Godey's Lady's Book

Godey's Lady's Book was the first successful American women's magazine and the most widely circulated periodical in the United States before the Civil War. Founded in Philadelphia in 1830 by Louis A. Godey and edited from 1837 to 1877 by Sarah Josepha Hale, the magazine achieved a subscription base of 150,000 readers at its peak.

Each issue contained poetry, articles, engravings, and fashion illustrations created by prominent American writers and artists.

Under Hale's editorial leadership, the magazine published only original American manuscripts and became a platform for advocating women's education, economic independence, and professional opportunities, while also establishing trends in fashion, household management, and domestic culture that influenced American society for decades.