1885. One of several popular women's magazines founded in the 1880s and 1890s, Good Housekeeping provided information about running a home, a broad range of literary offerings, and opportunities for reader input. Founded by journalist-businessman Clark W. Bryan in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Good Housekeeping soon moved to Springfield. In 1911, with a circulation of 300,000, the magazine was purchased by the Hearst publishing company and moved to New York. By 1966, Good Housekeeping claimed 5.5 million readers.
Well-known writers who have contributed to the magazine include Somerset Maugham, Edwin Markham, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Frances Parkinson Keyes, and Evelyn Waugh. Following the death of Calvin Coolidge his widow, Grace Goodhue Coolidge, memorialized him in its pages. In an efforts to stay close to its audience, many Good Housekeeping articles have been contributed by readers.
Beginning in 1900, the magazine sponsored an "Experiment Station" to test consumer goods and make recommendations to readers. This grew into the Good Housekeeping Institute which awarded selected products its "Seal of Approval," a practice which came under attack when members of the Roosevelt Administration pushed for more stringent product labeling practices. With its name changed to the "Guaranty Seal," this became a mechanism for screening advertisers--through most years Good Housekeeping refused tobacco or liquor advertisements.
Good Housekeeping began publishing its "List of 10 Most Admired Women" in the 1970s. Among those who have been included are Golda Meir, Mamie Eisenhower, Pearl S. Buck, Barbara Bush, Coretta Scott King, and Rosalynn Carter.
- Photographs commissioned by Good Housekeeping, House Beautiful, and Home and Garden are among the 29,000 negatives and color transparencies featured in Architecture and Interior Design for the 20th Century America, 1935-1955. This collection of photographs by Samuel Gottscho and William Schleisner provides a detailed look at architectural styles and trends throughout the nation from the perspective of the architect as well as the client. Search the collection on House Beautiful or Home and Garden to see more examples of photographs taken for these publications.
- See the Today in History feature on Condé Nast to find more material on the history of magazine publishing in the U.S. Also see the feature on Grace Abbott, named one of the "Twelve Greatest American Women" by Good Housekeeping.
- Search on the term magazine in FSA/OWI Black and White Photographs, 1935-1945 for images of a variety of periodicals.
