reading baby books

8/17/2019 Reading Baby Books

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Reading Baby Books: Medicine, Marketing,

Money and the Lives of American Infants

Golden, Janet, Weiner, Lynn, Journal of Social History

Poor Charlie Flood! In 1914 at the ae of four onths he "urned his face #ith $uic%lie and threeonths later cauht a "uttonhoo% on his tonue& 's a toddler there #ere ore accidents ( a nail inhis foot, and then a fall #hile holdin a "ottle that left lass in his hand& We learn of thesecalaities not fro court records re)ortin nelect or fro hos)ital files "ut fro his other, #ho

carefully recorded each e*ent in his "a"y "oo%& +1 Li%e Charlie any "a"ies had accidents and hurtthesel*es ( fallin do#n stairs, off )orches, and out of hih chairs and cri"s& In the first half of thet#entieth century others lo*inly recorded these isad*entures, and one "a"y "oo%((definedsi)ly as ite #ith one or ore )rinted )aes for recordin inforation a"out ne#"orns((e*enincluded an entry )ae for -first tu"le&- +. /y the )ost World War II era, accounts of accidentslarely *anished& Was it "etter "a"y()roofin0 ore *iilant )arentin0 Had infants "ecoe lesscurious and accident()rone0 2r, in the conte3t of ne# accident )re*ention and hoe safety

)roras, had #hat had once seeed coon)lace or ausin "ecoe e*idence of nelect, a"use,or "ad )arentin, leadin others to sto) recordin such e*ents0 +

's the case of the *anishin accident re*eals, "a"y "oo%s are a rich historical source, detailin theli*es of "a"ies and the chanin e3)ectations and )ractices of )arents& 5hese e)heeral

)u"lications((foratted #ith one or ore )rinted )aes for recordin inforation a"out infants((#ere sold or distri"uted as %ee)sa%es and #ere coon)lace in the 6nited States throuhout thet#entieth century and reain in use today& 7ot all "a"y "oo%s #ere, in fact, "oo%s& 5hey ranedfro e3)ensi*e, lare, hard"ound *olues to chea)ly )rinted )a)hlets desined larely asad*ertisin or as health de)artent ad*ice anuals& +4

Situated "et#een "iora)hies((#ith their accounts of li*es li*ed #ithin )articular historicalconte3ts((and scra)"oo%s((#ith their dis)lays of accuulated aterials deli"erately arrayed for

)resentation(("a"y "oo%s can "e said to "e li%e "irder8s note"oo%s& + 5hey record inforation, "ut

also include )ersonal o"ser*ations& For historians they ser*e as records of indi*idual e3)eriencesseen at close rane and as field uides to nursery e3)eriences as the entry )aes chane& others+the #riters of all the "a"y "oo%s #e *ie#ed #ere clearly conscious of #ritin for thesel*es andfor the children #ho #ould inherit the "oo%s& In addition, "a"y "oo%s )resent useful accounts ofdaily nursery life and ser*e as a counter#eiht to inforation found in )rescri)ti*e literature((asource that has doinated historical analysis& +: In soe cases, others #rote a"out their atte)tsto follo# )rescri"ed or culturally(sanctioned childrearin )ractices; in other instances they clearlyand consciously esche#ed the ad*ice of e3)erts&

5his article e3aines 'erican "a"y "oo%s fro the late nineteenth throuh the late t#entiethcentury& We arue that these o*erloo%ed *olues are a sinificant historical source that "oth

challenes and su))orts the current historiora)hy& 'lthouh "a"ies a))ear and are discussede3tensi*ely in the #ritins of reforers and )hysicians as #ell as in faily )a)ers, and #hile theyha*e "een studied collecti*ely "y deora)hers and historians e3ainin failies, otherhood,


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entries for such e*ents as first outin, first short clothes, and first a))earance at ta"le, as #ell asedical and de*elo)ental ilestones, includin #eiht, first tooth, first lauh, and first ste)& +15he #hisical )astel illustrations in ornate "a"y "oo%s ty)ically dis)layed )lu), often "lond,

"a"ies as #ell as cheru"s, anels, flo#ers, stor%s, )u))ies and %ittens, #hite(ca))ed nurseaids,solicitous older si"lins, and lo*in, serene others& Saccharine )oetry and )rayers often

acco)anied the illustrations; for e3a)le, 2ur /a"y +19?9 "y Frances /rundae and aySandhei included a )icture of four "a"ies #ith a )oeD

Head of flaxen ringlets;

Eyes of Heaven's blue;

Parted month - a rosebud-

Pearls just peeping through. (1!

't least one other #as ins)ired to #rite all her entries in rhyes in 19?: in her dauhters co)y of'lice /ray8s )oetry(filled "a"y "oo%, 5he /a"y8s Journal +1@@D

"ive #ee$s have passed sin%e & #as born

uite uneventful thus far ea%h mornut today & go to )untie &'s

) trip *uite long for a girl my si+e (1,!

