'Secretary' Magazines From 1952

I recently came across some old "Secretary" magazines at an estate sale. They provide a wonderful glimpse into a time when women were becoming an important part of the post-war workforce.  The magazine was a publication of the National Secretaries Association and had a monthly circulation of 20,000.  The entire board was composed of women, the editors were women and most of the articles were written by women.  The magazine was hardly a bastion of feminism though.  Max Factor contributed an article titled "Be Reasonable About Make-Up Boldness" and articles about specific industries were written by the men who ran them and who weren't shy about what they expected from their secretaries. ("No information which might create unfounded gossip or unhappiness must be allowed to seep outside her office doors... At all times, she must remember that her attitude often reflects the mood of her immediate superior and she must be careful not to provoke any misunderstandings by a display of emotions"). They even provide job interview advice:

Q:  Is it necessary to wear a hat and gloves during an interview, even in very hot weather?

A:  This is practically mandatory. If you were a man being interviewed, you wouldn't walk into the employer's office without a coat and tie. Your gloves and hat are a very necessary part of your attire.

 While seeming somewhat quaint from a distance of nearly six decades, these magazines did acknowledge that the modern woman had many interests and devoted space to books, movies and sports as well.  The magazines provide a snapshot into a very interesting period of our history. These items may be purchased from my Ruby Lane shop here.