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Women of 1880s-1920s

Women Portraits 1900s-1920s, Glass Negatives. Created by: PICRYLDated: 1911

Stine, Sable, Gilliland, Baston, Snow ready for race

The beginning of the twentieth century was a period of dramatic change for women in the West. In the late Victorian period women were constricted by a patriarchal social structure.
But the early twentieth century saw the creation of the Suffragette movement, the catalyst for the rapid social change that occurred over the rest of the century. With career options other than marriage and motherhood opening up to them, women engaged with politics, served in the two world wars, made an impact on the artistic and literary worlds and experienced social and sexual liberation.
Between 1880 and 1910, the number of women employed in the United States increased from 2.6 million to 7.8 million. Women's organizations in towns and cities across the U.S. were working to promote suffrage, better schools, the regulation of child labor, women in unions, and liquor prohibition.
By emphasizing traditional traits, female social reformers created new spaces for themselves in local and then national government even before they had the right to vote.

8,526 Media in collection ∙ page 1 of 86

Bathing beach beauty contest, [1920], Eliz. Roache (most beautiful suit)

Bathing beach beauty contest, [1920], Eliz. Roache (most beautiful sui...

Edith Bolling (married Woodrow Wilson)

Edith Bolling (married Woodrow Wilson)

Photograph shows half-length portrait of Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, seated, facing right. Title from negative sleeve. Forms part of: C.M. Bell Studio Collection (Library of Congress).

Maude by G.P. J. Hood [Jacomb Hood]

Maude by G.P. J. Hood [Jacomb Hood]

Photograph shows Maud Franklin, full-length portrait, standing, facing front, near a doorway. Title from negative sleeve. Film copy negative: LC-J201-11. James and Elizabeth Robins Pennell Collection of Whistleriana.

Miss Alice Hay, Frances Benjamin Johnston collection

Miss Alice Hay, Frances Benjamin Johnston collection

Photograph shows three-quarter length portrait of Alice Hay (Mrs. James Wolcott Wadsworth), seated in chair, facing front. She was the daughter of ambassador and statesman John Milton Hay. Title from negative s... More

Dewey, Mrs. Wife of Adm. seated in home presented by public, about 1902

Dewey, Mrs. Wife of Adm. seated in home presented by public, about 190...

Evans, Mrs. George (Mary Handy) grand niece of Mathew Brady. May 2, 1934

Evans, Mrs. George (Mary Handy) grand niece of Mathew Brady. May 2, 19...

Helen Hay, Frances Benjamin Johnston collection

Helen Hay, Frances Benjamin Johnston collection

Photograph shows three-quarter length portrait of poet, writer and philanthropist Helen Julia Hay (Mrs. Helen Payne Whitney), seated in front of door, facing front. She was a daughter of ambassador and statesm... More

Arnold Genthe - Three women on Kearney Street, Chinatown, San Francisco

Arnold Genthe - Three women on Kearney Street, Chinatown, San Francisc...

Arnold Genthe - A slave girl in holiday attire, Chinatown, San Francisco

Arnold Genthe - A slave girl in holiday attire, Chinatown, San Francis...

Arnold Genthe - The little mandarin, Chinatown, San Francisco

Arnold Genthe - The little mandarin, Chinatown, San Francisco

Arnold Genthe - Chinese girl, Chinatown, San Francisco

Arnold Genthe - Chinese girl, Chinatown, San Francisco

Arnold Genthe - Dressed for the feast, Chinatown, San Francisco

Arnold Genthe - Dressed for the feast, Chinatown, San Francisco

May Scheider

Mrs. Carter Harrison

Mrs. Carter Harrison

Luella Duys & Eleanor Horrmann

Luella Duys & Eleanor Horrmann

Louise Falconer, Margaret French, Mrs. John C. Powers, Ruth Roberts, Mrs. F.W. Chesebrough, Emilie Brown, Mrs. Nina Duryea and Grace Bristed

Louise Falconer, Margaret French, Mrs. John C. Powers, Ruth Roberts, M...

