{"id":358,"date":"2024-11-21T17:05:18","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T17:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/historyofthebook2024\/?p=358"},"modified":"2024-12-20T02:42:10","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T02:42:10","slug":"the-frugal-housewifes-roots-in-activism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/historyofthebook2024\/2024\/11\/21\/the-frugal-housewifes-roots-in-activism\/","title":{"rendered":"The Frugal Housewife’s Roots in Activism"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Frugal Housewife <\/span><\/i>is a cookbook deeply rooted in history and activism, thanks to its author\u2019s vocations. In addition to being a successful writer, Lydia Maria Child was a dedicated activist and abolitionist. Her published work <\/span>An Appeal in Favor of that Class of Americans Called Africans<\/span><\/i> was a first-of-its-kind essay that significantly impacted the perception of slavery in the United States at the time. Her other works include <\/span>Hobomok: A Tale of Earlier Times<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>The Rebels<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>The Juvenile Miscellany<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>The Mother\u2019s Book<\/span><\/i>, and more. She mainly wrote children\u2019s books and domestic manuals until her interest shifted to more political pursuits. After her work on <\/span>An Appeal<\/span><\/i>, she spent the rest of her life working towards abolishing slavery and raising awareness for the many inequalities in America. Although she was once revered in the Boston literary world, her stance on abolition left her ostracized \u2013 but that did not stop her from advocating for equality (The Poetry Foundation).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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While much of her work was based on abolitionist ideals, Child was also an advocate for feminist causes and women\u2019s rights. In addition to writing the first comprehensive history of American Slavery, she also wrote the first comprehensive history of women. <\/span>The Frugal Housewife<\/span><\/i> is one of her works that based in feminist ideals. The Poetry Foundation states, \u201cDirected at \u201cmiddling\u201d and lower-class women who could not afford servants, it was an early attempt to raise domesticity to a level of competence equal to that of other skilled trades (The Poetry Foundation).\u201d Child\u2019s works are mostly based in equality and advocacy, and <\/span>The Frugal Housewife<\/span><\/i> is not an outlier.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout her life, Child worked as both a writer and an editor.Since he<\/span>r career was strongly prevalent in the literary world, and the lack of information on the existence of a literary agent, I assume that Child did not have an agent. The front cover of the cookbook states, \u201cCorrected and Arranged by the Author.\u201d Child not only wrote her works, but she also edited and organized them herself.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first cookbook to take off in America was<\/span> American Cookery, or, The Art of Dressing Viands, Fish, Poultry, and Vegetables, and the Best Modes of Making Puff-Pastes, Pies, Tarts, Puddings, Custards and Preserves, and All Kinds of Cakes, from the Imperial Plumb to Plain Cake <\/span><\/i>by Amelia Simmons in 1796 (Virginia Tech University). Other cookbooks began to hit the shelves in the next two to three decades, including <\/span>The Female Economist, or, A Plain System of Co<\/span><\/i>okery: For the Use of Families: Containing Nearly Eight Hundred Valuable Receipts<\/span><\/i> by<\/span>Mrs. Smith (Virginia Tech University) in 1810 (World Cat)<\/span>,<\/span> The Experienced American Housekeeper: or, Domestic Cookery, Formed on Principles of Economy for the Use of Private Families<\/span><\/i> by Eliza Rundell (Virginia Tech University) in 1823 (World Cat),\u00a0<\/span>Five Thousand Receipts in All the Us<\/span><\/i>eful and Domestic Arts, Constituting a Complete and Universal Practical Library, and Operative Cyclopaedia<\/span><\/i> by Colin Mackenzie (Virginia Tech University) in 1829 (World Cat). It is evident based on the titles of these cookbooks, and Child\u2019s own work, that most cookbooks published in the early nineteenth century were focused largely on economy and domesticity. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even with these other cookbooks published during that time, Child\u2019s work stood out because of its ease of use, emphasis on remedies in addition to recipes, and frugality. <\/span>The Frugal Housewife<\/span><\/i> was a popular manual and had over 35 editions (Simon and Schuster). The cookbook\u2019s popularity could be due to several reasons: not only was it the \u201cfirst American cookbook to focus on economy in the ki<\/span>tchen and home (Andrew<\/span>s Mcmeel Publishing),\u201d but it\u2019s emphasis on self-reliance and fru<\/span>gality made it truly stand out (Andrews Mcmeel Publishing). <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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This edition is the fourth edition, and the main reason for this edition\u2019s printing is stated on the third page of the b<\/span>ook: \u201cThe Author, having received a great many letters requesting the publication o<\/span>f \u201cHints to People of Moderate Fortune,\u201d has deemed it proper to annex them to this little work; as bot<\/span>h w<\/span>ere written from the same motive, viz: an honest and independent wish to be useful.\u201d There was such high demand for the additional ch<\/span>apter that Child acquiesced to the request by creating this fourth edition.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the same page as this prev<\/span>ious note from the author, there is also a note from a JNO. W. Davis, Clerk of District of Massachusetts, that states additional reasons for the printing of this book. It states that the book is in accordance with the act(s) stating an emphasis on learning and the importance of historical prints.<\/p>\n

