House Wife Collection

MS. MAGAZINE, 1972. Cover of the first issue of Ms. magazine, spring 1972

Omo 1950s UK washing powder housewives housewife products detergent

Pickled onion advertisement
A showcard for pickled onions, showing an humanised housewife onion posing by a jar

Olney Pancake Race
SHROVE TUESDAY The starter line for the Olney pancake race which has been held in the village for over 500 years. Any Olney woman over 18 can compete

John Bull 1957 1950s UK cooking housewives housewife kitchens woman women in kitchen magazines family

Elizabeth Ann kitchen units advertisement
Advertisement for the Elizabeth Ann kitchen unit in stainless steel for the aristocrat of kitchen equipment for...a bright, easy kitchen. c.1955

Canadian Call to Women White Star Line poster
Poster produced by the White Star Line shipping company encouraging women to emigrate to Canada

Servis 1950s UK washing machines housewives housewife kitchens woman women

St Margaret Clitherow
Saint MARGARET CLITHEROW (nee Middleton), respectable but Catholic housewife of York convicted of harbouring priests, crushed to death with those weights 24 March 1586

1940S Housewife Cooking
A housewife cooks on a simple stove in a bare and austere kitchen, adding milk to the pan she is stirring

English politician. Photographed at her home in Chelsea, England, 1975, shortly before being named leader of
MARGARET THATCHER (1925- ). English politician. Photographed at her home in Chelsea, England, 1975, shortly before being named leader of the Conservative Party

Fanny Blankers-Koen hurdling, 1948 London Olympics
Fanny Blankers-Koen, a Dutch housewife, taking the victory in the 80 metres hurdles and setting a new Olympic record. Maureen Gardner of Britain took the silver

Older Woman Baking 1947
An older woman wearing a flowery apron rolls out pastry for some home baking

John Bull 1955 1950s UK cooking naughty milkman milkmen kitchens housewives housewife woman women in kitchen magazines

John Bull 1958 1950s UK cooking mothers and daughters baking mince pies housewife housewives woman women in kitchens magazines

John Bull 1956 1950s UK washday washing lines housewife housewives magazines

John Bull 1955 1950s UK moving removals housewife housewives packing kitchens woman women in kitchen magazines

Australian Kelpie Dog wearing wig with hair curlers, glasses and a dressing gown on a white background

Gas refrigerator advertisement, 1950s
Advertisement for a gas-powered fridge depicting a carefree 1950s housewife gazing fondly at her gigantic baby. 1950s

English Rose kitchen advertisement
Advertisement for the wonderfully retro English Rose fitted kitchens of the 1950s depicting a housewife in a jolly yellow pinny proudly showing off her pristine new kitchen. c.1955

Everywoman 1943 1940s UK mothers and daughters housewives housewife homemakers baking bread cooking mums motherÕs mother

The Wallpaper Manufacturers Limited 1960s UK humour wallpaper pineapples housewives housewife homemakers fruit cheesy romantic love couples

HOUS2A-00141
French-Canadian woman baking bread in an outdoor oven, circa 1900. Hand-colored halftone reproduction of a turn-of-the-century illustration

HSET2A-00054
New England colonial couple in farmhouse dooryard, late 1600s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Woman Smoking 1940S
A young housewife exhales a stream of smoke as she takes a break from her household tasks. By the end of World War Two, nearly half of the women in Britain had a smoking habit

1960S Lady & Vacuum
A British housewife poses with Hoover and rag in the centre of her sitting room

Ewbank Master Washer
A housewife uses her Ewbank Master Clothes Washer for washing, wringing and ironing

John Bull 1958 1950s UK cooking sunday lunch housewife housewives woman women in kitchens magazines horticulture

Paddy Paws

PEARS SOAP AD, 1887. American advertisement, 1887, for Pears Soap

Doing Laundry 1940S
A housewife uses a kind of dolly leg with a rubber plunger on the end of it to wash her clothes in a metal tub. Date: 1940s (re-enactment)

