Skip to content
VitrineVitrine
Sign in

Phyllis C. Ellsworth

3 Aug 1910 – 20 Jun 1982

5 facts1 source

Facts and their sources

  • Born3 Aug 1910not verified1 source
  • Died20 Jun 1982not verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 3 Aug 1910

    Born

  2. 31 Jan 1935

    A daughter is born

  3. 20 Jun 1982

    Dies, aged 71

Family

See the tree

Partner

Children · 1

During her lifetime

She lived through 8 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 1910s · Phyllis is born

In the news1918

1918 General Strike transforms Swiss politics

In 1918, a national general strike involving over 250,000 workers protested economic hardship and war-related inflation. The government quashed the movement with troops, though it eventually led to the 48-hour working week and proportional representation.

Getting around

Walking as the standard daily transport

In rural regions at the start of the 20th century, walking was the primary mode of transportation as many villages remained poorly connected by road. Farmers typically stayed within their own community, only venturing out sporadically to sell goods at local markets.

At the table

Stretching meals with bread and coffee

Working-class families spent approximately 62 percent of their income on food, relying heavily on bread, potatoes, and coffee mixed with chicory as a cheaper substitute. Bread was so essential that it was used to stretch every meal, including soups or rösti.

The First World War. From 1914 to 1918 the great powers fought in trenches across Europe and beyond; some 20 million people died. Brazil joined the Allies in 1917.Around the world · 1914–1918

The First World War. From 1914 to 1918 the great powers fought in trenches across Europe and beyond; some 20 million people died. Brazil joined the Allies in 1917.

Collection DocAnciens/docpix.fr · public domain

What people wore

Distinctive accessories for herdsmen

Herdsmen used an earring called an Ohreschueffe, which consisted of a miniature cream ladle attached to a short chain by a snake’s head. For everyday smoking, they carried a Lindauerli pipe, which was distinguished by having a silver lid.

Music

The Unique Sound of Talerschwingen

Talerschwingen is a unique performance where a coin is rhythmically rolled inside an earthenware bowl to create a drone, often accompanying natural yodeling.

Daily life

Laundry was an exhausting, multi-day chore

Laundry day was a major, multi-day ordeal done in the basement, requiring heavy pots, boiling water, and intense manual labor like scrubbing and wringing, often making hands cracked and sore.