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Opal Irene Whiteley

Colton, 11 Dec 1897 – Napsbury Park, 16 Feb 1992

9 facts2 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born11 Dec 1897, Coltonor 1887Records disagree1 source
  • Died16 Feb 1992, Napsbury ParkRecords disagree1 source
  • FatherPrince Henri d'Orléansnot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 11 Dec 1897

    Born in Colton

  2. 16 Feb 1992

    Dies in Napsbury Park, aged 94

Family

See the tree

Parents

During her lifetime

She lived through 11 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Colton.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1890s · Opal is born in Colton

Who governed

What people wore

Standardization of the Men's Sack Suit

By the 1880s, the sack suit became the standard business attire for middle-class American men, featuring an unadorned jacket that fell just below the hips and replaced formal frock coats for daily work.

Daily life

Schooling and limited classroom supplies

Public school enrollment tripled between 1870 and 1920, though many children in rural areas had shorter school years to accommodate farm work. Students often relied on slates and chalk rather than paper, and learning was frequently by rote memorization.

In the news1897

1897 Marconi receives patent for radio communications

Guglielmo Marconi received the first patent for radio communications in 1897.

Music

Popularity of Parlor Organs

Following the Civil War, parlor organs, also known as reed or cabinet organs, became highly popular in American homes. Manufacturers marketed them as elegant pieces of furniture suitable for even the most sumptuously furnished rooms.

At the table

Daily water hauling for chores

Women in urban and rural households carried approximately 200 pounds of water into their homes daily for cooking, cleaning, and drinking.

Around the world1893

Women vote in New Zealand

New Zealand became the first country where women could vote in national elections.

Getting around

Luxury rail travel costs

First-class tickets for the cross-country trip were expensive, costing $134.50 in 1869, which is equivalent to about $2,700 today. Passengers could upgrade their experience by paying for a luxury Pullman palace car to sleep and dine on board.