2ther others as #ell ade entries in the first )erson echoin its use in the te3t& IllustratorJose)hine Wheeler Weae8s 191@ 'll '"out eD /a"y8s Becord #ith )aes such as -y >aily

7a),- )ro)ted the other of a "oy "orn in 19. to a%e her entries in the first )ersonD -any ofthe ladies at church said I #as so cute and )retty and I had "een such a ood "oy&


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dresses, se*enteen #orsted Aac%ets, si3 old )ins, and other ites ade of sil*er, tortoise shell, andalenciennes lace& +.. afoe((a edical cele"rity than%s to hisrole as )hysician to the >ionne $uintu)lets "orn in 194, #as listed as author of a "oo% co*erin thefirst se*en years of life& +? His role as "a"y "oo% author, )hysician and ad*ertisin icon +alon#ith the $uintu)lets underscored the eerence of a ne# %ind of "a"y "oo% that elded healthad*ice and ad*ertisin to a traditional and )o)ular for of faily record %ee)in&

Coercial and Pu"lic Health /a"y /oo%s

Fancy "a"y "oo%s #ith nuerous entry )aes for others to record the inutia of infant lifere)resented one end of the s)ectru of "a"y "oo%s; at the other end #ere "a"y "oo%s distri"uted "y

local health de)artents((#hich #ere essentially ad*ice )a)hlets #ith a fe# )aes for enterin#eiht, heiht and edical inforation((and coercial "a"y "oo%s distri"uted for free "yanufacturers, insurance co)anies, and erchants& Coercial "a"y "oo%s((ty)ically chea)ly

)roduced *olues #ith )aes of ad*ertisin that fused edicine and ar%etin((aied toencourae others to "ecoe "oth *iilant nursery anaers and effecti*e consuers& 's historian

7ancy 5oes noted, fear of ers and the creation of ne# )roducts for household sanitationcreated a -Gos)el of Gers&- In an era of ascendant "acterioloy and odern ad*ertisin, ne#rituals of cleanin transfored the #ay 'ericans li*ed and reared their infants& +1

While coercial "a"y "oo%s said little a"out ers )er se, they aied to sell )roducts to'ericans #ho had learned that )ersonal "eha*ior and careful household )ractices #ere %eys to

health& In the nursery this eant sustained attention to infant feedin& 7ot sur)risinly then, infantforula anufacturers #ere aon the earliest distri"utors of "a"y "oo%s and their content echoed


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"oth conte)orary edical ad*ice and the ar%etin )loys used "y other )roducers of health(related ites& +.

Initially, coercial "a"y "oo%s iic%ed the ore ela"orate ones sold "y )u"lishers& Just8s FoodCo)any of Syracuse, 7e# or%, )u"lished /a"y8s Bed Letter >ay in 19?1, featurin the art of the

#ell(%no#n )ainter and illustrator Jessie Wilco3 Sith& + 5he I)erial Granu Co)any usedary Cassat8s )aintin -La 7ourrice,- on the co*er of 2ur /a"e8s 2#n /oo% +1914, #hich itdistri"uted throuh )hysicians& While the fancier "a"y "oo%s often contained saccharine *erse "yroantic )oets, the I)erial Granu Co)any des)ite the *isual artistry of its co*er, achie*ed anartistic lo# #ith its doerelD

on't have one bit of hesitation

&nsist on fresh air and ventilation

on't fail to sho# that you're perturbed

&t your sleep and test time is disturbed. ...

emand &mperial ranum/ baby's best food

&t #on't tax addy's e%onomi%al mood.

5he )oe effecti*ely illustrates the arriae of edical ad*ice and odern ad*ertisin thatcharacteried any t#entieth century "a"y "oo%s& 5he ar%etin to )rofessionals #as e*en oredirect& ' )ostcard sent to doctors )rootin the "oo% included the line -We ho)e the acco)anyinBules for 7ursin others #ill eet #ith your a))ro*al and that you #ill clinically test I)erialGranu for such cases&- +4

In addition to infant food )ur*eyors, life insurance co)anies #ere aon the earliest "usinesses touse "a"y "oo%s to )roote their )roducts& 'nd, li%e food ad*ertisers, they offered )lenty of healthad*ice& In 19?? the etro)olitan Life Insurance Co)any )ro*ided custoers #ith a 1.()ae

)a)hlet to record "oth insurance )ayents ade to co)any re)resentati*es and healthinforation& 5he ne3t to last )ae "ean -I #as *accinated aainst sall)o3

on#as *accinated aainst di)htheria on#as )hysically e3ained "y the doctor on&-5hey suested as #ell that -If there is a near"y "a"y #elfare station, you should enroll your "a"ythere &&&- + 5he co)any issued u)dated editions in 19., 19: and circa 194., and distri"uted astaerin three "illion )a)hlets on health su"Aects in an effort to ensure that en, #oen, andchildren holdin sall industrial insurance )olicies reained )ayers rather than collectors of

