The issue of alimony in the divorce process has always been highly debated. In the early 20th century as more women entered the workforce and the divorce rate spiked, newspapers and periodicals targeted alimony recipients. Depictions were of women living a good life while their ex-husbands sunk into despair and poverty. Examples such as these are being brought up in the debate over alimony reform currently going on in New Jersey.

This edition of That’s History looks at the history of alimony and examines the current arguments surrounding reform. The Historical Society’s collections include more than 21 million items. Please visit the library at 1300 Locust Street or search our collections online.