I Begin My Conversations with Susan B. Anthony

June 4, 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment’s passage through Congress.  On this anniversary of the passage of this woman’s suffrage amendment, the nation still needs one more state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in order to add it to the Constitution. The ERA, which simply says, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex,” passed Congress in 1972 during Nixon’s first term. Forty-seven years later, we’re still one ratification vote short of the necessary minimum 38 states.

 Arizona may be considering it in 2019. If it does pass, then Congress will need to vote to extend the deadline for ratification, again.  There may be court challenges, as some of the state legislatures that ratified years ago have rescinded their approval. I sighed to myself as I considered the path of the legislation guaranteeing woman's rights. This has been a very long time coming.

A firm voice popped up in my consciousness.

 You don’t know the half of it.

And the image of Susan B. Anthony captured my attention as though she were in my kitchen.

Shall I tell you of our fight?

I was gobsmacked. What a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the movement and the woman who was its sustaining force from the beginning. I was ready to listen.

And shall we make my favorite cake while we chat. It is the old-fashioned sponge cake from my younger years, made of eggs, the whites lashed to a stiff froth, the yolks beaten thoroughly with pulverized sugar, a pinch of salt, a slight flavor of almond, and flour. Of course, it matters not how good the recipe or the ingredients may be; the cake will not be good unless there is a lot of common sense mixed in.  And common sense is what we brought to our efforts to gain rights for women and the vote, which is the right that guarantees all the others.

Yes, but why are we meeting in my kitchen?

I love being in the kitchen. I used to be considered the best cook in our family of four girls and two boys! I remember now how my younger brother stood by my cooking. He worked in a little place a number of miles from where we lived. Whenever he came home he would insist that “Susan should do the cooking.” I have always held that the girl who had enough brains to understand philosophy or Latin can very easily master the art of cookery. I am decidedly in favor of both these kinds of education. So the kitchen seems the natural place to talk.

And so her stories began. . .

First I need to tell you of my youth. I was born in the small Berkshire Hills community of Adams, Massachusetts.  My father was an innovator and industrialist. He built the first cotton mill in our section of Massachusetts. He was recognized for his success and so we moved to Battenville, New York, where he continued to build mills, find markets for his products, and foster the community. Mother, my sisters, and I cooked for the mill hands and I even worked in the cotton mill for a short time. We were the richest family in town until father lost everything in the miserable years following the nationwide Panic of 1837.

1820-1826 SUSAN’S JOYFUL CHILDHOOD IN ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS

POSTED   RECIPE: New England Boiled Dinner

1826-1837 AMONG THE RICHEST FAMILIES IN BATTENVILLE, NEW YORK

POSTED     RECIPE: Training Day Gingerbread

1845 SUSAN’S EDUCATION ENDS AND TEACHING CAREER BEGINS 
 AMIDST THE FAMILY’S HARDSCRABBLE TIMES

POSTED  RECIPE: Cream Biscuit

My woman’s rights associate Elizabeth Cady Stanton began activism before I did. She and Lucretia Mott had organized the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. My parents and sister Mary attended the second meeting the women held in Rochester, New York, two weeks later.

At that time, I was teaching and beginning my public service with temperance issues and speaking for equal pay for women at New York teachers’ conventions.  So, as I’ve said, first I barked up the temperance tree and I then barked up the teachers’ tree before I realized there could be no progress on any social improvement until women had a full voice in the discussion. Having the right to vote was essential to having that voice.

Mrs. Stanton and I met in May, 1851, and became dedicated in our efforts for woman’s rights. We worked throughout the next fifty years until she died in 1902.  We wrote, spoke, and traveled across the country from Atlantic to Pacific as we worked to extend economic, social, and political rights to women.

1848-1853 Susan Appeals for Temperance and Agitates for Equal Pay

  POSTED  RECIPE: Pyramid Cake 

1851 MEETING MRS. STANTON ON THE STREET CORNER

 RECIPE: Society Dinner

1850-1870 HOW SUSAN AND MRS. STANTON RAISED HER CHILDREN 
AND A RUCKUS FOR WOMAN’S RIGHTS
POSTED RECIPE: Rice Pudding

In Quaker households, such as the one in which I was raised, girls are educated the same as boys, and women shared fully in household responsibilities. In the groups of activists our opinions were welcomed. At Lucretia Mott’s home the conversation even continued while she washed the fine crystal from a bucket set on the dinner table. I had the privilege of drying the glasses.