)ayents& +: 5he later editions )arroted conte)orary edical ad*ice, such as -When I cried#ithout reason, I #as not ta%en u), Aounced u) and do#n, or roc%ed& y )arents #ished e to learnto control yself and "e ha))y #ithout too uch attention& 5hey %ne# that "a"ies are often s)oiled

or ade e3cita"le #hen they are fussed o*er&- += 2ther insurance co)anies also )ro*ided )a)hlets and "a"y "oo%s to custoers& +@ In any cases, the "a"y "oo%s record insurance )ayents or the )urchase of a )olicy #ithout a%in cleat #hether it #as a hede aainst "urialcosts or ser*ed another )ur)ose& 5hus one faily noted on their "a"y8s "an% account )ae for achild "orn in 19. -We too% out an insurance of a"out E?? or o*er at onths old in thePrudential Co& Later too% out uch ore of the sae co)any&- Perha)s they #ere )ro)ted to doso "y their child8s )ro)ensity for accidents; in his "a"y "oo% his other recorded his fall out of ahih chair at onths and su"se$uent tu"les do#n the cellar stairs and an e)isode at .? onthsthat %noc%ed off a )iece of his tooth& +9

5he cultural )ractice of recordin an infant8s life in a "a"y "oo% ered sealessly #ith the )u"lic

health coand to record ro#th, de*elo)ent and edical care& Infant Care, the federalo*ernent8s )u"lication for others that "ean distri"ution in 1914 +and #as re*ised and re)rintednuerous ties, #ith illions of co)ies in circulation, contained a )ae for record %ee)in& Local


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health de)artents also )rooted this )ractice in )a)hlets distri"uted to others& 5he "a"y "oo%of a "oy "orn in 199 held a letter of conratulations +and health ad*ice fro the >e)artent ofPu"lic Welfare of Portsouth& irinia alon #ith a little "oo%let for -"a"y8s record&- +4? In theid t#entieth century the authors of infant care "oo%s siilarly e)hasied the i)ortance ofrecord %ee)in and a nu"er of the included )aes siilar to those found in "a"y "oo%s in #hich

others could note heiht, #eiht and health details& +41 In as%in others to %ee) records,doctors and )u"lic health authorities and "a"y "oo%s s)o%e #ith one *oice and )erha)s hel)edinstitute this custo aon failies unused to such )ractices& In short, "a"y "oo%s((ites that onceser*ed larely to record ifts e3chaned aon the elite(("ecae )riers in infant care and assconsu)tion&

' "oo in "a"y "oo%s #ith ad*ertiseents fro local erchants occurred after World War I In19.1 Willia >ar"y8s other recorded his early life in a "oo% fro the >illinha 'le3anderIce and Ice Crea anufacturers of /rec%enride, 5e3as& ' 19? "a"y "oo% fro 2%lahoa Cityfeatured ad*ertiseents fro t#o of 'erica8s ne#er *enturesD a su)erar%et and a dri*e(in& +4.Pu"lishers of these id(century "oo%s soeties included ad*ice co)ied fro )u"lic health

)a)hlets or e*en re)rinted "rochures fro health de)artents, the Children8s /ureau, orad*ertisers& ' 199 "a"y "oo% ailed "y the Gert 7ursery Sho) in Jaaica, 7e# or% includedaterials fro "oth the 7e# or% City >e)artent of Health reindin )arents to et their "a"y aedical chec%u) and a "rochure -5rainin is Fun #ith Little 5oidey- )ro*idin instructions on theuse of soa) su))ositories "einnin at ae three #ee%s and a list of Little 5oidey )roducts to "uy&+4

5he e3)andin )o#er of ad*ertisin in 'erican life and coerce, the rise of health ar%etins)urred "y er theory, the *iorous )u"lic ca)ains to lo#er infant ortality and the ro#incultural authority of scientific otherhood o)ened u) ne# o))ortunities for "a"y "oo% )u"lishers&What united the all #as the conce)t that "a"ies #ere in*estents& 5hey #ere collecti*ein*estents for a nation strulin to lo#er its infant ortality rate and they #ere indi*idualin*estents ade "y failies see%in to )rotect the life and health of their ost *ulnera"lee"ers& 'nd, as ad*ertisers suested, )art of the faily8s res)onsi"ility #as "uyin the rihtites for the nursery&

5he )erfect e"odient of the ad*ertiseent(filled "a"y "oo% #as the /oo% of /a"y ine,illustrated "y elcena /urns >enny and )u"lished "y the Si)licity Co)any in Grand Ba)ids,ichian& It first a))eared in 191 and its enorous success led to the foration of the /oo% of/a"y ine Co)any& While soe of these "oo%s #ere sold to indi*iduals, ost failies recei*edthe ratis fro area erchants #ho )aid for ad*ertiseents in locally distri"uted *olues&

5y)ically "ound in e"ossed reddish("ro#n leather, this 9:()ae "oo% included @ )aes forrecordin inforation, includin notes on de*elo)ent, -firsts- and e*ents such as "irthdays andholidays& 5he /oo% of /a"y ine iic%ed ore ela"orate "a"y "oo%s #ith )laces to record -firstshort clothes- and -first tie at >ancin School,- and it e"raced the custo of ta%in faily

)hotora)hs, #ith nearly e*ery other entry )ae set aside for the& >istri"uted throuhout thecountry, the /oo% of /a"y ine ty)ically included ad*ertiseents fro "et#een three and ninelocal "usinesses& ' irl "orn in 191 in ounsto#n, 2hio recei*ed one as a ift fro 2ster /ros&Furniture& It included a )ae #ith -Hints to others- and -Pro)er Care of /a"y- fro the InfantWelfare Society& 5he first "it of ad*ice #as -/e sure to et a coforta"le "a"y carriae at 2ster/ros- follo#ed "y suestions on feedin and "athin& Her "oo% rioted that her father )aid fi*ecents a #ee% on her insurance )olicy& +44 'nother co)y included the reinder to reci)ients thatD

