Originally published in 1886, this collection of recipes and
miscellaneous tips and tricks is a volume published almost entirely by
women for women. The book was launched to raise funds for the women's
suffrage movement and to communicate--in the shared, common language of
a cook book--that a woman's place at the polls was not a replacement for
her place at the home. Included in the long list of contributors are the
names of housewives, doctors, political writers, and prominent
suffragists like Lucy Stone, Julia Ward Howe, and Frances Willard.
Contained in this volume are not just the instructions for preparing
classics like "Rebel Soup," "Election Cake," or "Gravy as Mother Did
it," but also tips for plain living and high thinking. The final pages
include a section entitled, "Eminent Opinions on Woman Suffrage." The
collective effort in compiling, publishing, and distributing this
ground-breaking cook book bolstered practical skills for the women
involved, and affirmed their ability to juggle civic and domestic duties
almost as delicately as juggling eggs.