A visit with the ladies of the Women's Christian Temperance Union in old-time Phoenix


Let's time-travel to old-time Phoenix and visit the nice ladies of the Women's Christian Temperance Union at 1001 N. 2nd Street, at 2nd Street and about Roosevelt. I really don't have a date for this photo, the WCTU was founded in 1879 and lasted until the 1960s. If you see an obvious clue in this photo, like the clothing that they're wearing, or something, please let me know.


Of course women who are, ahem, "of age", like us old guys tend to wear the same clothes, or at least style for a long time, so looking at the clothing may not help to date the photo precisely. By the way, that's Annie Wittenmyer in the frame, who was a very important person in women's rights, and temperance.


But I really don't want to talk politics, I just want to talk about the ladies, all of which are wearing hats except for two. Like I say, I really don't know the exact date for this photo, but I'd say that the ladies are about my age (I'm in my sixties) or around there, and my best guess is that to them air conditioning would be quite a luxury. Please do take a closer look at these ladies, and if you see a clue as to the date (at least the decade), it would be greatly appreciated. Here's another close-up:


The eyeglasses make me think that this could be the 1930s?


Hey, check out the kid at back there on the porch, staying out of the way. I remember doing that a lot as a kid! And how about that haircut? 1940s? This could be as late at 1947, when the McCulloch collection ends.

OK, I don't want to start any arguments here, but the temperance movement wasn't synonymous with prohibition. Sure, a lot of people who called themselves temperate didn't touch any alcohol, but that's not really what the word means. It just means showing restraint - a glass of champagne with your Thanksgiving dinner, but not so much that you end up dancing on the table, and falling off. I myself am a temperate drinker, which I learned from my parents, also my grandmother.

My grandmother, which all of these ladies remind me of, was a grand lady. She would never have wagged a finger at you for having a little amaretto in your coffee, just as long as you were temperate.

Photo from the McCulloch Collection at Arizona State University.
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