-5houh the "oo% #ould sell for E.&?, ree"er((it is i*en to you a"solutely free "y thead*ertisers,- $uic%ly follo#ed "y a suestion that they )atronie these enerous local "usinesses&+4


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With its lon history, #ide distri"ution, and use "y any iddle( and #or%in(class failies, the/oo% of /a"y ine offers a #indo# into the li*es of ordinary 'erican infants& 5he one %e)t for>arcy in "orn in 19.9, records her father8s death fro -"lood )oison- #hen she #as threeonths old and her su"se$uent u)"rinin on her rand)arent8s 7e"ras%a far& +4: Jane Jensen,

"orn in 19, has a "oo% recordin her first outin at the Polish('erican Citien8s Clu" in 'l"any

7e# or%& Li%e any other "a"y "oo%s, hers notes the first anials she )etted ( a co# and achic%en ( and held a se)ia )hotora)h of her *ery youn )arents& 5here #ere ad*ertiseents forse*en 'l"any "usinesses includin the eller /a%in Co)any((-/read is your "est food& airy, the Little Fol%s Sho) for "a"y arents, "lan%ets and "onnets, and theHoe Sa*ins /an% of the City of 'l"any& +4= 5he 19 edition of the /oo% of /a"y ine forBonald 5e)le, "orn in 5oledo in 19=, a*e an account of his "irth at hoe "efore the doctorarri*ed and statedD -y "i "rother sa*ed y life "y co*erin e #ith a #ar "lan%et&- WhileBonald8s faily sees to ha*e "een $uite coforta"le at the tie of his "irth ( there #as a lon listof ifts, a "an% account at the 5oledo 5rust Co)any and ention of a "each *acation ( a later entrynotes that he attended a WP' nursery school ( )erha)s a sin that his faily #as facin econoic

)ressure as the Great >e)ression dee)ened& +4@ 7e# editions of the "oo% a))eared in 19@, 194?,

19, 19:., 19=4 and 19@1& Its lone*ity s)o%e to its *alue to ad*ertisers and its #ides)read useindicated its )o)ularity #ith consuers&

In the )ost#ar "a"y "oo years, ne# %inds of "a"y "oo%s a))eared reflectin "oth the rise in rou)identities and an e3)andin econoy, as #ell as the ar%et seentation that resulted fro "othde*elo)ents& inner&- +? 'on thefanciest of )ost#ar *olues #as the /etter Hoes and Gardens /a"y /oo%, a .@()ae toe #ith191 )aes of inforation a"out )renatal care, and children u) to ae si3, #ith the rest "ein entry

)aes for recordin -)hysical and ental ro#th, )ersonality, interests and a"ilities&- +1

5hees in /a"y /oo%s

Scientific edicine and Infant Psycholoy

5he entry )aes in "a"y "oo%s re*eal the influence of the child study o*eent, the findins ofde*elo)ental )sycholoists and the ro#in )o#er of scientific edicine as #ell as older "eliefs

a"out )ersonality foration& 2ne )o)ular late nineteenth century "a"y "oo%, for e3a)le, includeda )hrenoloical chart((so that )arents could read their "a"y8s head "u)s for re*elations a"outcharacter& +. In the t#entieth century, horosco)e )aes in "a"y "oo%s offered clues to infant

)ersonality& + 5o a))eal to the "roadest rane of interests any "a"y "oo%s incor)orated "oth layand scientific theories reardin infants8 te)eraents& /onni"el /utler8s 5he /a"y8s Becord ofental and Physical Gro#th and His Horosco)e +191. also included entries for -First >efiniti*eSins of


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i)ortant )art of )ediatric )ractice& + 's this suests, the entry )aes and entries in "a"y "oo%sre*eal "oth the )enetration of ne# ideas and the )ersistence of lonstandin traditions in infant care&

It is a ista%e to read "a"y "oo%s as accurate accounts of nursery )ractices and e*ents& 5he lac% ofrecords of accidents in "a"y "oo%s in the )ost World War II years, as discussed earlier, ost li%ely

says ore a"out cultural "eliefs a"out ood )arentin than a"out the e3)eriences of "a"ies& 'fterall, #hile accounts of accidents ay ha*e disa))eared fro "a"y "oo%s, they reained ineerency roo records& Siilarly, the disa))earance of -disci)line,- fro "a"y "oo% entries isalso sus)ect& 'lthouh fe# in nu"er, they did a))ear in the o)enin decades of the t#entiethcentury& Indeed, a 19?= "a"y "oo% contained a )oe entitled -5he S)an%in&- +: 'nd, in 19?@one other #rote of her onth(old infantD -/a"y recei*ed soe disci)line this ornin& Sherefused to o to slee) "efore "rea%fast and also refused to "e ood&- += ' 191@ "a"y "oo% notedunder the headin -y first disci)line-((an i)ortant clue to cultural e3)ectations((that -aasac%ed e for ta%in y rin off&- +@ /y the second half of the t#entieth century, ho#e*er, theter disci)line had an entirely ne# eanin& It referred to the attainent of self(control andreflected the e3)andin interest in the intellectual and eotional de*elo)ent of "a"ies& +9