Homer

Mary Johnston, seated with magazine

Mary Johnston, seated with magazine

Paquin Morning Gown

Paquin Morning Gown

Mrs. John DeKoven Bowen seated

Mrs. John DeKoven Bowen seated

Grand Duchess Olga, leaning against chair

Grand Duchess Olga, leaning against chair

One of King Sisters

One of King Sisters

Heink

Mae Murray (chinchilla coat)

Mae Murray (chinchilla coat)

Lajinska

Goodson

Kyrle Bellew in "Scandal"

Kyrle Bellew in "Scandal"

Italian opera singer Galli - Curci

Italian opera singer Galli - Curci

Mrs. O.H.P. Belmont

Mrs. O.H.P. Belmont

Farrar

May Yohe

Farrar in full length fur coat

Farrar in full length fur coat

Italian opera singer Galli-Curci

Italian opera singer Galli-Curci

Lachansha

Peterson

Fannie Crosby

Olga Petrova

Lady Hamar Greenwood

Lady Hamar Greenwood

Italian opera singer Galli - Curci

Italian opera singer Galli - Curci

Mary and Herbert Rawlins

Mary and Herbert Rawlins

Cora Chase

Alma Francis

Florence La Due

Florence La Due

Sally Milgrim

Infanta Eulalie

Infanta Eulalie

Valentine

Mrs. Va. Pearson

Mrs. Va. Pearson

Betty Carsdale

Miss May Schneider

Miss May Schneider

Prince Charles of Belgium

Prince Charles of Belgium

Mrs. Martha M. Rogers

Mrs. Martha M. Rogers

Mrs. Gertrude Gilmour

Mrs. Gertrude Gilmour

Mrs. A.G. Vanderbilt (Mrs. Margaret Emerson McKim)

Mrs. A.G. Vanderbilt (Mrs. Margaret Emerson McKim)

Czar of Russia as a child, with unidentified woman

Czar of Russia as a child, with unidentified woman

Sweet

Ruth St. Denis

Mangelberg

[Clamet]

Farrar in full length fur coat

Farrar in full length fur coat

Tobacco - saleswoman [Dorothy Leonard]

Tobacco - saleswoman [Dorothy Leonard]

Louise Mayer

Princess Ruprecht of Bavaria & Prince Luitpold

Princess Ruprecht of Bavaria & Prince Luitpold

Nellie Melba

Frau Stritt, Miss Carmichael, and Miss MacMillan

Frau Stritt, Miss Carmichael, and Miss MacMillan

Tetrazzini

Arthur Gordoni, Nora Bayes and child

Arthur Gordoni, Nora Bayes and child

B. Gimbel and wife

B. Gimbel and wife

Baker

Hulda Guthner

Hilger sisters (Mary, Elsa, Marg.)

Hilger sisters (Mary, Elsa, Marg.)

Harriet Hoctor

Janis

Dr. Elsa Lagergren

Dr. Elsa Lagergren

Eames

Draper

Elizabeth R. Wylie

Elizabeth R. Wylie

Countess Markiewicz

Countess Markiewicz

Countess Clancarty

Countess Clancarty

Curci

Connie Regan & "Glorious Me"

Connie Regan & "Glorious Me"

Chase

Calve

Braslau

Photo shows opera singer Sophie Braslau (1902-1935), a contralto who performed with the Metropolitan Opera, New York City. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2009 and Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia)

Bori

Young

Alda

Alcock

Italian opera singer Galli - Curci

Italian opera singer Galli - Curci

Farraham

Clark

Forina

Queen of Belg.

Annette Kellerman

Annette Kellerman

Ponselle

Farrar

Mary Garden

Matzenauer

Maude [i.e. Maud] Powell

Maude [i.e. Maud] Powell

Gutman

Larrmore (seated at table)

Larrmore (seated at table)

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