How the working class home became modern 1900 1940 The transformation of average Americans domestic lives revealed through the mechanical innovations and physical improvements of their homes Introduction : Housing and domestic reform from a middle majority perspective Headwinds to researching common houses : eleven prevailing themes Two worlds apart : domestic conditions at the turn of the twentieth century Modern houses for a new middle class : new standards of living The dwellings of modern domestic reform : cottages duplexes multi units and remodeled houses Domestic life transformed : how the working class became middle class in housing Epilogue : response to working class improvement.