In any instances, others recorded their o#n *iolations of e3)erts8 assessents of )ro)er )arentin& 5hey #rote, for e3a)le, of )layin #ith their "a"ies at a tie #hen e3)erts Auded thisto "e danerous rather than intellectually stiulatin& 7ellie, "orn in 19.., had her e*ery acti*ityrecordedD she could -sit on the floor in y "athtu" alone and #a*e "ye("ye and )lay )ee%(a("oo,

)lay )atty(ca%e,- and )at herself on the chest #hen as%ed #here she #as& +:? Susan o not encourae your "a"y to )lay "efore thesecond year&- +:. Later such ad*ice #ould "e couched in edical ters, such as that offered in the19? edition of the /oo% of /a"y ineD

)ll young infants are extremely nervous so avoid ex%iting them/

playing #ith them/ or handling them too mu%h ... aby's bones

are soft for a long time and even holding the baby habitually

0imy %ause spinal %urvature. (2!

5he )roliferation of ad*ice )aes in "a"y "oo%s irrored the increasin detail deanded on entry )aes& Beinders included schedulin feedins and fresh air outins, hyiene ti)s((such as reularuse of "oric acid to #ash an infant8s eyes((discourain the use of )acifiers and the *ital i)ortanceof early toilet trainin& ' nu"er of "a"y "oo%s included )rinted ad*ice or )a)hlets fro the

Children8s /ureau, sho#in the lon reach of this aency& +:4 Soe others res)onded as edicalauthorities #ould ha*e #ished, follo#in the ad*ice of e3)erts and recordin edical inforationin detail& 2ne #rote that her dauhter #as -sittin on her little cha"er at fi*e onths- and %ee)inher dra#ers clean "y ae one& +: Joyce 'nne ahoney8s other %e)t a record of her #eiht froher "irth in 194@ until ae 4& +:: 's these suest, "a"y "oo% entries ay ha*e )ro)ted soeothers to confor((at least in #ritin((to e3)ected )atterns of child rearin&

Indi*idual "a"y "oo%s )resent #onderfully detailed descri)tions of e)isodes of illness +and death,ser*in as counter)oints to the clinical descri)tions in the edical literature& others descri"e "outsof easles, u)s, chic%en )o3 and #hoo)in couh((- y )oor little children cauht thatdreadful disease 8#hoo)in couh8 fro Bic% Wrode and had it dreadfully& 5he "a"y had a

)articularly hard tie and lost flesh s)irit until I #as #orried to death- #rote one concerned#oan& +:= /a"y "oo%s docuent as #ell the transforation of "irth fro hoe to hos)ital and asthis transition occurred hos)itals "ecae acti*e distri"utors of "a"y "oo%s& +:@ 5he entries a%e


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clear that "irth, sic%ness, and death #ere edicalied o*er the course of the t#entieth century, "utthey also sho# ho# indi*idual failies fraed the e3)eriences of these e*ents #ithin their reliious

"eliefs and doestic custos&

5he ro#in cultural authority of edicine can "e seen in the %inds of health e)heera sa*ed in

"a"y "oo%s& /y the second decade of the t#entieth century -/etter /a"y- contests too% )lace atstate and county fairs and ci*ic atherins, as a eans of educatin )arents "y assessin infants

"rouht "efore e3)ert Audes #ho e)loyed co)le3 score sheets to e*aluate their ental and )hysical status& +:9 others of hihly ran%ed infants )roudly )reser*ed the contest eora"ilia&5he "a"y "oo% of /elle Coo% of arietta, Georia, for instance, included her /etter /a"iesCertificate of


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others recorded reliious cereonies as carefully as they descri"ed ifts, illnesses, nursery )ractices and de*elo)ental ilestones& 5he /a"y Boll Certificate fro the Woen8s Hoeission Society ethodist


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and the E1 )laced in the Canton, 2hio First 5rust and Sa*ins /an% for Willia >orn in 19.1& 'tleast Willia ot his )icture ta%en for free after this de)osit #as ade for hi& /oth Willia and/ernice8s records a))eared in the /oo% of /a"y ine, #hich included an entry )ae for sa*ins

"onds and cash ifts, alon #ith a )oeD

&'m a real lu%$y baby #hen fol$s save for meut & shall repay them for %rying to be

3he 4u%%ess that they hoped #hen they as$ed for a part

&n giving my edu%ation a star5 (61!

