Thelma and Lowell's Diary: Oct. 4, 1943

Thelma rakes in the birthday gifts, including a magazine subscription, makeup

It was Thelma’s 22nd birthday. Lowell had worked all night, getting off at 7 a.m., and he wrote that they didn’t do much all day until the evening, when they went to a place called Polites or supper.

Thelma got lots of nice birthday gifts. Lowell bought her a pin and a subscription to Better Homes and Gardens magazine, and her parents sent her candy and gum and some cosmetics, including pancake make-up, rouge, and powder. His mother and sister Donabel sent her a pair of pajamas and more candy, and they also sent a pair of socks and two handkerchiefs for Lowell.

This somewhat faded copy of Better Homes — in the original photo, the wall behind the woman was tangerine red — is being offered on Etsy. The hundred pages of contents — 39 articles, 108 advertisements, and 7 recipes, give a glimpse into life on the home front for women like Thelma. To read on, you’ll need to be a paid subscriber. Click below to upgrade for just $5 a month and get the full Thelma and Lowell’s Diary experience every day.