Men and women met together and discussed our ideas on woman’s rights. We were even encouraged to take action, as I did on my winter petition journey that I began on the day after Christmas 1854. Over the next 5 months I traveled to almost all of the counties in New York, advocating for woman’s property rights. Around the country, woman’s rights were severely limited, especially those of a married woman. A husband had control of any money his wife earned or inherited, divorce was rare, and if it occurred the father had rights to the children. I remember my first profound experience of the inequities of woman’s lives as I saw how a tavern keeper mistreated his hard-working wife.

1854  UNDERSTANDING WOMAN’S STRUGGLES FROM A TAVERN SUPPER:

 LATER SUSAN PETITIONS ACROSS NEW YORK DURING BLIZZARDS

1854 SPENDING TIME WITH LUCRETIA MOTT AND HEALTHY EATING 
 POSTED Recipe Dyspepsia Bread

Mrs. Stanton and I began building our organization, first with the Woman’s State Temperance Society in 1852 and then in 1854 woman’s rights. We had annual right’s meetings, often in conjunction with the national anti-slavery convention. While she returned to her growing family, those of us who were more able to travel took the message to other meeting places, even resorts.

1848-1906 MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH PETITIONS,

BUILDING AN ORGANIZATION, AND CONVENTION ADDRESSES

SUSAN’S KEYS TO SPEAKING SUCCESS

Posting May 2020 RECIPE: Baked Apple Folly

1859 SPREADING THE WORD TO SOUTHERNERS AT A NEW YORK RESORT 
 RECIPE:Tea Cakes

As the nation became torn over the expansion of slavery to new states, we woman’s rights activists increased our speaking on the anti-slavery issue. At the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, I returned to manage our family farm outside Rochester, New York. As the war intensified, our organization’s activities shifted and returned to the larger issue of the day, anti-slavery. I was called to New York City to manage the nationwide petition operation to influence Congress to pass the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, eliminating slavery.

1861 THE DANGERS OF SPEAKING BEFORE THE WAR

1850-1862 FINDING SOLACE AT THE FARM

1862-1865 SUSAN DIRECTS A NATIONWIDE ANTI-SLAVERY

PETITION DRIVE THAT IMPACTS CONGRESS
RECIPE: Tea Rusks

War’s end brought intensive movement in constitutional amendments. In addition to the Thirteenth Amendment (1865), the Fourteenth Amendment (1868) affirmed the rights of newly freed slaves, stating that everyone born in the United States was an American citizen, and all male citizens over twenty-one should be able to vote. The Fifteenth Amendment (1870) assured that the right to vote “shall not be denied on account of race.” With each effort we hoped that woman’s right to vote would be included. When the Fourteenth Amendment was under debate, Mrs. Stanton remarked that if Congress put “male” into it, that would “take at least a century to get it out.” It took only fifty years.

1865-1906 FIGHTING FOR A SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT  

SUSAN’S HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND CARING FOR THE HEALTH OF OTHERS
RECIPE: Homeopathic foods, Spinach Soup

Mrs. Stanton and I began traveling, seeking voting-rights progress state by state. We both were in Kansas in 1867 and traveled the West in 1871, including a jaunt through Yosemite by mule. I spoke throughout California, Washington, and Oregon. My most popular address was ironically titled “A Woman Wants Bread not the Ballot.” One year I traveled 13,000 miles and gave170 lectures. I suppose I have given 75 to 100 lectures or speeches a year for 45 years to audiences wherever they could be gathered. I’ve spoken in churches and city halls, large auditoriums, even to an audience at a school for the deaf where the director expressed my speech in sign language.