5he Hoe Sa*ins /an% of the City of 'l"any )ro*ided a )ae in the 19? /oo% of /a"y inestatin -this "an% is es)ecially interested in teachin children to sa*e &&& Ha*e -the /a"y- et thesa*ins ha"it& It ay ean a Collee e)ression, durin World War II and into the "a"y

"oo that follo#ed&


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ho# soe others reAected, for e3a)le, the )rescri)tions of health ad*isors reardin )lay or the#arnins of reliious authorities a"out the seculariation of Christas& 5he e)hasis on oney inthe "a"y "oo%s suests a need to e3aine ore thorouhly #hat the o)enin of "an% accountseant to failies, and ho# the "an%in industry, li%e others, used concern for the #ell "ein ofinfants to stiulate "usiness& >id "an% ad*ertisin a%e failies "ecoe a#are of future e3)enses

or did it si)ly ca)italie on a cultural transforation of risin e3)ectations as infant ortalityrates fell and educational attainent increased0 's this $uestion suests, "a"y "oo%s re$uirefurther and dee)er scrutiny as does the history of 'erican "a"yhood&

Ironically, soe "a"y "oo% )ur*eyors reconied their historical *alue& 5he other8s 'id of theChicao Lyin In Hos)ital )ointed out in their 1949 )reface to 2ur /a"y8s First Se*en ears thatD

) re%ord of all the phenomena #hi%h transpire during these years

#ill have a value that gro#s #ith time/ and in%reases greatly #ith

the number of babies upon #hom su%h observations are made. "or

example/ a study of 1777 baby boo$s su%h as this/ %arefully filled

out/ #ill give valuable information in every department of medi%ine/

#ill guide the tea%her/ the physi%al %ulturist/ the eugenist (si%!/ and the statesman/ in their broad efforts to improve the ra%e/ as

#ell as the physi%ian in the treatment of the individual %ase.

(177!

7ot least, "a"y "oo%s are a nelected source into co)arati*e analysis #ith other histories andcultures& For e3a)le, others in late t#entieth century Ja)an %e)t -aternal and Child HealthHard"oo%s- )ro*ided "y local o*ernents to record )renatal care and faily #or% )ractices,

)reser*e infant health records and )ro*ide child rearin ad*ice& +1?1

5oday "a"y "oo%s reain as )o)ular as they #ere in the last century& 5here are doens of %ee)sa%e

"oo%s a*aila"le, any of the continuin the tradition of hihlihtin the #or% of )o)ularchildren8s illustrators, such as /eatri3 Potter and


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collee #ith a aster8s deree in atheatics, and tauht school until he #as drafted& Sadly, hedied in 1944, %illed in action #hile fihtin in ays +7e# or%, 191 6CL', HK==9,P:.4 191 co)ies 1 and & ' rare e3ce)tion to the silence a"out accidents in the )ost#ar )eriod isthe "a"y "oo% of 7oel 7eri fro 19:. %e)t "y his other, the artist Joan /ro#n, #ho #rote of hisfallin off the "ed t#ice at si3 onths old((-didn8t et hurt- and of his eatin a )aintin she titled-irl, do, clouds- at nine and a half onths((-no to3ic )aints&- Joan /ro#n )a)ers, 'rchi*es of'erican 'rt, Sithsonian Institution, Washinton, >C&

+& Historical accounts of infants and accidents note the id(century transition in "lae andunderstandin& Ho#e*er, in focusin on the #ritin of e3)erts and the role of technoloy((such aselectricity and autoo"iles((historians ha*e )aid insufficient attention to ho# others understoodinfant accidents& 2n the to)ic of hoe accidents see Joel '& 5arr and ar% 5e"eau, -House#i*es asHoe Safety anaersD 5he Chanin Perce)tion of the Hoe as a Place of Haard and Bis%,1@=?(194?,- in Boer Cooter and /ill Luc%in, eds& 'ccidents in HistoryD InAuries, Fatalities andSocial Belations +'sterda, 199=D 19:(.; and John C& /urnha, -Why >id the Infants and5oddlers >ie0 Shifts in 'ericans8 Ideas of Bes)onsi"ility for 'ccidentsD Fro /lain o to


14/21

+& 2n scra)"oo%s see Susan 5uc%er, atherine 2tt, and Patricia P& /uc%ler, eds& 5he Scra)"oo% in'erican Life +Philadel)hia, .??: and Jessica Helfand, Scra)"oo%sD 'n 'erican History +7e#Ha*en, Conn&, .??@&

+:& 5he literature on scientific otherhood and on infant care ad*ice is *oluinous& 'on the

ost i)ortant recent #or%s are Bia >& '))le, Perfect otherhoodD Science and Childrearin in'erica +7e# /runs#ic%, 7&J&, .??:, Jac$uelyn S& Litt, edicalied otherhoodD Pers)ecti*esfro the Li*es of 'frican('erican and Je#ish Woen +7e# /runs#ic%, 7&J&, .??? and JuliaGrant, Baisin /a"y /y the /oo%D 5he arrellHe))ner, Great Children8s IllustratorsD 1@@?(19? +'tlen, P', .??4&

+14& Frances /rundae and ay Sandhei, 2ur /a"y +London, 19?9& 6CL', HK==9 /@.="1@@c&

+1& 'lice S& /ray, 5he /a"y8s Journal +7e# or%& 1@@ 6CL', HK==9& /@.=" 1@@c&

+1:& Jose)hine Wheeler Weae, 'll '"out eD /a"y8s Becord +7e# or%, 191@ 6CL',HK==9&'41: 191@"& For another e3a)le of a "a"y "oo% #ritten in first )erson see C& & /urd,/arry8s /iora)hy +6tica, 7&&, 191 6CL', HK==9&/114 191& 5he entries s#itch to third

