In 1926, magazines mocked “the woman who conceals her age.” Behind the joke was a real anxiety about beauty, work, and women’s new freedoms.
1920’s
“The Average Man Amongst Savages”: What It Meant in 1926
In 1926, “The Average Man Amongst Savages” captured how Western science ranked races and cultures. Here’s what it was, why it happened, and why it still matters.
1920s Moral Panic vs Today’s ‘Rude Youth’ Debates
In 1926 adults raged about the “manners of the rising generation.” How did that moral panic compare to today’s complaints about rude youth and lost civility?
Why Berlin Tried Three‑Decker Buses in the 1920s
In 1926 Berlin tested a three-decker bus. How did it work, why did it fail, and how do those giants compare to today’s double-decker buses and BRT systems?
“The Difficulty of Securing a Plain Girl,” 1926: 5 Things
What was “The Difficulty of Securing a Plain Girl” in 1926 really about? Five things this odd phrase reveals about dating, beauty, and gender a century ago.
What If the 1926 Fur & Leather Strike Had Failed?
In 1926, mostly women fur and leather workers in New York won a 10% raise and a 5‑day week. What if that strike had failed? Three grounded what‑if scenarios.
They Look Similar: 1920s Traffic Chaos vs Today
Why do 1920s street scenes look familiar yet wrong to modern eyes? A comparison of early car-era traffic and today’s road rules, methods, outcomes, and legacy.
What If the Charleston Had Been Banned in 1926?
In 1926 a Kansas teen reportedly died from dancing the Charleston. What if doctors and city leaders had used that death to clamp down on jazz and youth culture?
Anna Julia Cooper and the Sorbonne PhD of 1925
In 1925, Anna Julia Cooper earned a doctorate from the Sorbonne. Here’s how a woman born enslaved became a major Black feminist scholar and educator.
5 Things Behind the 5‑Day Workweek Debate in 1925
In 1925, New Yorkers were asked if a five-day workweek was coming. Here are 5 forces that turned a wild idea into the modern weekend.