1867 TRAVELING KANSAS: FRONTIER CAMPAIGNING FOR SUFFRAGE

FOR BLACKS AND FOR WOMEN 

1871 SPIRITUAL REFRESHMENT: SUSAN AND MRS. STANTON ENJOY YOSEMITE 

1872 UNDAUNTED: SUSAN TRAVELS IN CALIFORNIA

AND SITS OUT A BLIZZARD ON THE TRAIN
RECIPE: Spice Cake

The number of woman’s rights activists increased. We were relentless, using every avenue at hand.  I began a newspaper, The Revolution, and it nearly bankrupted me. But owning a means of communication was important. For a dozen years I set up headquarters in Washington, DC. The owners of the Riggs Hotel supported our cause and let me stay in this convenient place to influence members of Congress for three months a year. We made some advances. Then on the 100^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence we took over the celebration in Philadelphia and presented our own Declaration of Women’s Independence.

1868-1872 THE REVOLUTION: SUSAN PUBLISHES A NEWSPAPER

TO INFLUENCE OPINON AND POLICY. SHE ENDS UP IN DEBT.

1870-1890 LOBBYING CONGRESS FOR EMANCIPATION PROGRESS:

SUSAN’S ANNUAL CRUSADE

OUR 1876 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
 RECIPE: Deviled Chicken, American Chicken Salad, Pickled Eggs

We began to achieve some of our goals.  I cast my ballot in the 1872 election for President Grant and was hauled into court for my efforts.  States entered the union with woman’s suffrage in their constitutions, allowing women to vote. But not all women were in favor of universal voting rights. Some of the most influential disagreed with our goals.

1872 SUSAN CASTS A BALLOT FOR PRESIDENT GRANT AND IS ARRESTED

POSTED RECIPE: Sweet Potato Rolls and Cookies

MRS. BEECHER AGAINST THE MOVEMENT

RECIPE: Pickle Relish from Mrs. Beecher’s homemaker’s guidebook.

“WOMAN WANTS BREAD NOT THE BALLOT”: SUSAN’S MOST POPULAR SPEECH

Education for women was essential for continuing progress. Some of our earliest and most powerfully spoken advocates were the first women graduates of various colleges. They were among the first women physicians and ministers. We used every tool to spread the word for woman’s rights. We charged modest speaking fees, we sold copies of our speeches and tracts. A few times good friends of our movement supported us with generous donations. Some came just at the time. Mrs. Stanton, and I, along with the help of Matilda Joslyn Gage, wrote and then paid for the publication of the History of Woman’s Suffrage. We donated copies to libraries across the nation.

WRITING THE HISTORY OF WOMAN’S SUFFRAGE

MAKING PROGRESS IN WOMEN’S EDUCATION 

FROM A PURSE OF HER OWN:

HOW SUSAN PAID FOR THE WORK AND PROGRESS

In 1882, Mrs. Stanton moved to London to live with her daughter for a time. I visited there and toured Europe. Later my sister Mary and I traveled to Germany. I was astounded at both the conditions I saw and the welcome accorded me as a representative of woman’s suffrage.

SUSAN’S LONDON TRAVELS in 1883 

CELEBRATORY TRIP TO GERMANY in 1904 

SUSAN TAKES THE 1893 CHICAGO COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION BY STORM

In 1895 my sister Mary and I remodeled the home at 17 Madison Street in Rochester, New York.  Since 1866 we had shared the two-story house with our mother and others over the years, including sister Guelma’s family.  We raised the roof, creating a larger office and workspace in the attic. It was time for a thorough remodeling downstairs as well. Our friends helped us furnish it.  Now fully settled, I continued my work. I still traveled, but not as much. Carrie Chapman Catt would take over the organization and worked with so many others to continue to make progress for woman’s rights.  

1895 SUSAN AT HOME

RECIPE: Peach pudding

SUSAN'S BIRTHDAYS CELEBRATE PROGRESS

POSTING 

1900 IMAGINING EMANCIPATION—ON A BICYCLE

POSTED   RECIPE: Rhubarb Jam

1900 PASSING THE TORCH

POSTED   RECIPE: Meatloaf and Devil’s Food Cake

IN MEMORIAM 
POSTED 

Susan B. Anthony filled her desk with photos of fellow suffrage and rights activists.
Shown here are in the top row are Sarah Moore Grimke, Lucretia Coffin Mott.
In the bottom row are Alice Paul, Carrie Chapman Catt, 
and Elizabeth Cady Stanton shown sitting next to Susan B. Anthony.

