Ford “Feel”, 1949

Tales from the Infirmary

When I was studying for my MA in Popular Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, I worked as an intern at the Wood County Historical Center and Museum. The museum is located on the site of the county’s former infirmary or “poor farm.” Built in 1867, the infirmary was a repository for the county’s cast-offs — the homeless, the downtrodden, the sick, the elderly, orphans, and of course, the mentally ill. The museum is located inside of the old infirmary building; a really neat sprawling building with three wings. I was hired to help develop an exhibit in an outer building called “The Lunatic House”, which was built in the 1880s especially to house mentally ill residents. I did a lot of research in old local newspapers for the exhibit, and was fascinated with what I found. It wasn’t unusual to find articles proclaiming “(insert local resident’s name) IS INSANE,” with an unflinching account of their descent into insanity. The honesty and amount of disclosure can be pretty stunning. People really did view mental illness as a community issue, and felt good knowing that the infirmary was there to care for local unfortunates. Treatment styles changed over time however, and local cases were eventually sent to larger state asylums. Institutionalization was pretty much the de facto “solution” for most of the 20th century — today, we’ve still got that, but we’re getting back to more local, community-oriented responses as well. Yesterday’s “lunatic house” is today’s group house.

Beecham’s Pills

Women Must Have
help at times, if they would avoid headaches, backaches, lassitude, extreme nervousness. The really superior remedy for them–known the world over and tested through three generations–is BEECHAM’S PILLS. Sold everywhere. In boxes, 10c. 25c.

Betty’s Gay With Midol

Betty’s Blue
PERIODIC PAIN
Don’t let the calendar make a slave of you, Betty! Just take a Midol tablet with a glass of water…that’s all. Midol brings faster and more complete relief from menstrual pain – it relieves cramps, eases backaches, and chases “the blues.”

Are You In The Know? [Kotex]

Published in Good Housekeeping Magazine, June 1955. Click for larger image.

Are You In The Know?

When Inviting a House Guest, Should You-

-Limit her stay -Leave the departure date open -Say When

Edson Electro-Magnetic Garter

Boys DO Make Passes at Girls Who Wear Glasses

From Teens Today, Nov. 1960. Click on the thumbnails for the full page image.

page 1

page 2

page 3

Though tanned and five pounds heavier, Bud Rutledge was not a happy man when he appeared in TT’s offices shortly before returning to his studies at Columbia University. He was frowning as he entered our outer office, then as he stopped to talk to Louie Caruso (who replaced him as Male Box editor, re­member?) the frown turned to a glare. • By the time he made his way into Mrs. Silber’s office (without knocking, as always), Bud looked weary and depressed. “I’m giving you a story,” he announced grimly. “Free of charge, understand? This one’s on me; I wouldn’t take a dollar even if you forced it on me.”

Trim Jeans

From the July 1971 issue of Family Circus Magazine

Introducing New FDS Now With Time-Release Fragrance Fresheners