Duchess Charlotte, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Archduchess Charlotte of Austria was a daughter of Emperor Charles I of Austria and his wife Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma. She was also known by the name Charlotte de Bar while a welfare worker in the United States from 1943 to 1956.

Cost of traditional Appenzell costumes

In 1925, a new women's costume was designed for Ausserrhoden, with a Sunday version costing 4,000 francs and a weekday version costing 1,200 francs.

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.

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.

Rise of the Schwyzerörgeli Accordion

Around 1900, the Schwyzerörgeli (a diatonic button accordion) became increasingly popular, often replacing the violin in bands and becoming a way for soldiers to pass time during WWI.

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.

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.

Stretching meals with bread and coffee

Working-class families spent approximately 62 percent of their income on food, relying heavily on bread, potatoes, and coffee mixed with chicory as a cheaper substitute. Bread was so essential that it was used to stretch every meal, including soups or rösti.

Rising food costs 1914–1919

In 1914, basic food prices were 35 centimes per kilogram for bread, 19 centimes per kilogram for potatoes, and 24 centimes per liter for milk. By 1919, the price of bread had more than doubled to 73 centimes per kilogram.

Long working days in agriculture

Agricultural workers in 1930 faced extremely long days, often ranging from 12 to 16 hours in total, including time for meals and travel.

Wages in clothing

Young labourers, particularly domestic girls, often received wages primarily in the form of the doppelten Häs, which consisted of two complete sets of clothing from head to toe.