During the summer of 1923, the Telegram published a syndicated series of swimming tips for women. Click here for the full series.
The Telegram, July 30, 1923.
Four years before this series was published, the Telegram printed an article where swimming expert George Hebden Corsan explained why women were so well-adapted to the water.
The Telegram, July 24, 1919.
Corsan believed men required more intensive instruction in learning how to swim due to their heavier muscle mass.
The Globe, October 7, 1926.
There’s a lot more to say about Corsan, a pioneering swim instructor who dabbled in farming and vegetarianism, in upcoming posts.
The Telegram, July 31, 1923.
The Telegram, July 18, 1919.
A sampling of post-First World War bathing suits, which the copywriter regards as “utilitarian.”
The Telegram, August 1, 1923.
The Telegram, July 18, 1919.
Apparently Chicago’s beachwear was considered far more chic that Toronto’s.
The Telegram, August 2, 1923.
A few words on the early evolution of swimwear during the late 19th and early 20th centuries from Lisa Bier’s book Fighting the Current: The Rise of American Women’s Swimming, 1870-1926 (Jefferson: McFarland & Company, 2011):
Women’s bathing costumes ranged from the rented plain suits to very fancy silk ones, but what they had in common was coverage. These suits provided more skin coverage than today’s dresses, with skirts that reached at least the knee, corsets, sleeves, bloomers, stockings, and bathing shoes. They were dark in colour for modesty’s sake, and often quite heavy when wet. Pressures from society concerning modesty conflicted with issues of safety and function. For women interested in venturing away from the ropes and actually swimming, not just wading, the suits were a hinderance and a danger.
The Telegram, August 3, 1923.
The Telegram, August 4, 1923.
Next time: The Telegram makes a big announcement for aspiring water nymphs.
Jamie Bradburn's Tales of Toronto 