ReTRo HouSeWiFe

RETRO SPECTIVE : SURVEY OF THE DECADES PAST...

Other Lovely Retro Pages!

Read about the history of ESPRIT. Did you know Esprit started out in San Francisco?

The History Of Pyrex - Did you know that the first PYREX "Baking Dishes" were actually the bottoms of two sawed-off battery jars made from low-expansion glasses? That we have a gal named Bessie Littleton to thank for the wonder that are Pyrex baking dishes? It seems in 1913, Bessie convinced her husband, a scientist at Corning Glass Works, to bring her those battery jars and then promptly used them to bake a cake! It must have been one darn good one too, because on May 18, 1915, Boston department store Jordan Marsh placed the first PYREX bakeware order. Read the full "Bessie and the Battery Jars" Story! New: Bessie's Son Harvey's recollections

Playtex turns 75 this year! Now owned by Hanesbrands, Inc., Playtex started out in 1932 with the decidedly unfeminine name of International Latex Company (ILC). ILC sold bathing caps and gradually expanded their line into aprons, slippers, baby pants and other products benefiting from latex. Playtex's breakthrough product, the Playtex Living Girdle made them a household name. Here is a nice one page history of Playtex on www.onehanesplace.com

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adidas began in 1920, when Adi Dassler made his first shoes using the few materials available after the First World War. The first Adi Dassler sports shoes produced after the Second World War are made using canvas and rubber from American fuel tanks. (Now they make them out of different things...). Here's the full adidas history!

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The first Macy's store opened in 1858 and sold "Fancy Dry Goods". Macy's went on to start many other time honored traditions such as the first in-store Santa in 1862, the first female store manager in 1866 and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Macy's is truly an icon in American History.

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Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co. has been around since 1904. On the bottom of the home page there is a nice timeline depiction of the company's history. If you are a sports nut, or you are married to one, this store will keep you flush with the perfect gift for your nut for the next 1000 years. For example, you can get the jersey Shaun Alexander wore during his rookie year with the Seahawks...

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The Gap has a short pictorial history, starting with the opening of the first store in 1969 in San Francisco.  Remember "Fall into The Gap"? That campaign was kicked off in 1974. If you would like to browse the Gap Retrospective, you will find it here (on the corporate site). Should you get the itch to do some shopping, then you will need to go to 

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Figleaves.com has a retrospective on their site right now called "60 Years of the Bikini" with pictures of bikinis starting from the 1930s all the way up to the present! It is worth taking a peek! Off to Figleaves Bikini History

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Kelloggs is celebrating it's 100th Birthday and has a retrospective of their advertising for the entire 100 year period! I am trying to borrow some for Retro Housewife, but in the meantime, you can find it here.

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Dear Readers!

DO YOU HAVE A STORY THAT HELPS DEFINE A DECADE?

* PHOTOS?

* LETTERS?

* MEMORIES?

* AN OLD GUM WRAPPER?

Time slips away, and suddenly that which seemed ordinary is now precious. Share your bit of history with us!

Send me an email and let me know! Tell us what it was like in the 40s, 50s, 60s or any other time or place.

It is NOT Silly or Trivial!

It Does Matter!

I found the ship manifest with my fathers family on it when they emigrated to the US. It is amazing what you can find! 

1. United States Birth, Marriage, & Death Records
2. Birth, Marriage & Death Records (Free)
3. 1901 Wales Census
4. Downloadable Family Tree Template
5. Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years
6. Tribute to Jackie Kennedy
7. The Search for Ida