RECIPE for this essay

For Susan B. Anthony the method of making and serving this cake was more important than providing a specific recipe. She couldn’t find the one she wanted to send to the students who wrote her in 1892 asking for her favorite cake.  As I quoted at the beginning of this essay, Susan said to them to use any recipe: "made of eggs, the whites lashed to a stiff froth, the yolks beaten thoroughly with pulverized sugar, a pinch of salt, a slight flavor of almond, and flour. Of course, it matters not how good the recipe or the ingredients may be; the cake will not be good unless there is a lot of common sense mixed in." This recipe is adapted from Catherine Beecher's  Miss Beecher's Domestic Receipt Book published in 1862.

Susan B. Anthony’s Favorite Kind of Cake--The "Old Fashioned Sponge"

3 large eggs, at room temperature and separated

3/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup sifted flour

1 teaspoon almond extract, or vanilla, or lemon

This is a simple cake to make. However, the method for this recipe is almost more important than the ingredients.  So don’t panic at the length of the directions.

The cake is best made by hand. No need to get out the electric mixer.

I usually don’t sift flour for baking. But it is essential for this recipe’s success. 

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.  Lightly butter the bottom of a round 8-inch cake pan. Cut a piece of regular white paper to fit in the bottom, and then butter that as well.

Sift about a cup of flour and set aside--you will only need part of it.

Put the 3/4 cup sugar in a gallon zipper bag and go back and forth several times with a rolling pin to make smaller sugar crystals.

Put the egg whites in a small-ish bowl with a narrow bottom and enough room for the egg white volume to increase five times.

Put the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Gradually add the sugar, stirring with a flexible spatula. Set aside so the sugar will begin to dissolve. Add the flavoring and stir to blend.

Whip the egg whites with a balloon whisk or mechanical egg beater until they forms stiff peaks, but are not dry, and set aside.

Measure out the 2/3 cup of flour needed for the recipe from the sifted cup and return the rest to your flour supply.

Stir the egg yolk mixture for a couple of minutes until it thickens and turns a lighter yellow. Begin gently mixing the flour and egg whites into the batter in four or five additions, beginning with flour and ending with egg whites.  If the egg whites separate during the process, just give them a few more stirs to beat them up again.

Gently scoop the batter into prepared pan. Bake until firm and the cake has pulled away from the side of the pan, 20 – 25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Then run a knife around the edge, flip the cake over to drop it from the pan, pull the paper from the bottom, and place the cake upright on rack to finish cooling.

Cake is best served the next day and will keep nicely for 3 or 4 days well wrapped in the refrigerator,

Finally – Susan’s serving instructions are critical – “Do not cut the cake with a knife. Break it into pieces.” I use two forks to pull it apart into lovely sections. 

About Sources for this Blog

I've learned about Susan B. Anthony's thoughts and quoted her words from these primary sources:

The Selected Papers of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, Six Volumes and microfilm.
Ann D. Gordon, editor, new Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press 1997-2013. Contains letters, diary entries, official papers, and newspaper interviews.

Biography of Susan B. Anthony, Two Volumes. Ida Husted Harper
Harper was a close Anthony associate. The two women worked d=side-by-side in Anthony's attic library on both Susan's biography and continuing the History of Woman's Suffrage. The biography was originally published by The Bowen-Merrill Company, Indianapolis, 1899. Available in reprint.

History of Woman's Suffrage, Volumes One and Two.  Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Matilda Joslyn Gage. Originally published by Fowler & Wells, New York 1881 and 1882. There are six volumes in the series, the last completed in 1922. Available in reprint.

In this Overview Essay, many of Susan's statements are, indeed, in her own words. However, for some of her statements, I've emulated her voice and summarized the historic events. In the full-length essays that follow, Anthony's words come from her diary, letters, speeches, documents, and newspaper interviews.