D.H. Holmes' Handbook for Girls (1933)
D.H. Holmes' Handbook for Girls by Olive Richards Landers was dedicated to the author's daughter, Jean, who was entering her freshman year at college. It is important to note this book was published in 1933; hence, it was uncommon for women to attend college at this time. The book serves as an advice outlet for women who were looking for direction during their collegiate careers. The book's focal points include making friends, dressing properly, gardening, cooking, budgeting, and making the most out of a career. Landers writes each chapter with a comedic yet stern undertone as she prepares young ladies for the future, but she wants her readers to understand that she, too, has been in their position before.
According to "Cabinet for the Curious," Landers served as the former editor for The Girl Scout Leader and has been giving young women advice for several decades. Her advice seems to be common when comparing to other sources; however, one large discrepancy stems from the "You and Your Clothes Section." Jewelry seemingly became a controversial topic for many in the 1930s. Landers writes that women should strictly wear costume jewelry; moreover, earrings are to only be worn by a specific type of woman and for certain occasions (55). This advice correlates to its historical timeline because the book was written during the beginning of the Great Depression. Authors may have been trying to sway female readers into purchasing cheaper jewelry to save money during this economic collapse. In Future Perfect by Bernice Morgan, Morgan advises women to never wear earrings and to be extremely cautious of when and where they wear bracelets (51). In Etiquette: the Complete Modern Guide for Day-to-Day Living the Correct Way by Frances Benton, she encourages readers to wear jewelry daily but to save more elaborate pieces for nighttime events (49). Additionally, in The Mademoiselle Handbook for the Girl with a Job and a Future, the author writes that women should ask for the opinions of their husband or someone they trust when trying to coordinate an outfit, hairstyle, and accessories (139). Today, jewelry is a staple for most outfits, and it can be worn any time of the day no matter how lavish or eccentric. In a piece from Vogue in 2021, Daisy Shaw-Ellis writes about the importance of statement pieces as well as timeless jewelry.
Besides jewelry, most of the advice is similar to what is written in other etiquette books; however, Landers writes an entire chapter on the importance of an education and career for independent women. Landers was ahead of her time in a feministic sense as she was adamant that women should have the opportunity to earn college degrees and money without the help of a man. Being financially independent as a woman during the 1930s was an extremely unpopular topic and almost unachievable. It is interesting to see a mother from this period not only encourage her daughter to learn to cook and sew but to also thrive academically.
Created by Bayleigh Loving, Polymer Science and Engineering major.
**Items of the Month featured in 2023 and part of 2024 will be the work of Southern Miss students who took HON 303, a seminar held in Fall 2022 focusing on archives and special collections.
Sources Consulted:
Benton, Frances. Etiquette: the Complete Modern Guide for Day-to-Day Living the Correct Way. Random House, Inc., 1956.
Bryant, Bernice Morgan. Future Perfect: a Guide to Personality and Popularity for the Junior Miss. The Bobbs-Merrill company, 1944.
Hamman, Mary. The Mademoiselle Handbook for the Girl with a Job and a Future. Whittlesey House, 1946.
Landers, Olive Richards. D.H. Holmes' Hand Book for Girls. Greenberg, 1933.
Roden, Carin. "The Modern Handbook for Girls." A Cabinet for the Curious, 2022, https://cabinetforthecurious.com/library/modern-handbook-for-girls-the/.
Shaw-Ellis, Daisy. "The 10 Essential Pieces of Jewelry That Are Worth the Investment." Vogue, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2021, https://www.vogue.com/article/jewelry-essentials-fine-online.