Miss America; pen and camera sketches of the American girl

A series of illustrated sketches considers the character and varieties of the United States girl, pairing photographic portraits with reflective essays. Early sections probe the idea of a national type and its development, using travel impressions, portraiture, and social memory to trace shifting fashions and ideals. Subsequent chapters address upbringing, domestic arts, courtship customs, and the interplay of chance and choice in personal lives, including discussions of unmarried women and marriage itself. Throughout, visual studies and commentary work together to reveal contemporary social attitudes toward femininity, costume, and the roles expected of women in the period.