How to Use History Reference
This database is organized by categories of items which are then filtered by decade. History Reference will soon have a search feature which allows users to find photos based off a specific year, brand name, or item type. The ads posted on this site are dated by the year of publication from the source material. It's very likely that a product was on the market before or after the year listed. This portrays a broader sense of what was popular and widely available in different times.
History Reference will be a Subscription based service. Monthly payments go towards site maintenance, domain rights, and hours of research. This website is currently in beta testing so feedback is welcome and very appreciated. Feedback can be sent through the contact form below. While in beta testing all of the information on this database is free to the public. When beta testing concludes research will be behind a paywall.
Hello my name is Hana, thanks for checking out my website. Two of my favorite things are history and filmmaking. This site is a combination of these passions. I started working in the film industry over a decade ago. Throughout my career I've worked in the props department, set dec, and as a prop house rental agent.
While researching props for different projects, I scoured the web looking for a database showing consumer items and the year they were made. After not finding anything like that I decided to build my own database. I spent countless hours searching through various books, catalogs, and websites to build my research. I'm currently in the process of uploading this research to History Reference.
My goal is that History Reference to become a tool that can help graphic designers find examples of expendable products, buyers verify the accuracy of purchases/rentals and provide inspiration for historical spaces. This database provides accurate information with listed sources, that can be found quickly.