Podcast Summary: "How to Run a Stuart Household"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Not Just the Tudors
• Host: Professor Susannah Lipscomb
• Episode: How to Run a Stuart Household
• Release Date: February 24, 2025

Introduction to Recipe Books in the 17th Century

In the episode titled "How to Run a Stuart Household," Professor Susannah Lipscomb delves into the multifaceted world of 17th-century recipe books, highlighting their significance beyond mere culinary scripts. These compilations served as comprehensive manuals encompassing everything from beautifying potions and medicinal remedies to household management and experimental herbal treatments.

"In the 16th and 17th centuries, recipe or receipt books were far more than manuals of food preparation... they were collections of knowledge."
— Professor Susannah Lipscomb [01:02]

Introducing Margaret Baker and Dr. Kimberly Connor’s Research

The episode spotlights Margaret Baker, a figure whose extensive recipe books from around 1675 are housed at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. Professor Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Kimberly Connor, a historical archaeologist and food historian, who has conducted in-depth research on Baker’s works as part of the Market Street Chinatown Project at Stanford University.

"I'm delighted to be joined today by Dr. Kimberly Connor, a historical archaeologist and food historian, to discuss her work on the life and recipe books of Margaret Baker."
— Professor Susannah Lipscomb [01:02]

Dr. Kimberly Connor’s Research Journey

Dr. Connor shares her path to researching Margaret Baker, which began during a transcribe-a-thon with the Early Modern Recipe online collective. Initially frustrated by the lack of information about Baker, Connor embarked on constructing a family tree based on recipe attributions, eventually uncovering Baker’s identity and familial connections.

"I was really annoyed at not knowing who she was. And I noticed... there were a lot of references to the people that she had collected recipes from."
— Dr. Kimberly Connor [03:56]

Margaret Baker’s Social and Educational Background

Through her research, Dr. Connor unveils Margaret Baker’s likely upbringing in an educated and literate environment, influenced by her father, Sir Richard Baker—a prominent government official and author of the influential Chronicle of the Kings of England. This background suggests that Baker had access to a wealth of knowledge and international connections, possibly facilitating the inclusion of diverse recipes in her books.

"Sir Richard Baker... held several positions in the government and he was High Sheriff of Oxfordshire. But he's particularly well known for his writings..."
— Dr. Kimberly Connor [06:13]

Comparing 17th-Century Recipe Books to Modern Cookbooks

The discussion contrasts early modern recipe books with contemporary cookbooks, emphasizing their broader scope. Unlike modern cookbooks, which typically focus solely on culinary instructions, 17th-century compilations included medical remedies, household tips, and cosmetic recipes, showcasing the multifaceted role of women in managing domestic affairs.

"Early modern recipes don't look like that. The ingredients are combined with the instructions... it's a compendium of all of the things that a woman might need to be able to make to run a household."
— Dr. Kimberly Connor [08:07]

Content Analysis: Culinary, Medical, and Cosmetic Recipes

Margaret Baker’s recipe books encompass a vast array of recipes, from preserving foods and confectionery to treating illnesses and enhancing beauty. Dr. Connor highlights specific examples, such as a salve for poisoned arrow wounds containing tobacco—a novel ingredient at the time—and cosmetic treatments aimed at maintaining personal appearance.

"We have a recipe for hippocras, which is a type of spiced mulled wine that uses very large amounts of sugar... products of colonization in the medicines, but not necessarily yet in the food."
— Dr. Kimberly Connor [20:54]

Social and Geopolitical Context Reflected in Recipes

The episode explores how Baker’s recipes mirror the broader social and geopolitical landscape of the 17th century, particularly the impact of increasing foreign trade and the Columbian Exchange. Ingredients like sugar became status symbols linked to colonization and economic stratification, while the absence of certain New World products like chocolate and vanilla indicates selective adoption influenced by social norms and practical applications.

"Sugar is very heavily used in these recipes... products that we think of as really central to the Colombian exchange are just not found in this cookbook."
— Dr. Kimberly Connor [20:54]

Annotations and Marginalia: Insights into Recipe Usage and Networks

Margaret Baker’s recipe books are notable for her extensive annotations and marginalia, providing insights into her personal preferences and the sources of her recipes. These notes often indicate whether a recipe was tried and tested, reflective of her experiences and social networks. This practice underscores the collaborative nature of recipe sharing and the importance of personal relationships in knowledge dissemination.

"She has written both the original text and... made little annotations. Sometimes she's crossed recipes out... the most common type of annotation that we have is a little cross."
— Dr. Kimberly Connor [25:08]

Literacy and Social Status: The Role and Value of Recipe Books

The episode addresses the intricate relationship between recipe books and literacy among women of the gentry in the 17th century. While literacy rates varied, these compilations were both practical tools for managing households and symbols of social status. Dr. Connor emphasizes that recipe books were valued for their role in community health and domestic efficiency, serving as essential resources in an era when formal medical care was often inaccessible.

"These books are part of a broader process that is hard to understand sometimes for us when we think of literacy as being either yes or no... they were preparing just in case."
— Dr. Kimberly Connor [32:45]

Conclusion: Reframing Recipe Books as Documents of Social History

Dr. Connor concludes by highlighting the importance of recipe books like Margaret Baker’s in understanding the social history of the 17th century. These texts offer a window into the daily lives, networks, and roles of women, particularly within the gentry. She expresses enthusiasm for future research opportunities to explore anonymous or contextually vague recipe books, aiming to uncover more about social dynamics and domestic practices of the period.

"I'm really excited about the opportunity for us to dig into those recipe books and see what we can find out about what's happening at the gentry and in other parts of society."
— Dr. Kimberly Connor [36:54]

Notable Quotes

1. "In the 16th and 17th centuries, recipe or receipt books were far more than manuals of food preparation... they were collections of knowledge."
   — Professor Susannah Lipscomb [01:02]

2. "I was really annoyed at not knowing who she was... I was able to track them down."
   — Dr. Kimberly Connor [03:56]

3. "Early modern recipes don't look like that. The ingredients are combined with the instructions... it's a compendium of all of the things that a woman might need to be able to make to run a household."
   — Dr. Kimberly Connor [08:07]

4. "Sugar is very heavily used in these recipes... products that we think of as really central to the Colombian exchange are just not found in this cookbook."
   — Dr. Kimberly Connor [20:54]

5. "She has written both the original text and... made little annotations. Sometimes she's crossed recipes out... the most common type of annotation that we have is a little cross."
   — Dr. Kimberly Connor [25:08]

6. "These books are part of a broader process that is hard to understand sometimes for us when we think of literacy as being either yes or no... they were preparing just in case."
   — Dr. Kimberly Connor [32:45]

7. "I'm really excited about the opportunity for us to dig into those recipe books and see what we can find out about what's happening at the gentry and in other parts of society."
   — Dr. Kimberly Connor [36:54]

Conclusion

"How to Run a Stuart Household" offers a comprehensive exploration of 17th-century recipe books through the lens of Margaret Baker’s extensive compilations. By intertwining culinary, medical, and domestic management practices, these books illuminate the complexities of household management and the pivotal role of women in early modern society. Dr. Kimberly Connor’s research underscores the value of such historical documents in unraveling the social fabric and daily lives of the past, positioning recipe books as indispensable tools for understanding broader historical narratives.