Popular Views of Old Age in America, 1900–1950 Laura Davidow Hirshbein, MD, Phd
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SPECIAL ARTICLE Popular Views of Old Age in America, 1900–1950 Laura Davidow Hirshbein, MD, PhD The aging of the American population has significantly emplified in both of its aspects by Dr. Hale, for the ad- changed medical practice over the last century. As is well vancing years that have heaped new honors upon his head known, life expectancy first began to increase dramatically have also found his shoulders strong to bear new burdens in the late 19th century, but at the same time that the of enterprise and responsibility.”1 The Dial tribute went numbers of older people have been increasing, the social on to praise other great men and women, “our octogenar- and cultural meanings of growing old have also changed. ians,” who had made significant contributions to the na- It is likely that different cohorts of older people have had tion because of their long personal histories, and the author different experiences with old age because of the time peri- boasted that the United States had tremendous resources ods they lived through. This paper offers one way to look in the form of older people. at some of the historical changes that have affected the In the first few decades of the 20th century, this article public and the medical profession on the subject of old age was typical of the popular press coverage on old age. Dur- by looking at old age through American popular literature ing this time, most of the popular magazine articles that in the first half of the 20th century in three overlapping addressed this topic were written by older people and dis- time periods. In the first three decades of the century, the cussed aging in terms of older people’s definitions of the concept of old age was widely defined, and older people later stages of life. However, by the 1940s, popular press (rather than physicians) were the principal authorities in reporting of old age had shifted toward accounts of pro- describing the qualities of old age. In the third and fourth fessional interventions into old age. A typical article on decades of the century, the idea of old age was starting to old age in 1940s was a spread in Life about a hospital that acquire increasing negative connotations, but chronologi- specialized in the diseases of old age. As the author ex- cal age itself did not signal the beginning of old age. How- plained, “Geriatrics, the opposite of pediatrics, is a branch ever, by the late 1930s and 1940s, old age became widely of medicine whose importance is growing with the in- viewed as a specific social and medical problem to be ad- crease in the U.S. old-age population.”2 By this time, old dressed by professionals, and older people had become a age within popular literature had become a topic for medi- recognizable population, with a variety of groups orga- cal and other professional intervention, rather than a way nized around their care. This paper illustrates changes in to explain people’s lives or their position in the national American understandings of old age within and without order. the medical profession and suggests ways in which popu- Old age appears to be a biologically determined stage lar conceptions of old age might continue to shift and af- of life. Humans have always grown older, although hu- fect how physicians take care of their older patients in the man life expectancy has certainly increased in the past cen- future. J Am Geriatr Soc 49:1555–1560, 2001. tury. Nevertheless, although the biological features of ag- Key words: old age; history; United States ing are reasonably predictable, the meaning of old age for anyone in society is anything but a given. In addition, older people have lived through a number of historical times that have helped to shape how they view getting older. One way of tracing changes in older persons’ views of old age over time is by reviewing popular literature. n 1907, the popular magazine Dial published a tribute Popular literature is a good source to examine public opin- Ito the well-known author Edward Everett Hale on his ion, because, in the 20th century, Americans have had un- 85th birthday. In this article, Hale’s age not only reflected precedented access to mass-produced cultural products, his past worth but also his continuing abilities: “The with increases in national publications, improved book poet’s line, ‘Old age hath yet his honor and his toil’—is ex- circulation, the expansion of advertising, and other forms of media, particularly motion pictures.3–6 The idea of old age in American popular culture has substantially changed over the last century, and this change indicates that there From the University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor, Michigan. will likely be further changes. Address correspondence to Laura Davidow Hirshbein, MD, PhD, University Old age in the first half of the 20th century is particu- of Michigan Hospitals, 900 Wall Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. larly important to explore because, as most historians agree, JAGS 49:1555–1560, 2001 © 2001 by the American Geriatrics Society 0002-8614/01/$15.00 1556 HIRSHBEIN NOVEMBER 2001–VOL. 49, NO. 11 JAGS there were significant changes in ideas about old age dur- of all older Americans. Still, these representations domi- ing that time.7–9 In addition, there have been tremendous nated the popular literature during this time. Older people changes over time in the cultural meanings of old age.10 identified no age cutoff or set of physical or mental at- This paper surveys popular representations of old age be- tributes that characterized old age. Some even denied the tween 1900 and 1950 by looking at the magazines of mass label of old and instead emphasized that the later years of consumption during that time. All magazines articles on life were shaped by their many years of experience.16,17 the topics of old age and longevity were surveyed for ideas One writer said that “To be old is to be born again. It is and information about old age and the location of author- another life, motivated more by love than hate, more by ity on this topic. The article citations were located through self-effacement than by ambition, more by catholic charity the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature,11 the index to than by headlong zeal.”18 Others agreed that old age was all popularly written articles since the late 19th century. certainly different from youth and that there were appro- The articles cited in this paper are representative of the priate behaviors and attitudes for older people.19–21 For larger number of articles on this topic. many of these writers, there was a proper way to grow old Changes in ideas about old age in the popular press and to stay mentally and physically healthy, but there were occurred gradually in the early 20th century in three over- no negative features necessarily associated with old age. lapping phases. In the first phase, between 1900 and 1920, Although there were some who described disability in many of the popular magazine articles that addressed old old age during this time, most of the older people who age were written by or about older people and their lives wrote or were interviewed emphasized their strengths as (rather than about physicians or medical interventions older people and the beauties of old age.22,23 One older into old age). The idea of old age within these articles was woman argued that older people “have more sense and not fixed but rather was dictated by the experiences of more discrimination and a clearer perception of what true older people. In addition, older people’s memories of the enjoyment consists in.”24 Writers who identified them- past constituted an important element of popular discus- selves as advanced in years, and those interviewed by jour- sions about old age. In the second phase, between 1920 nalists because of their ages, created an image of an old and the early 1930s, there was a shift toward a more nega- age to which others could relate because of common expe- tive reporting of the effects of old age. However, at the riences and priorities, rather than any specific physical same time, individuals were also free to try to extend their characteristics. Writers who did identify specific ailments lives and did not necessarily become old just because of connected to old age emphasized that it was possible to advancing chronological age. In addition, memories of the entirely avoid these negative consequences of the aging past were still an important component of ideas about old process. Some cautioned against the perils of an infirm age, although those memories were seen as less valuable in body or mind, and argued that the best way to avoid these modern society. In the third phase, which started in the was to “Think youth and health, instead of old age and 1930s and gained momentum by the end of World War II, decay.”25 Others emphasized the importance of avoiding popular press reporting of old age shifted toward accounts limitations or restrictions just because of age.26–28 Some of professional interventions into old age. Physicians be- older figures became well known for their individual pre- came the primary authorities on aging, and older people scriptions for healthful longevity. Admiral George Dewey, were not specifically connected to their memories of the a Civil War veteran and hero of the Spanish-American past but instead became patients with histories structured War,29 made his own health decisions and acted accord- by medical needs and interventions.