)erson #hen the child falls ill #ith )neuonia and dies& ' ore recent e3a)le of first )erson is the194= "a"y "oo% of Linda J& Lau"enstein, Linda J& Lau"enstein Pa)ers, Carton 1, Schlesiner&

+1=& ol"ear Lee, y /a"y8s /oo%D ' Becord of Interestin and I)ortant


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+1@& 7ational easures of neonatal, infant, and child ortality did not a))ear until after thecreation of a death reistration area and the area did not include all states& For a discussion of infantortality and efforts to lo#er it in the t#entieth century see Bichard '& ec%el, Sa*e the /a"iesD'erican Pu"lic Health Befor and the Pre*ention of Infant ortality& 1@?(19.9 +/altiore,199?; for infant and neonatal ortality rates 191(19@ see )& .@&

+19& 2n )ostorte )hotora)hy see incent La*oie, -Fro the Final Slee) to the First Ste)sDPostorte Portraiture and Childhood and 'ateur Photora)hy,- in Cynthia Coacchio, JanetGolden and Geore Weis eds& Healin the World8s Children +ontreal, .??@D .@.(.9& 7otsur)risinly, the aniel 5hoas Coo%, 5he Coodification of ChildhoodD5he Children8s Clothin Industry and the Bise of the Child Consuer +>urha, 7&C&, .??4& 2nchildren8s toy de)artents see Willia Leach, Land of >esireD erchants, Po#er and the Bise of a

7e# 'erican Culture +7e# or%, 199; and Jan Whita%er, Ser*ice and StyleD Ho# the 'erican>e)artent Store Fashioned the iddle Class +7e# or%, .??:&

+.9& Herien >& 7us"au, 2ur /a"y8s First Se*en ears +Chicao, 19.@; and Pey Jo 'c%ley,2ur /a"y8s First Se*en ears MPu"lished under the aus)ices of other8s 'id of the Chicao Lyin(in Hos)italN +7or#al%, Conn&, 19@9&

+?& Boy 'llen >afoe, 5hrouh /a"y8s First Se*en ears +St& Paul, inn&, 194.& >afoe #as theauthor of nuerous uide"oo%s for others and "oo%s a"out the >ionne Kuintu)lets& 5here #as, as#ell, a >ionne Kuintu)let "a"y "oo%D >ionne Kuintu)let& /a"y /oo% +St& Paul, inn&, 19:& 5his#as a 1:()ae "oo%let intended for distri"ution "y ad*ertisers&

+1& 7ancy 5oes, 5he Gos)el of Gers; en, Woen, and the icro"e in 'erican Life+Ca"ride, ass&, 199@& 2n the de*elo)ent of ad*ertisin and its i)act see Jaes >& 7orris,


16/21

'd*ertisin and the 5ransforation of 'erican Society, 1@:(19.? +7e# or%, 199?; 5& J&Jac%son Lears, Fa"les of '"undanceD ' Cultural History of 'd*ertisin in 'erica +7e# or%,1994; and >aniel >elis Hill, 'd*ertisin to the 'erican Woan, 19??(1999 +Colu"us, 2hio,.??.&

+.& 2n the history of infant +cedin and infant health see Bia >& '))le, edicine and edicineD' Social History of Infant Feedin, 1@9?(19? +adison, 19@= and Jac$ueline Wolf, ->on8t illour /a"y&- Pu"lic Health and the >ecline of /reastfeedin in the 7ineteenth and 5#entiethCenturies +Colu"us, 2hio, .??1&

+& Jessie Wilco3 Sith, /a"e8s Bed Letter >ays +Syracuse, 19?1&

+4& 2ur /a"y8s 2#n /on% +7e# or%, 1914 5he co)y #ith the )ostcard to )hysicians is locatedin the Cotsen Children8s Li"rary, Princeton 6ni*ersity Li"rary, Princeton, 7e# Jersey&

+& /a"y8s /oo% Metro)olitan Life Insurance Co&N +7e# or%, 19??&

+:& 2n etro)olitan life and health education see allas,5e3as, not after 1941 and y /a"y >ays M'erican 7ational insurance Co&N +Gal*eston, 5e3as,19:& Insurance co)anies, socioloist i*iana Oolier arued, had "oth a fiscal and a )oliticalinterest in )rootin infant li*es, as the sale of infant "urial )olicies offended child sa*ers #ho*ie#ed the as re#ardin infanticide& i*iana Oelier, Pricin the Priceless ChildD 5he ChaninSocial alue of Children +Princeton, 19@&

+9& /a"y8s Health and BecordD ' Practical Hand"oo% for the oun other .9th ed& +ounternonD 7&, 19. 6CL' HK==9&/11: 19.&

+4?& 6&S& Children8s /ureau, Infant Care +Washinton >&C&, 1914& Loose ites fro the "a"yhoo% of 7athaniel Ho#ell, Pa)ers of 7athaniel Ho#ell, /o3 =, Folder , S)ecial Collections,6ni*ersity of irinia Li"rary, Charlottes*ille, irinia&

