The Handbag Archive: What She Carried – Ephemera, Fashion, and Material Culture Behind the Post-War Suburban Housewife Myth

On the surface, the mid-century suburban housewife was the picture of post-war perfection. She was impeccably dressed for afternoon shopping trips and local errands. But open up her handbag, and a far more interesting and honest story emerges. Join us for a look inside the Ridgewood Historical Society’s collection of 1940s-1960s purses. By unzipping these archives, this talk contrasts the polished public style with the real everyday items stashed inside: leftover beauty products, local receipts, matchbooks, and prescription health ephemera. Discover what these personal artifacts reveal about high fashion, Bergen County lifestyles, and the hidden realities behind the post-war suburban dream. Speaker Bio : Morgan is an intern at the Ridgewood Historical Society & Museum, where she works directly with the museum’s material culture archives. Her research focuses on connecting archival objects to broader cultural narratives. She aims to bring forgotten personal stories into conversation with the larger history of local suburban life. Ridgewood Museum at the Schoolhouse 650 East Glen Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