René Italo Ricolfi Doria

René Italo Ricolfi-Doria was a Swiss freestyle swimmer. He competed in the two events and the water polo at the 1920 Summer Olympics. He was father of Marina Doria.

Distinctive accessories for herdsmen

Herdsmen used an earring called an Ohreschueffe, which consisted of a miniature cream ladle attached to a short chain by a snake’s head. For everyday smoking, they carried a Lindauerli pipe, which was distinguished by having a silver lid.

Herdsmen's daily and festive attire

Appenzell herdsmen wore knee-length leather breeches called Gääle on special occasions and brown semi-linen trousers for everyday work. Their outfits were often complemented by a silver watch-chain featuring coins, medals, and brass plaques with cow motifs.

The Melodeon Revolution

The Schwyzerörgeli (melodeon), developed around 1883, revolutionized folk music by providing melody, accompaniment, and rhythm simultaneously.

Appenzell Singing and String Music

In Appenzell, people gathered for social singing of Ratzliedli, which were humorous or mocking songs where everyone eventually joined in a yodeled chorus. Traditional instrumental groups during this era typically consisted of two violins, a hammer dulcimer, a cello, and an upright bass.

Gotthard railway slashes transit times

By the turn of the century, the Gotthard railway had reduced the travel time between Basel and Chiasso to approximately 10.5 hours. This represented a massive improvement over earlier methods, which had taken 3.5 days by carriage or 6 days by mule train.

Urban transport and tourism growth

While residents in urban centers benefited from expanded tram and railway networks, using these modern transport options was often expensive, requiring the purchase of specialized worker or monthly subscriptions to be affordable. In 1903, the Zurich steamship company shifted its focus toward tourism, operating ships designed as comfortable, luxurious experiences for travelers.

Child labor in embroidery industry

Children as young as six were often employed to thread embroidery needles for hours before, during, and after school, deep into the night.

Laundry was an exhausting, multi-day chore

Laundry day was a major, multi-day ordeal done in the basement, requiring heavy pots, boiling water, and intense manual labor like scrubbing and wringing, often making hands cracked and sore.

Simple diet of Alpine shepherds

Alpine shepherds lived on polenta and cheese, drinking only water or skimmed milk while isolated in the mountains.

Alcohol as a morning staple

Industrial workers would rush to taverns early in the morning for a pre-work hit of liquor, which cost 20 centimes even as late as the 1930s.

Worker wages in 1906

In 1906, daily wages for day laborers at a gas works in Schlieren ranged from 2.80 to 6.25 Swiss francs, while permanent employees earned 115 to 210 francs per month.

Alpine mower wages during harvest

Alpine mountain-mowers working the dangerous crags during the hay harvest earned between 3 and 5 francs a day, excluding food.

Life as a domestic servant

Female domestic service was the most common profession for working-class women in 1900, requiring constant availability with limited time off, often just a few hours every other Sunday.

Textile industry dominance

In 1900, the textile industry was the largest employer in Switzerland, accounting for nearly half of all industrial workers.