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The book was originally printed in Boston, Massachusetts by publishers Carter, Hendee, and Babcock. There is not much known about these publishers, but from what I could find, they printed mainly children\u2019s books and educational texts. On the back cover of<\/span> this editi<\/span>on of <\/span>The Frugal Housewife<\/span><\/i>, there is a list of other books produced by these publishers, inc<\/span>luding <\/span>The Children\u2019s Week, The Young Emigrants, Scientific Tracts, <\/span><\/i>and<\/span> A Natural History of I<\/span><\/i>nsects. <\/span><\/i>Carter and Hendee published over 150 volumes at their Corner Store, and they hired Babcoc<\/span>k for only a year (the year this book was published \u2013 1830-1831) (Boston University). Despite the success of <\/span>The Frugal Housewife<\/span><\/i>, Carter and Hendee <\/span>were unable to stay in business and sold their publishing company the following year (1832) (Boston Uni<\/span>versi<\/span>ty).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Information on the printer of this book is vague but based on another book published by Carter and Hendee, a printer by the name of Brattleboro Power Press Office could have been used. If not, it is possible that Carter and Hendee printed the books themselves, but this is speculative (Washington University). The paper itself has held up well structurally, although it is consistently stained on all pages. Based on the history of paper-making and the condition of the paper, I assume that it is made of rag-based materials, not wood-based. Wood-based paper was not invented until the 1840\u2019s and was not widely used in America until over twenty years after that. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The origins of <\/span>The Frugal Housewife<\/span><\/i> are deeply rooted in frugality, activism, and questioning the norms of the nineteenth-century. Child\u2019s experience as both a successful writer and activist were crucial to the success of the cookbook. Knowing the impact activism had on the writing of the cookbook, and how its emphasis on frugality led to its fame, helps acknowledge the importance of the origins of <\/span>The Frugal Housewife<\/span><\/i> by Lydia Maria Child.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Works Cited:<\/p>\n

\u201cFive Thousand Receipts in All the Useful and Domestic Arts : Constituting a Complete and Universal Practical Library, and Operative Cyclopaedia | WorldCat.org.\u201d <\/span>Worldcat.org<\/span><\/i>, 2024, search.worldcat.org\/title\/Five-thousand-receipts-in-all-the-useful-and-domestic-arts-:-constituting-a-complete-and-universal-practical-library-and-operative-cyclopaedia\/oclc\/6478641. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

History of Papermaking around the World<\/span><\/i>, paper.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-04\/History of Papermaking Around the World.pdf. Accessed 17 Oct. 2024.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLooking Glass for the Mind: 350 Years of Books for Children.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Looking Glass for the Mind: 350 Years of Books for Children (an Online Exhibit)<\/span><\/i>,<\/span> content.lib.washington.edu\/exhibits\/looking-glass\/peter.html. Accessed 17 Oct. 2024.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLydia Maria Child.\u201d <\/span>NATIONAL ABOLITION HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM<\/span><\/i>, www.nationalabolitionhalloffameandmuseum.org\/lydia-maria-child.html. Accessed 17 Oct. 2024.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLydia Maria Child.\u201d <\/span>Poetry Foundation<\/span><\/i>, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org\/poets\/lydia-maria-child. Accessed 17 Oct. 2024.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Newsome, Florence Wilson. \u201cThe Publishing and Literary Activities of the Predecessors of Ticknor and Fields, 1829-1849.\u201d <\/span>Boston University Libraries OpenBU<\/span><\/i>, Boston University, 1 Jan. 1970, open.bu.edu\/handle\/2144\/7541.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cResearch Guides: Food & Drink History Resources @Virginia Tech (and Beyond): Early American Cooking\/Cookery (1796-1850).\u201d <\/span>Vt.edu<\/span><\/i>, 2021, guides.lib.vt.edu\/c.php?g=10336&p=5063149. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Experienced American Housekeeper, Or, Domestic Cookery, Formed on Principles of Economy for the Use of Private Families | WorldCat.org.\u201d <\/span>Worldcat.org<\/span><\/i>, 2024, search.worldcat.org\/title\/15368470. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Female Economist, Or, a Plain System of Cookery : For the Use of Families : Containing Nearly Eight Hundred Valuable Receipts | WorldCat.org.\u201d <\/span>Worldcat.org<\/span><\/i>, 2024, search.worldcat.org\/title\/77805720?oclcNum=77805720. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Frugal Housewife.\u201d <\/span>Andrews McMeel Publishing<\/span><\/i>, 12 Oct. 2024, publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com\/book\/the-frugal-housewife\/#:~:text=The%20charming%20collection%20of%20recipes,is%20relevant%20in%20modern%20times.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Frugal Housewife.\u201d <\/span>Book by Lydia Maria Child | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster<\/span><\/i>, www.simonandschuster.com\/books\/The-Frugal-Housewife\/Lydia-Maria-Child\/9781449431709. Accessed 17 Oct. 2024.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Frugal Housewife is a cookbook deeply rooted in history and activism, thanks to its author\u2019s vocations. In addition to being a successful writer, Lydia Maria Child was a dedicated activist and abolitionist. Her published work An Appeal in Favor of that Class of Americans Called Africans was a first-of-its-kind essay that significantly impacted the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5525,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-origins","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/historyofthebook2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/historyofthebook2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/historyofthebook2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/historyofthebook2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5525"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/historyofthebook2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=358"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/historyofthebook2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/historyofthebook2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/historyofthebook2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/historyofthebook2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}