+41& See, for e3a)le H& ent 5enney, Jr&, Let8s 5al% '"out our /a"y +adison, Wise&, 194 andStella /& '))le"au, /a"yD ' other8s anual +Chicao, 194:&

+4.& 2ur /a"y8s /oo% +7e#ar%, 7&J&, 19. 6CL' HK==9 &29.. 19. co)y . and 2ur /a"y'l"u +S&l&, 19? 6CL' HK==9 &?9.14 19?&

+4& y /a"y8s /oo% +St& Paul, inn&, 199 6CL' HK ==9 994 199& 5oilet trainin at three

#ee%s #as the recoendation of e3)erts as #ell& See, for e3a)le, Louise Oa"ris%ie, other and/a"y Care in Pictures .nd ed +Philadel)hia, 1941&


17/21

+44& elcena /urns >enny, /oo% of /a"y ine +Grand Ba)ids, ich&, 191 6CL' HK==9/=.4191" co)y 14&

+4& /oo% of /a"y ine +Grand Ba)ids, ich&, 19? in )ossession of L& Weiner&

+4:& elcena /us >enny, /oo% of /a"y ine +Grand Ba)ids, ich&, 191 6CL' HK==9&/=.4191f co)y 1@&

+4=& /oo% of /a"y ine +19? in )ossession of L& Weiner& Jane Jensen is a )seudony&

+4@& /oo% of /a"y ine +Grand Ba)ids, ich&, 19 6CL' HK==9& /=.4 19 co)y .&

+49& See, for e3a)le, Clarence L& Holte, ed& 2ur /a"y8s First Se*en ears +7e# or%, 19=1 for'frican 'erican "a"ies& 'n early effort to sell a "a"y "oo% for 'frican 'erican infants failed&See ildred Stoc% Besearch Collection, 7e# or% Pu"lic Li"rary Scho"ur Center for Besearchin /lac% Culture, 7e# or%, 7e# or%& See also i /ryant, Preaturely ours +/ailey, Colo&,

19@ and arion '& cLeod, 'll '"out ouD 'n 'do)ted Child8s eory /oo% +7or#al%, Conn&,199; 5his is eD eories to ee) and Gather +/o#ie, aryland, not after .??:; and /a%er>ity, ays +7e# or%, 194= #ith the title co*er -2ur 5#ins- and t#o sets of te3t entries&

+?&


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+9& 2n the ro#in focus on infants8 intellectual de*elo)ent see Julia Wriley, ->o ounChildren 7eed Intellectual Stiulation0 orothy C& Wert, Lyin(InD ' History of Child"irth in 'erica +7e# or%, 19==D 1(1; and Judith Waler Lea*itt, /rouht to /edD Childrearin in 'erica, 1=?(19? +7e# or%,19@:D .:9&

+:9& -/etter /a"y- contests )receded the custo of routine infant chec% ti)s #ith )hysicians and "uilt u)on the earlier nineteenth century sentiental -/a"y Sho#s&- See Susan J& Pearson, 8InfantileS)eciens8D Sho#in /a"ies in 7ineteenth Century 'erica,- Journal of Social History 4. +.??@D41(=?& 2n -/etter /a"ies- contests see arilyn Ir*in Holt, Linoleu, /etter /a"ies and the

odern Far Woan, 1@9?(19? +'l"u$uer$ue, 199; Lynne Curry, odern others in theHeartlandD Gender, Health and Proress in Illinois, 19??(19? +Colu"us, 1999; 'nnette & ance>orey, /etter /a"y ContestsD 5he Scientific Kuest for Perfect Childhood Health in the


19/21

+=.& araret 'nn eta orris Gri"all, /a"y +7e# or%, 191 6CL' HK==9&G@:1" 191"&See also Carolyn 7o"le, /a"y8s >ays +7e# or%, 191: for a certificate of a irl fro Still#ater,2%lahoa& 6CL' HK==9&7=4=" 191:&

+=& Leach, Land of >esire and Whita%er, Ser*ice and Style&

+=4& iary +Joliet, Ill&, 19:&

+@=& aud Hu)hrey, /a"y8s Becord +7e# or%, 1@9@ 6CL' HK==9&H9.:" 1@9@" and audHu)hrey, /a"y8s Becord +7e# or%, 1@9@ 6CL' HK==9&H9.:/ 1@9@" co)y .&


20/21

+@@& 2ur /a"y8s 2#n /oo% +/lo# or%, 191@ >e)artent of 5reasury 6nclaied Pro)ertyPersonal Pa)ersD Buth 7io White Philli)s Pa)ers 191:(19@ Lot 49, /o3 1? Folder 1, Li"raryof irinia, Bichond, irinia&

+@9& See 2ur /a"y8s /oo% +7e#ar%, 7&J&, 19. and su"se$uent editions of this "oo%; /a"y8s 2#n

/oo% +S&l&, 194?; and Oa"eth Selo*ar /a"y >aysD 5he First Fi*e ears +Chicao, 191 andsu"se$uent editions&

+9?& Kueen Holden, /a"y8s /oo% of & 5ar*er, -Cost ofBearin and


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+1?.& See, for e3a)le /eatri3 Potter, Peter Ba""it /a"y Becord /oo% +London, .??9;

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