The Early Twentieth Century Women's Magazine collection document the social and home economic aspects of women's lives from 1905-1949. Documenting materials include differing volumes of magazines including Good Housekeeping, Ladies’ Home Journal, McCall’s, Better Homes & Gardens, and Woman's Home Companion.

Ladies' Home Journal is an American magazine published by the Meredith Corporation. It first appeared on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th century in the United States. It was the first American magazine to reach 1 million subscribers in 1903. Good Housekeeping is a women's magazine owned by the Hearst Corporation, featuring articles about women's interests, product testing by The Good Housekeeping Institute, recipes, and health, as well as literary articles. It is well known for the "Good Housekeeping Seal," popularly known as the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval." The magazine was founded May 2, 1885. The magazine achieved a circulation of 300,000 by 1911, at which time it was bought by the Hearst Corporation. It topped one million in the mid-1920s and continued to rise, even during the Great Depression and its aftermath. In 1938, a year in which the magazine advertising dropped 22 percent, Good Housekeeping showed an operating profit of $2,583,202, more than three times the profit of Hearst's other eight magazines combined, and probably the most profitable monthly of its time.

Folders are listed by their location in each box; any given subject may be dispersed throughout the entirety of the collection.