Author Archives: Callie Andrew

America’s First Cookbook

By Callie Andrew

While browsing the Library of Congress’ digital database, I discovered a new genre of literature that began right at the endpoint of our course: cookbooks. Published in 1796, American cookery, or, The art of dressing viands, fish, poultry, and vegetables : and the best modes of making pastes, puffs, pies, tarts, puddings, custards, and preserves : and all kinds of cakes, from the imperial plumb to plain cake, adapted to this country, and all grades of life, is now known as America’s first cookbook. Written by Amelia Simmons, American Cookery introduced a new era of literature with its simple, yet informational, retelling of recipes and common cooking techniques. 

While looking through the pages of this cookbook, one of the first things that caught my eye was how similar the text looked to other novels we have read throughout this semester. Inspired by the trends of the nineteenth century, the writing on the pale yellow pages is organized in the same way as any other novel. I was surprised by how easily I was able to read the pages, as Simmons’ narration thoroughly detailed the reasoning for each ingredient in a way that added depth to the instruction. An example of this can be seen when Simmons writes that “Shad, contrary to the generally received opinion are not for much richer flavored, as they are harder when first taken out of the water…” 

Much like most literature at the time, American Cookery undoubtedly has British influence. English recipes such as roast lamb and Queen’s Cake were intertwined with the simplistic dishes of American culture. I found the mixing of culture to be fascinating, as it highlighted just how significant British culture was at this time.

The Unexpected History of the Cathedral Church of Saint Luke and Saint Paul

By: Callie Andrew

Hey everyone! For my visit to a historic site in Charleston, I chose to visit the Cathedral Church of Saint Luke and Saint Paul located at 126 Coming Street. I spent years of my college experience walking by this Cathedral, continuously wondering about the history it holds. This assignment provided a perfect opportunity to explore more of the site that had consumed my curiosity for so long.

Upon first glance, the Cathedral blends into many of the historic buildings that line the streets of downtown Charleston. Behind its grand pillared entrance, however, is a history that once defined this region. Currently a part of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, this Cathedral was built in 1810 and completed construction in 1815. This was a pivotal era in the history of Charleston, as it was primarily used to aid the Confederate army during the Civil War. This time in history significantly influenced not only the development of Charleston, but also eighteenth and nineteenth century  literature. The Cathedral Church of Saint Luke and Saint Paul identifies as “catholic Christians,” a religion that shaped the work of authors such as Franklin and Jefferson.

When I first began walking up the Cathedral stairs, a feature that immediately stood out to me was the large Corinthian pillars. While they are currently under construction, these pillars distinguish The Cathedral Church of Saint Luke and Saint Paul as a pivotal point in the development of Charleston society. 

The Gothic-Revival style of architecture is showcased within these four pillars, as they have been preserved to remain the exact same for over two hundred years. While visiting this historic site, I learned that architecture trends of this era typically meant  the outside of buildings remained bare, while the inside was decorated with great attention to detail. Even though the outside of the Cathedral was less adorned than the inside, I still found the architecture to be an impressive monument representing one of the most influential religions of Charleston’s history. 

During my visit to this Cathedral, I learned that Charleston is home to over 400 churches. This staggering statistic reminded me of how fortunate I am to live in an area with such deeply rooted history. Ultimately, visiting the Cathedral Church of Saint Luke and Saint Paul has granted me insight into the influence of Christianity during this time period.