Carpet Sweeper
A young housewife using a carpet sweeper

Thor Washing Machine
This housewife is delighted with her Thor washing machine which converts to a dishwasher when she lifts out the Clothes Tub and slips in th Dish- Washing Unit

Ritemp Washing Machine
A housewife prepares to drain her English Electric Ritemp washing machine, simply and rapidly, into bucket or drain, according to the instruction book

Drying Clothes / Allingham
A woman in a pink bonnet check her washing line to see if her washing is dry

Japanese Woman Cooking
A young Japanese housewife cooking the family meal in her well-equipped kitchen. Chopsticks will be used for eating and the rice will be served in wooden cases. Date: 1930s

Making a Pie 1912
A young woman trims the excess pastry from a pie, prior to baking it

Polishing a Floor
A housewife uses her Johnsons Wax Electric Floor Polisher

A clean sweep for Mrs Thatcher. 2nd February 1975. Mrs Margaret Thatcher, who is challenging for the leadership of the Conservative party, seen here doing household chores

Reveille Fashions 1964: Maureen Walker modeling a jumper and a knee length pencil skirt. March 1964 P007542

Washboard for scrubbing laundry in the 1800s
Woman reenactor doing laundry with a washboard, living history demonstration, Shiloh National Military Park, Tennessee. Digital photograph

Poster advertising Linge Monopole anti-whitening product, c. 1895 (colour litho)
CHT137367 Poster advertising Linge Monopole anti-whitening product, c.1895 (colour litho) by Roedel, Auguste (1859-1900); 115x82 cm; Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

The Pretty Housewife (La Jolie Menagere) 1915 (oil on canvas)
BRN159681 The Pretty Housewife (La Jolie Menagere) 1915 (oil on canvas) by Modigliani, Amedeo (1884-1920); The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; eBarnes Foundation; Italian

Women in kitchen. Circa 1952

Domestic Life: Woman (Mrs. Olive Haugh) dusting the bookcase: Circa 1954

Domestic Life: Washing and cleaning a house wifes work is never done. February 1969

Mannequin Jackie Jackson seen here modeling a summmer dress with matching apron skirt idea for doing the house work in. October 1959 P006918

A Glasgow housewife leans against the front door of a tenement block in Govan. September 1956

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"Unveiling the Power of the Housewife: A Journey through Time" Step into the world of housewives, where strength and resilience have always been at the forefront. From the iconic Ms. Magazine cover in 1972, which sparked a feminist revolution, to Omo's 1950s UK washing powder advertisements that celebrated their dedication to cleanliness, these women were forces to be reckoned with. In kitchens across Britain, housewives showcased their culinary prowess with John Bull's cooking products in the 1950s. Their skills were not limited to just cooking; they also played an essential role in maintaining households as seen in Canadian Call to Women White Star Line poster and Elizabeth Ann kitchen units advertisement. But it wasn't all work and no play for these remarkable women. The Olney Pancake Race brought together housewives from different backgrounds for a thrilling competition that highlighted their competitive spirit and community bonds. Housewives embraced modernity too - Servis' 1950s UK washing machines became their trusted allies in managing household chores efficiently. These appliances empowered them while allowing more time for self-care and pursuing personal interests. Throughout history, we find extraordinary examples like St. Margaret Clitherow who defied societal norms by standing up for her beliefs even at great personal cost. And let us not forget about Fanny Blankers-Koen hurdling her way to victory at the 1948 London Olympics – proving that being a housewife did not limit one's potential or dreams. Even English politician Margaret Thatcher showed us that being a housewife didn't define her entire identity when she became leader of the Conservative Party while balancing family life. The term "housewife" has evolved over time but its essence remains unchanged – it represents strong-willed individuals who have shaped societies through their unwavering determination and multifaceted abilities. Let us celebrate these incredible women who have left an indelible mark on history.