The Suffrage Cook Book

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26323

Title

The Suffrage Cook Book

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Compiled by Mrs. L. O. Kleber in 1915, *The Suffrage Cook Book* is a culinary guide dedicated to the women's suffrage movement. It argues that proper nutrition and home cooking are essential for the physical and moral health of the nation. Featuring recipes from prominent suffragists and reformers, the book promotes wholesome, scientifically balanced meals over mere indulgence, positioning the kitchen as a vital social and political center.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1915 by the Equal Franchise Federation of Western Pennsylvania, *The Suffrage Cook Book* serves as both a practical culinary guide and a political manifesto for women's rights. Compiled by Mrs. L. O. Kleber, the volume argues that the health of the nation depends on women mastering the culinary arts to prevent sickness caused by improper feeding. The introduction, written by Mrs. Kleber, critiques professional chefs for catering to 'perverted tastes' and advocates for a return to simple, wholesome living. It posits that eating and drinking are sacred duties directly influencing spiritual lives and social conditions. The book is organized into standard categories including soups, meats, vegetables, breads, cakes, and invalids' drinks, with a specific section on 'Albuminized' beverages for the sick. Recipes range from traditional items like gingerbread and pound cake to health-focused options like barley water and oatmeal water. A significant portion of the text is dedicated to 'Hints,' offering practical tips such as how to keep pie crusts cold and prevent cake icing from cracking. The book concludes with recipes for preserves and pickles. Throughout the narrative, domestic labor is connected to civic duty, suggesting that well-fed citizens are better equipped for social and political engagement. The text includes contributions from notable figures such as Jane Addams, Jack London, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, whose portraits appear in the original edition. The tone is earnest, didactic, and reformist, aiming to educate homemakers to improve their families' lives and, by extension, the nation's future. As noted by contributor Erasmus Wilson, the cook book of the past was filled mainly with recipes for dainties rather than sane and wholesome dishes; this volume aims to supplace lurid literature with a guide to living right and well. The book asserts that the feeding of a people is of first importance, and that good health precedes all that is worth while in life, starting in the kitchen.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg26323.epub

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2026-07-03 10:21 UTC

Categories

• Politics
• Cooking