Demorest’s Monthly Magazine, MME Demorest’s and similar items

This rare issue includes: black and white picture of Ancient and Modern Valentines; A Story “The House of St. Leons,” written by Mrs. Mary J. Holmes; “Two Valentines’ A Strange Story’”, written by Christine H. Carpenter; Mirror Fashions, Ball Dresses and much more. The paper was established as Mme. Demorest’s Mirror of Fashions, a quarterly publication, in 1860. It became monthly in 1863 and attained its expanded title in 1864 after Demorest acquired New York Illustrated News and merged it into the publication. "Illustrated" was dropped from the title in 1865. In 1879 it was retitled Demorest's Family Magazine. It later became Demorest’s Monthly Magazine. Demorest Monthly Magazine is an interesting publication in its own right, and doubly interesting for its background. It was founded by William Jennings Demorest, an American magazine publisher and prohibition leader, and his wife Ellen Louise Demorest, who was a milliner and fashion designer. Ellen Demorest is credited with having invented mass-produced tissue-paper patterns for dressmaking (yes, the kind you find today at the fabric store). The couple launched Mme. Demorest's Mirror of Fashions in 1860 as a quarterly magazine designed to market and promote the patterns. The magazine quickly became popular, becoming monthly in 1863. In 1864, the company purchased the New York Illustrated News and combined it with the fashion magazine. It became Demorest Monthly Magazine, and then Demorest Family Magazine in 1879. It ceased publication in 1899. Ellen Demorest was an activist at many levels, and believed wholeheartedly in women's entrepreneurship, emancipation, education and equality. She employed both white and black women in her businesses, including her millinery store. The magazine included a monthly "What Women Are Doing" column that highlighted the achievements of women around the world. Contributors included many female writers, including journalist Jenny (aka Jennie) June (many of whose articles are posted herein). Thanks no doubt to the influence of William Demorest, the magazine also included many articles on temperance and prohibition.