{HISTORY}

If you ever wanted to dive into real life lived way back when, other than a daily newspaper of the era, there's no better place to get a sense of the culture and historical climate than via a vintage magazine.  

Stuffed full of home decorating ideas, the latest fashions, recipes, architecture, articles on family life and entertaining, and a menagerie of advertisements, The American Home magazine was a go-to source for all subjects dealing with domesticity. 

In circulation from 1928-1977, this is the March 1945 issue, published seven months before WWII ended. The war is very much present in the contents of the magazine with articles surrounding thrifty household maintenance, repurposing scrap fabric, decorating to encourage a cheerful atmosphere, and budget-friendly yet interesting meal planning and recipes.

One article titled Dinner Drama... 1 Act details a theatrical take on one-pot recipes that the whole family will enjoy. Presented on a "servantless wartime stage,"  these 10 recipes applaud Mom's ingenuity, optimism, and talent in the kitchen during trying times... "Mother, that versatile and popular star of many seasons has risen to the necessity and the occasion. She is turning in performances spiced with good humor, imagination, and common sense."

All in the effort to make home the most pleasant place in the world, several decorating articles offer tips and suggestions for sprucing up rooms to keep them fresh and cheerful. In Through the Kitchen Window - a handful of simple ideas are offered to bring interest and joy to daily household chores. In Kitchen Fiesta, a reorganization of furniture and equipment aids in ease and efficiency while cooking and serving. In Heirlooms for Tomorrow, an article on quilt making offers hope by looking towards the future.  

Beauty and fashion articles center around how to look pretty in a photograph ("it's not beauty but charm that counts") and outfits fit for getaway travel to a friend's or family member's house for a change of scenery (afterall, "it isn't patriotic to travel a long way for a spree or a sunbath out of season"). 

Other articles address the importance of breathing new life into "drowsy" rooms, how to break up monotony in interior decorating and the joyful sentimentality behind orphan china pieces. 

Ads in full color and black and white center around food products, kitchen equipment, home decorating materials, gardening tools, automobiles, and insurance companies. 

One of the things that struck us most about this magazine was the cheerful undercurrent that runs through the entire contents. From the excitement-filled taglines announcing new products, the prolific use of exclamation marks, and infectious smiling faces on every page.  Whether that truly was the vibe portrayed on the homefront in 1945 or a manufactured form of encouragement to keep women's spirits lifted during wartime, either way there is an admirable portrayal of positivity in this piece of print media.   

Full of can-do spirit, female camaraderie, ingenuity and the power of positivity this issue of The American Home offers so much fascinating insight in 1940s home life.. We could go on about it for days and days. Please see the list of notable contributors in the special features sections. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• March 1945 Issue
• Complete magazine including the original front and back cover
• 102 pages
• Illustrated throughout in full color and black and white
• Contributors to this issue included American landscape architect Marie Harbeck (1907-1963), artist Margaret Jervis, noted American quilter Pine Eisfeller (1894-1990), American architect Edla Muir (1906-1971), American author and quilter Marguerite Ickis (1896-1980), and American speech therapist and professor, Dr. Ruth Beckey Irwin (1906-1991) 

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition, this vintage magazine is very clean and bright throughout. The edges of the front and back cover are a bit chippy as expected due to age. The colors are vibrant throughout. The spine is tight, and all pages are intact.

{SIZE}

Measures 12.5" inches (length) x 9.5" inches (width) x .25" inches (thickness) and weighs 9 oz.