Q65706047

Music

Mail order catalogs made instruments accessible locally

Mail order catalogs began allowing Americans in remote rural areas to easily obtain musical instruments like mandolins and banjos.

Daily life

Students used slates instead of paper

School supplies were minimal; instead of modern materials, children typically used only a slate and chalk, and many carried their lunches to school in metal pails.

What it cost

Weekly earnings for workers

An unskilled worker in the early 1900s earned about $10 a week, while many textile workers averaged around $8.76 for a full week's work in 1911.

What people wore

The versatile shirtwaist blouse

The shirtwaist, a simple long-sleeved blouse, was a staple for working women because it could be tucked into a single skirt, making it appear as though she owned multiple outfits.

Getting around

Rural travel by wagon in 1900

In 1900, many rural residents lived in small towns without a train station, often requiring a two-hour wagon ride to reach the nearest railway.

At the table

Five-cent beer and free lunch perk

In cities, a workingman could purchase a five-cent beer at a local saloon that included a free lunch of sausage, cheese, beans, bread, and sauerkraut.