Despite pervasive racism and the weight of the Great Depression, Bessie Stringfield found freedom on the open road. In the 1930s and 1940s, Bessie took eight long-distance, solo rides across the United States. The fact that she was a woman of color did not stop Bessie from achieving her goals and setting herself apart. SheContinue reading “Vintage Photos of “Motorcycle Queen” Bessie Stringfield, Who Owned 27 Harleys and Rode Them All Over the United States”
Tag Archives: female
The Dancer in Birkenau: Meet the Polish-Jewish Ballerina Who Shot Nazis on Her Way to the Gas Chamber
More a certainty than a legend, a woman killed a Nazi guard at Birkenau while she was ordered to strip en route to the gas chambers. But who was she? On October 23, 1943, a transport of around 1700 Polish Jews with foreign passports were transported out of the Special Camp at the Bergen-Belsen ExchangeContinue reading “The Dancer in Birkenau: Meet the Polish-Jewish Ballerina Who Shot Nazis on Her Way to the Gas Chamber”
Amazing Photos of Britain’s Female Dispatch Riders During World War II
During World War II, the British Royal Navy created an all female corps whose members were nicknamed the Wrens. One of their most notable duties was as dispatch riders for both the Admiralty and the Royal Navy. This turned out to be a tough assignment as German bombs made travel increasingly difficult as the warContinue reading “Amazing Photos of Britain’s Female Dispatch Riders During World War II”
Portraits of 10 Female Rock Stars Who Helped Define the Genre of Rock
For as long as there has been rock music, women have played a role in its success. Some were a major influence on artists of their generation, and some were a major influence on the success of the bands with which they worked. All excelled at creating and performing rock music, as songwriters, instrumentalists, andContinue reading “Portraits of 10 Female Rock Stars Who Helped Define the Genre of Rock”
30 Strange and Hilarious Vintage Feminine Hygiene Ads From the Early 20 Century
In the late 1800s, disposable cloth towels to be worn during menstruation were introduced as a product category marketed to middle- and upper-class women. Before then, even the wealthiest women had made their own menstrual supplies from yard goods. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the practice of birth control was rarely discussed publicly,Continue reading “30 Strange and Hilarious Vintage Feminine Hygiene Ads From the Early 20 Century”
Wonderful Vintage Photos of London Girls Protesting For Mini-skirts in 1966
Calling themselves members of “The British Society for the Advancement of the Mini-skirt” these mini-skirt enthusiasts were protesting outside Christian Dior’s premises about the below the knee creations. The Mini-skirt first emerged on the catwalk in 1964 and was reputedly designed by the pen of Mary Quant. She named it after her favorite car and,Continue reading “Wonderful Vintage Photos of London Girls Protesting For Mini-skirts in 1966”
From Bette Davis to Katharine Hepburn, Here Are 12 Iconic Beauties Who Defined the 1930s Style
At the start of the decade, following the fallout from the Great Depression in America, 1930s fashion as well as all other aspects of normality were profoundly changed. Almost overnight the vivaciousness of the 1920s fashion flapper disappeared, with a sophisticated and more conservative style becoming de rigueur. Moving into the latter half of theContinue reading “From Bette Davis to Katharine Hepburn, Here Are 12 Iconic Beauties Who Defined the 1930s Style”
15 Amazing Vintage Photographs That Prove Joan Crawford Was Devoted to Her Fans
Though many stars paid assistants to correspond with fans, Crawford wasn’t one of them. Throughout her career, she personally responded to her fan mail, typing letters herself and signing them in her own hand. In fact, Crawford wrote so many of these letters and signed so many photos through the years that her signature isContinue reading “15 Amazing Vintage Photographs That Prove Joan Crawford Was Devoted to Her Fans”
Louisa Clayton, the Woman Who Disguised Herself as a Man to Fight in the Civil War
Several hundred women disguised themselves as men and took the bold step of leaving the comforts of home to serve their country during the Civil War. Frances Clalin Clayton disguised herself as a man and took the name Jack Williams in order to fight in the army. For several months, she served in Missouri artilleryContinue reading “Louisa Clayton, the Woman Who Disguised Herself as a Man to Fight in the Civil War”
Why did Nazis Shoot Female Russian Soldiers on Sight
Stories about military history often focus on battlefield tactics and strategy. When they do focus on people, it is usually on a male soldier. However, during WWII, the Germans often executed female soldiers on sight. This is doubly amazing because it suggests women were a significant part of the fighting forces and that they provokedContinue reading “Why did Nazis Shoot Female Russian Soldiers on Sight”
