By Jenna Newman

I’m kicking off the new year in a new apartment, which means when I’m not working, most of my time involves unpacking boxes and trying to make this apartment feel like home. One of the top ways to make a space feel like your own is through the decor. Whereas now we turn to Pinterest for all our interior decorating needs and inspiration, back in 1913 people turned to articles written by authors, including Richard Digby-Junger.

The image above is from The Fra: a Journal of Affirmation, v. 10, no. 4, January, 1913, p. Lviii and is included in Falvey’s digital exhibit You Can Learn A Lot From Advertising: Household. The items in the picture are considered essential for anyone’s living room table. It includes a combination match-holder and ashtray (top left), single flower vase (top right), copper paper knife (middle left), molded leather mat (bottom left), and the book of epigrams (bottom right). 

These might not be the exact things I plan on decorating my living room with, but it’s always fun to throw back and see how people used to decorate!

Jenna Newman is a graduate assistant in Falvey Memorial Library and a graduate student in the Communication Department. Current mood: Adding decor to my Pinterest board.