Skip to content
VitrineVitrine
Sign in

Maria Valentina del Prete

4 Feb 1922

6 facts1 source

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 4 Feb 1922

    Born

Family

See the tree

Parents

During her lifetime

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

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

The 1920s · Maria is born

In the news1921

Public radio broadcasting starts in 1921

Public radio broadcasting officially began in France in 1921, with regular programs transmitted from an antenna atop the Eiffel Tower.

Getting around

Walking as a primary means of transport

Ordinary people commonly traveled between towns on foot, with journeys often measured in leagues, where one league equaled approximately one hour of walking.

What it cost

Rising Bread Prices 1910–1925

The price of a kilogram of bread in Paris rose from 0.39 francs in 1910 to 1.58 francs by 1925.

The Spanish flu. A flu pandemic infected a third of humanity and killed some 50 million people, more than the war that had just ended.Around the world · 1918–1920

The Spanish flu. A flu pandemic infected a third of humanity and killed some 50 million people, more than the war that had just ended.

Otis Historical Archives, National Museum of Health and Medicine · public domain

What people wore

Wartime fashion shifts for women

During World War I, the women's suit became an essential, functional wardrobe item for both shopping and the workforce, often paired with a blouse. Because of fabric shortages and the movement of women into new professions, skirts became straighter and shorter, and women even began wearing trousers for outdoor labor.

Music

Traditional and modern dances

Traditional dances like the bourrée and rigadoon were passed down through generations, while new international styles like the tango, fox trot, and Charleston became widespread favorites during the interwar period. At family gatherings, elders often performed traditional dances while young people watched.

Daily life

Memorable daily life details

A household helper, or femme de ménage, could be hired in Paris for six sous per hour, while well-to-do families identified the gender of their babies by using red ribbons for boys and blue for girls on the nurse's cap.