The Wives of the 50's

Foreword

Our exhibit traces the story of four bold and dangerous women living in 1950’s New Haven, Alice, Kathleen, Maria, and Nancy. The common thread, which binds them together, is that they are all housewives trapped in toxic and unfair marriages with their husbands. They have no control over their own lives until they decide as a group to set themselves free and kill their husbands.

These women were defined as merely wives for most of their lives — their interests and ambitions were ignored by their husbands. The women themselves lost some of their self-worth due to being in such power imbalanced relations. While extreme, by murdering their husbands, Alice, Nancy, Maria, and Kathleen rediscovered themselves in a society where women weren’t meant to prioritize themselves and their identities over serving their husbands.

Title and Afterword of The Art of Lipstick Pamphlet
Published in 1957
Written by GiGi LingGal

A popular book in the 1950’s, which had been circulating within New Haven. It reached the ladies via Maria’s husband, David, who recommended they read the writing for their book club meeting. The pamphlet is definitively sexist and advises women to live only for the purpose of finding and serving their husbands. The afterword of this work displays the impossible and superficial demands society placed on women in the 20th century.

Who They Were

Q-Tips & Cotton Balls
Recovered from the vanity of Alice Lee in 2018

Portrait of Alice
Drawn in 1953
Pencil and Parchment Sketch
Artist: Maria

These makeup removers were a staple in Alice's routine, which included social gatherings her husband Roy Lee forced her to attend and appear "presentable" at.

Alice liked the simpler things in life — she never cared for makeup and wasn’t one to follow the latest magazines. Maria’s line sketch of Alice reflects her straightforward and unembellished personality.

Ch 1: Befriending the Mirror
"Your beauty is your only contribution to society."

Quote
Page 2 of The Art of Lipstick

Crimson-tipped low-heels
Donated by Kathleen's adoptive daughter

Portrait of Kathleen
Drawn in 1953
Charcoal sketch
Artist: Maria

A set of stylish crimson-tipped low-heels which Kathleen received as a birthday gift from Alice.

Kathleen was a stylish woman, though her husband didn't think such vanity was fit for potential mothers. Her adoptive daughter remembers her as being spontaneous and colorful, though she often donned red over any other hue.

Ch 4: Caring for the Children
"As a mother, you are responsible for the children and their wellbeing."

Quote
Page 5 of The Art of Lipstick

Self-portrait of Maria
Drawn in 1953
Watercolor painting
Artist: Maria

Cutout of Duncan Hines Instant Cake Recipes
Donated by the Charles Family
Found pinned in Maria's private chest

According to Maria's sister, who has passed as of 2020, yellow reminded Maria of sunshine, and she wore it despite David's protests that it was a garish color.

In moments of frustration with her husband, Maria would use these recipes, likely because of David's aversion to wives who were "too lazy to cook real food" (quote acquired from memory of David's nephew).

Ch 2: Taming the Kitchen
"Your home's kitchen should be your safe haven, the only place where you can make your husband truly happy."

Quote
Page 3 of The Art of Lipstick

Ch 5: Suitable Careers
"As a female, your place is in the house."

Quote
Page 6 of The Art of Lipstick

Portrait of Nancy
Drawn in 1953
Ink and pen drawing
Artist: Maria

Nancy's Microscope (Restored)
Donated by the Roberts family

Nancy is sporting a baby blue gown which she bought after graduating from Vassar College. On her left breast, she has a science-related pin which she proudly wore wherever she went, despite her husband’s pleas for her to dress “normally”.

A restored inky black microscope Nancy bought with her first paycheck from a local lab in college. Even when she became a librarian, she enjoyed creating slides from local flora and fauna and examining them.