These were the first cookbooks published by black people. Domestic cookbook containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen. Russell explained in a short introduction to her recipe book that she was a freeborn african. As of january 2020, the library no longer has print copies available of the 2007 facsimile of malinda russell s a domestic cook book.
May 07, 2020 i have known since the beginning of the chi fellowship that my project would revolve around malinda russell, the author of a domestic cookbook 1866. I was determined to create a digital biography of russell during the early stages of the project. Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen is the first complete africanamerican. Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen, she could see its author and her world the small, seldom. Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen 1866 note. Malinda russells washington cake recipe this ones a. The original book is the only known copy of the first cookbook authored by an african american. In fact, most of what we know of her comes from the introduction to a domestic cook book containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen, which includes a short history of the author. Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen 1866.
Spend some time with these african american cookbooks from. Abby fishers corn egg bread kitchen explorers pbs food. The exact shape of the project, however, changed numerous times throughout the year. Toni tiptonmartin wants to celebrate the joy of african. She began to work as a cook, companion and laundress. In 2007, longone published a limitededition facsimile of russell s cookbook and held a symposium at the clements library, where she distributed the copies. Printed in 1866, malinda russells a domestic cookbook. I do want to celebrate malinda russell, because she had an incredible life, and was the first black woman to publish a cookbook in america. A meal to honor early africanamerican cookbook authors. Fifteen years later, abby fisher gave the world what mrs. Her domestic cookbook, published in 1866, was discovered about a decade ago in california and acquired by janice bluestein longone, now curator of american culinary history at the university of michigan special collections library mrs.
A domestic cook book containing a careful selection of. This work is an important piece of african american and california publishing history, and was considered the earliest blackauthored cookbook until the discovery of malinda russells domestic cook book q. Malinda was contemplating moving to liberia as part of the back to libera movement, but ended up opening a pastry shop in tennessee. Clements library, university of michigan, 2007 african american authors 39 pages.
Malinda russell was born about 1812 in tennessee a free woman of color. Title page of malinda russells a domestic cookbook. Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen malinda russell longone center for american culinary research, william l. Ive been seized by a mission to find malinda russell.
I was blessed to be part of the process, introducing malinda to her first audience. Malinda russell is the author of a domestic cook book 4. As of january 2020, the library no longer has print copies available of the 2007 facsimile of malinda russells a domestic cook book. Malinda russell was an african american woman born in 1820 in the state of tennessee. Malinda russell s a domestic cook book is now held by the university of michigan librarys special collections research center as part of the janice bluestein longone culinary archive. The untold history of african american cookbooks the new. To learn more about the origins of washington cakes, i went to mount vernon and did a little historical sleuthing in the works of other historians and in newspapers from the 1800s there is still more digging to be done on the. Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchenis the first known african american authored cookbook. The cover of the domestic cook book by malinda russell. These were the first cookbooks published by black people in. Aug 07, 20 ive been exploring the washington cake recipe in malinda russells 1866 a domestic cookbook, the firstknown cookbook by an african american.
Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen, by malinda russell published by the author printed by t. According to her brief biographical statement in her cookbook, her enslaved grandmother had been freed, and both malinda and her mother were born free. Aug 03, 2018 malinda russell was the author of a domestic cookbook 1866, which was the first cookbook known to be written by a black woman presumably in the us. Culinary historian jan langone rediscovered it in 2000. By her account, malinda wanted to immigrate to liberia where there was a colony of former african american slaves, but was robbed by one of her traveling. Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen is the first full africanamerican cookbook. Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen, she could see its author and her world the small. Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen is the first complete africanamerican cookbook. Malinda russell and abby fisher, two africanamerican. Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen, she could see its author and her world the small, seldomdiscussed society of free blacks in the 19th century coming to life before her eyes. In may of 1866, malinda russell selfpublished a cookbook in paw paw, michigan, the first known cookbook by an africanamerican.
Apr 15, 2019 domestic cookbook containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen. Malinda russell was the author of a domestic cookbook 1866, which was the first cookbook known to be written by a black woman presumably in the us. Malinda russell is credited with writing the first african american cookbook. Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen, 1866 everything we know about malinda russell is in this book the first cookbook ever written by an african american. I have known since the beginning of the chi fellowship that my project would revolve around malinda russell, the author of a domestic cookbook 1866. Oct 27, 2015 front cover of a domestic cook book, by malinda russell reproduction its worth noting that grandbaby cakes began as a blog. A domestic cook book, containing a careful selection of. A domestic cook book containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen 1866 leather bound malinda russell on. Containing useful receipts for the kitchen, was a fragile, 40page collection, printed in 1866 in paw paw, michigan, before the longone center for american culinary research at the university of michigan reproduced it. Published in 1866, malinda russells cookbook is the oldest known cookbook authored by an africanamerican.
