Curator’s Notes Archive

0October 16, 2011
Spotting Memories In Retro Radio Ads

Still nostalgic thinking about the old days in Milwaukee radio, I’ve been hanging out consuming The Halcyon Daze (I prefer using the “classic” interface for navigation, in case you visit…
1October 14, 2011
Of Tailgators, Radio & Retail

This is a vintage WKTI Tailgator pinback from 1983, featuring Old Style beer. It’s mere 1.75 inches, but oh the size of the memories it unleashes… If you’re of a…
1October 6, 2011
This One’s For My Dad

This photo of Suzanne Pleshette reminds me of my dad. My dad had a thing for Suzanne. He also had a lusty crush on Susan Anton. We used to tease…
2September 28, 2011
Make Your Children Feel Pretty By Making Fun Of Presidents (Or I’m Giving Away Atomic Religous Beauty?)

Perhaps today’s right-win conservative evangelists are only following the advice of Dorothy C. Haskin in God In My Kitchen: Fifty-Two Thoughts For Homemakers (copyright 1958, Warner Press, Anderson, Indiana)… In…
0September 24, 2011
“Protection To American Labor And American Industries”

I spotted this 1888 Benjamin Harrison silk handkerchief or scarf at Listia (if you don’t know what Listia is, check out my review), and I was so bummed to have…
2September 15, 2011
In Which Gardasil & I *Almost* Make The News (Or, Ethics In Medicine & Media)

Last week I watched The Republican Debate at the Reagan Library. I found myself astounded by the fact that these people with limited intellectual reasoning, if not limited intellectual functioning,…
0September 7, 2011
Magazine Equality: Stuff White People Worry Needlessly About

I get mail, paper and electronic. Today’s winner is this one: Hey, you sell and ship a lot of stuff, and you write about racism, so I’m tossing this question…
10September 6, 2011
Bombshell Manual Of Style Giveaway!

I’ve decided to part with my copy of The Bombshell Manual of Style, by Laren Stover (Ruben Toledo, Illustrator). This hardcover with dust jacket is in like-new shape, and sex…
0August 21, 2011
“Unsolicited Advice To Adolescent Girls With Crooked Teeth And Pink Hair”

I absolutely adore this piece by Jeanann Verlee: Unsolicited Advice To Adolescent Girls With Crooked Teeth And Pink Hair When your mother hits you, do not strike back. When the…
0August 11, 2011
Share & Share Alike: Why Posting Your “Junk” Is Worthy Of Your Time

In 2010, I was a presenter at the first Bookmark Collectors Virtual Convention, encouraging collectors not to be embarrassed about their collections (bookmarks or otherwise). And recently I discussed how…
1August 11, 2011
Crunk, Talking Genitals & Childish Fashion Crimes (or, A What I’ve Been Reading Link Round-Up)

Just a good old fashioned link round-up — yee-haw! 1.) At The Crunk Feminist Collective, a thought provoking post on self care for the feminist or liberal activist: Talk about…
0July 29, 2011
Flappers Don’t Settle For Sidecars

Two photos from the 1920s featuring women and their motorcycles — vintage Indian motorcycles & sidecars. But the ladies don’t just sit in the sidecars. …Maybe little girls do. But…
0July 28, 2011
Sign Of The Times: 1922 & Today

Message in Washington, D.C., July 28, 1922; message to Washington, D.C. today. Don’t let the tea party-ers or republicans fool you: the hold-up on the debt ceiling has nothing to…
2July 9, 2011
Of George Eliot & Marilyn Monroe

I am absolutely fascinated by Adair Jones‘s debate on the following question: “Was George Eliot’s late marriage a resignation from being a strong-minded woman?” I haven’t read the works under…
0July 6, 2011
Archimedes Screw – You

One of my favorite altered art works; you can buy a poster copy, if’n ya wanna.
1June 14, 2011
Antique Suffragette Bookmark

While interviewing Lauren Roberts about her bookmark collection (continued here), I found one antique silk bookmark most fetching… Turns out this might just be a bit of suffragette history. Lauren,…
0June 12, 2011
Art Therapy For Break-Ups

This is either called Fuckface the Fucknificent or You & Your Ugly Heart by Collin David, who I just interviewed here.
0June 2, 2011
Cheap Thrills Thursday: Retro Mimi Interview

My interview with Retro Mimi of The Retro Weight Watchers Experiment and her amazing collection of vintage Weight Watchers magazines and publications!
1May 24, 2011
We All End Up Paying For It, Celebrities Or Not

Gawd I love Roseanne. There are about one million reasons to; here’s one more. A very special quote from a very special article, And I Should Know, Barr had published…
1May 17, 2011
Women’s Pages, Then & Now

You know, by now, that I collect horde vintage magazines, publications, newspapers, and other ephemera. (If not, please send me your recipe for Denial Sauce; the anti-women politics of the…
1May 11, 2011
Have Hairdryer, Will Travel

This vintage travel photo is awesome on its own, but it’s also a culmination of many posts I’ve made today! (Hint: That means all but one of the the links…