Louis Antoine
Godey was an American publisher, editor and businessman who published Godey’s Lady Book. This book once became
the women’s source for French lifestyle. Godey’s
Lady Book became the first successful women’s lifestyle and fashion
magazine in the US.
Godey was born
on June 6, 1804 in New York City, New York. He was born to parents who survived
the French Revolution.
The Godey family was relatively poor and the Godey children were unschooled.
Godey ended up educating himself.
At 15, Godey worked
as a paper boy for a New York City newspaper. By the time he decided to quit
his job, Godey has saved enough money to move to Philadelphia where he worked
as “scissors editor” in Daily Chronicle.
Godey worked in Philadelphia County until the first Lady Book was published two years later.
The first issues
of the Lady Book contained article
clippings taken from a few French publications. The earlier issues of the book
became a turning point for the spread of French culture and lifestyle in
America. Godey’s book became “the guiding star of female education and the
beacon of light of refined taste, pure morals and practical wisdom.”
More than
150,000 subscribers benefited from the Lady
Book’s information – fashion trends,
etiquette, house plans, patterns and craft ideas, short stories, tips and
hints, health advice, poetry, musical scores, book notices –anything that can
help turn women into ladies. Since the release of Lady Book, it was noted that feminine culture became stronger in
the US.
Needless to say,
Godey brought French fashion to the US through the Lady Book. When the
publication’s influence became clearer, Godey moved to hire other writers to infuse
fresh American ideas. Godey’s first move was to hire Sarah Josepha Hale as the
book’s literary editor. Godey ended up with his own magazine company.
Godey retired in
his St. Augustine, Florida home. He became
very ill and died on November 29, 1878 in Philadelphia.
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