About the Book
Housekeeping in Old Virginia was published in 1879, edited by Marion Cabell Tyree — a granddaughter of Patrick Henry — from contributions by 'two hundred and fifty of Virginia's noted housewives.' Each recipe is signed with its contributor's initials or name, making the book a roll call of the state's kitchens a decade after the war.
The book opens with tributes from distinguished American women — the First Lady, Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes, among them — and ranges from yeast, bread and the famous Virginia hams through gumbos, brandied fruits, ice creams, and a full chapter of household management. It is one of the foundational documents of Southern cooking.
This digital edition presents the complete keyed text of the 1879 edition, one recipe to a page, with the original contributors' credits preserved.