United States, 1991. Good to very good. Minor flaws include toning, the occasional water stain, light dust soiling, surface wear, short tears/nicks.. A collection of nineteen (19) menstrual education booklets for preteen girls, providing a comprehensive view into puberty education for girls between 1935 and 1991. Nearly every item was published by a manufacturer of sanitary pads, belts, or tampons, and were distributed to schools and families to advertise their products. Brands represented include Tampax, Modess, Kotex, Always, Midol, and Beltx. Aside from the overarching theme of consumerism pervading menstrual education, the collection also shows how strong gender roles were in the 20th century. The collection also includes two (2) folders with educational materials. The first dates to c.1950, and was published by Tampax (11.5" by 8.75"). This folder includes several menstruation and women's health education booklets secured at the left-hand edge with metal grommets. Topics range from menstruation basics and tampons, to anatomy. The audience for this material is educators or health professionals. The second folder (12.75" by 10") is titled "Educational Portfolio on Menstrual Hygiene" and has a handwritten label ("High School Biology"). It contains one printed general guide for teachers on how to teach menstrual hygiene (12.5" by 8.5" bifolium), one printed mail order card for the Personal Products Corp. (5.5" by 8"), and seven (7) wide-ruled paged with student's notes handwritten in ink from a "Junior Hygiene" class (content includes history of healthcare, biology, disease, and anatomy. The final item included in the folder is a large health class poster (approx. 21" by 29.25") with menstrual health information.
The booklets include:
Callender, Mary Pauline. "Marjorie May's Twelfth Birthday". Chicago: International Cellucotton Products Co., 1935. Single vol. (5" by 3.25"), pp. [12], in original illus. light green wrps with image of young girl on front. Guide to menstruation for girls. Include tear-off instructions sheet for mothers, advising them to buy Kotex napkins and discreetly set the booklet on top.
"The Periodic Cycle". New York: Personal Products Corp., 1938. A guide to menstruation for girls, advertising Modess brand sanitary pads and belts with directions for use and diagrams.
"What a trained nurse wrote to her young sister". New York: Personal Products Corp., 1938. A guide to menstruation for girls, advertising Modess brand sanitary pads and belts with directions for use and diagrams. Begins with a fictional story about how a trained nurse tells her younger sister about menstruation.
"As One Girl to Another". N.pl.: [Kotex], 1941. Single vol. (8" by 5.5"), pp. 18, illus., in original illus. wrps with two girls sitting on fence. Covers puberty, menstruation, tracking periods, with calendar on inside lower wrapper. With duplicate (published a year later with later calendar inside wrapper).
"It's so much easier when you know". Milltown: Personal Products Corp., c.1946. Single vol. (5.25" by 3.75"), pp. [12], illus., in original blue illus. wrps. A guide to menstruation with information on tampons, advertising Meds Brand tampons.
"How Shall I Tell My Daughter?" Milltown: Personal Products Corp., 1951. Single vol. (8.25" by 6.75"), pp. 20, illus., in original illus. wrps with image of blonde girl on front. A booklet for mothers on how to approach the subject of menstruation with pre-teen daughters, advertising Modess sanitary napkins.
"Growing Up and Liking It!" Milltown: Personal Products Corp., 1952. Single vol. (6.75" by 5"), pp. 30, illus., in original illus. wrps with photo of three friends on front. A guide to puberty and menstruation, advertising Modess.
"You're a Young Lady Now". Neenah: Kimberly-Clark Corp., 1952. Single vol. (6.75" by 5"), pp. 12, illus., in original illus. wrps. Advertising Kotex to girls. Information on growing up, menstruation, and how to use Kotex belts.
"Sally and Mary and Kate Wondered..." Milltown: Personal Products Corp., c.1955. Single vol. (7" by 5.25"), pp. 8, illus., in original illus. self wrps. Introduction to menstruation for young preteen girls with friendly line drawn illustrations.
"Growing up and liking it". N.pl: Johnson & Johnson, [1960]. Single vol. (6.75" by 5"), pp. 24, photo illus., in original photo illus. wrps with image of blond girl in garden at front.
"Just Between Us..." St. Louis: Beltx Corp., 1961. Single vol. (7.25" by 5"), pp. 16, illus., with inserted calendar volvelle, in original orange and white illus. wrps. Guide to menstruation/puberty with advertising for Beltx.
"The Miracle of You: What It Means to Be A Girl". N.pl.: Kimberly-Clark, 1960s. Single vol. (7.75" by 5.25"), pp. [24], illus., in original illus. pink self wrps. A guide to menstruation and puberty, advertising Kimberly-Clark products.
"Very Personally Yours". Neenah: Kimberly-Clark Corp., 1961. Single vol. (6.75" by 5"), pp. 20, illus., in original illus. wrps with image of hand holding calling card on front. Advertising Kotex, a guide to menstruation with directions for using a Kotex belt, tampons, tips for curbing cramps, and a calendar for tracking your period.
"You're a young lady now". Neenah: Kimberly-Clark Corp., 1961. Single vol. (6.75" by 5"), pp. 16, illus., in original pink and blue wrps. Advertising Kotex, a guide to menstruation and puberty for preteen girls.
Roth, Catherine. "What women want to know". N.pl.: Glenbrook Laboratories, 1961. Single vol. (6" by 3.5"), pp. 30, illus., in original illus. wrps with woman in pink on front. Covers menstruation, promotes Midol.
"How shall I tell my daughter?" Milltown: Personal Products Corp., 1962. Single vol. (7" by 5"), pp. 18, [2], illus., in original illus. yellow wrps with image of mother and daughter on front. A guide for mothers of preteen girls on how to approach the subject of puberty/menstruation. Advertises Modess.
"Are you in the know?" Neenah: Kimberly-Clark Corp., 1963. Single vol. (6.75" by 5"), pp. [32], illus., in original illus. self wrps with illus. of teen girl on front. A quiz booklet on everything from dating to manners, parties, good looks, and more. Advertises Kotex. Ink stamp to upper wrapper ("Lemore Weinstein").
"Changing: A Booklet for Girls". N.pl.: Procter & Gamble Company, 1991. Single vol. (8.5" by 5.5"), pp. 30, [2], illus., in original illus. pink wrps with photos of preteen girls on front. A guide to puberty and menstruation, advertising Always brand sanitary pads. Covers changing bodies, menstruation and reproduction, nutrition, exercise, tracking periods, male anatomy, and offers a glossary of terms.
"Young Girls' Questions About Growing Up ... A Booklet for Parents". N.pl.: Procter & Gamble Company, 1991. Single vol. (8.5" by 5.5"), pp. 16, illus., in original illus. wrps. A guide for parents on how to approach the topic of puberty and menstruation with preteen girls.