Malinda russell and abby fisher, two africanamerica cooks. A facsimile of the first known cookbook by an african american. Culinary and domestic works by african american authors um. Thats to say nothing of barriers to publishing cookbooks by black authors and. A 19thcentury cookbook gives new twist to soul food the. University of michigan special collections curator juli mcloone gently flips through the 39 pages of the only original copy that remains today. Her domestic cookbook, published in 1866, was discovered about a decade ago in california and acquired by janice bluestein longone, now curator of american culinary history at the university of michigan special collections library. This cookbook stands out as the oldest cookbook written by an africanamerican woman. Her enslaved grandmother had been freed, and both malinda and her mother were born free. Culinary and domestic works by african american authors.
The online books page a domestic cook book, containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen, by malinda russell, an experienced cook, paw paw, michigan, 1866. Born into a free family in tennessee, malinda russells book challenges popular notions of southern black cooks and black cuisine. However, in 2001, an older collection of recipes by another africanamerican woman surfaced that predated mrs. Its an annotated bibliography of 150 black cookbooks, from malinda russells a domestic cook book 1866 to jessica b. A 19thcentury cookbook gives new twist to soul food. A domestic cook book containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen 1866 leather bound.
Nov 21, 2007 but as soon as she held malinda russells domestic cook book. The first cookbook known to be authored by an africanamerican woman is malinda russells a domestic cook book. Mar 10, 2010 malinda russells a domestic cook book. The extraordinary cookbook she put together is one of the first authored by an africanamerican woman, along with malinda russells 1866 treatise a domestic cook book. Nov 22, 2007 but as soon as she held malinda russell s domestic cook book. Front cover of a domestic cook book, by malinda russell reproduction its worth noting that grandbaby cakes began as a blog. A page of breads and cakes from malinda russells 1866 a domestic cookbook, the first full cookbook attributed to an african american. Oct 11, 2017 1866 malinda russell, domestic cook book this cookbook stands out as the oldest cookbook written by an africanamerican woman. Published in paw paw, michigan in 1866, a domestic cook book. Ive been exploring the washington cake recipe in malinda russells 1866 a domestic cookbook, the firstknown cookbook by an african american. The classic lemon tea cake from malinda russells 1866 book, a domestic cook book, was the inspiration for this recipe. Jul 22, 20 ive been seized by a mission to find malinda russell. Malinda russell was born in 1812 in tennessee, a free woman of color. Mar 27, 2018 i do want to celebrate malinda russell, because she had an ncredible life, and was the first black woman to publish a cookbook in america.
At 19, she set out to go to liberia, but was robbed, and left stranded in lynchburg, va. Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen. The book is historically significant, as it shows that black southern cooking was not solely the domain of poverty cooking, but provides evidence of a sophisticated cosmopolitan skill with complex dishes. Because her grandmother was freed by her owner, her subsequent children and grandchildren were also freed. But as soon as she held malinda russells domestic cook book. Many of the recipes originate in the southern plantation kitchen.
A domestic cook book, containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen, by malinda russell, an experienced cook, paw paw, michigan, 1866. Her postcivil war cookbook1866, a domestic cook book, leaves quite a bit to the imagination. To learn more about the origins of washington cakes, i went to mount vernon and did a little historical sleuthing in the works of other historians and in newspapers from the 1800s. In 1866, malinda russell wrote a domestic cook book. Taylors up south cookbook comes after years hosting the. Mar 17, 2020 the classic lemon tea cake from malinda russells 1866 book, a domestic cook book, was the inspiration for this recipe.
The janice bluestein longone culinary archive collection of african american cookbooks has the distinction and honor of possessing the only known copy of this central work. In this post, id like to reflect on what i learned about the challenges and possibilities of teaching history in schools through. Celebrating abby fisher, one of the first africanamerican. Mar 20, 2015 in may of 1866, malinda russell selfpublished a cookbook in paw paw, michigan, the first known cookbook by an africanamerican. A domestic cook book containing a careful selection of useful. Feb 19, 2020 printed in 1866, russells a domestic cookbook. The first cookbook known to be authored by an africanamerican woman is malinda russell s a domestic cook book. She began to work as a cook, companion and laundress in virginia. Jun 16, 2017 malinda russell was an african american woman born in 1820 in the state of tennessee. Containing a careful selection of useful receipts for the kitchen, by malinda russell published by the author printed by. Malinda russells washington cake cooking is my sport. However, her postcivil war cookbook 1866, a domestic cook book, leaves quite a bit to the imagination. Last february, i visited the washington middle school for girls, a catholic school serving girls from underprivileged backgrounds in washington, d. It actually belongs to malinda russell, who published the domestic cookbook in 1866.