the pictures that accompany it than for the article itself. It is called “The Fountain of Youth: Physical Culture”, and it explains to the reader how important it is to exercise the body, which is really [...]

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Women and Sports in ads, 1906-07

09-Dec-08

This ad for Mennen’s talcum powder appeared on the back cover of the August, 1906 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine. A woman tennis player is pictured and described as one of the “lovers of sports” which the ad is targeting.
“Lovers of sport and all sorts of outdoor life, know that a delicate skin is severely [...]

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Exercises for the Home Gymnasium, 1926

03-Nov-08

…and a fig for dignity if we can keep our waistline slim and our spirits young!
The image and quote above come from the February, 1926 issue of Delineator magazine. The article was written by Fielding H. Yost, who was credited as the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, University of Michigan. (And look, here he is on [...]

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Home Exercises, 1852

06-Oct-08

This very interesting image comes from the November, 1852 issue of Godey’s Lady’s Book. Going to the gym and keeping in shape is such a big concern for many of us today; yet I admit when I think about women 150 years ago I never imagined that they even thought of working out. However, as [...]

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