Hale campaigned for thanksgiving day to be recognized as a national holiday, writing numerous presidents. Hales goal was to teach americans how they should be in character, attitudes, actions, and. After dinner aunt hetty asked me if i didnt want to carry some thanksgiving dinner down to the widow tracy, whose husband was killed in the war. Gambino, megan 2011, what was on the menu at the first thanksgiving. Hale influenced a national audience through her magazine, godeys ladys book, where she printed thanksgiving recipes, stories, and editorials.
Born in new hampshire, she spent most of her professional life in boston and later philadelphia. During that time she presided over publication of a wide range of topics including short stories, fashion and recipes, and lobbied for the holiday of thanksgiving. Godeys ladys book, july december 1855, vol 51, a famous womens magazine in the 19th century, sarah hale, louis godey, focusing on fashion, home life, literature and a. As the longtime editor of godeys ladys book, she wrote hundreds of articles, poems and. She also published stories and recipes, and wrote scores of letters to governors, senators, and. Encyclopedia of greater philadelphia godeys ladys book. Godeys ladys book july december 1855, vol 51, a famous. What kids are learning about thanksgiving is changing time. Godey s lady s book was an american womens magazine published in the 19th century. Most of the dishes are in book, civil war recipes receipts from the pages of godey s lady s book edited by lily may spaulding and john. In the years that followed, godeys ladys book editor sarah josepha halewho might be thought of as the 19th centurys martha stewartbegan advocating for the establishment of an annual. They featured many of our current thanksgiving staples, including mashed potatoes, which were relatively uncommon at the time.
It is a festival which will never become obsolete, sarah hale, godey s lady s book. Incidentally, she is also the author of the childrens song mary had a little lamb. I told her i did, and she gave me a big basket full of nice things. She was an editor in the 19th century of the most widely circulated national publication, godey s lady s book. Sep 04, 2019 so very victorian in nature was sarah hale s magazine, godey s lady s book, that it was taken over in the 1890s by the puritan, but not before godey s changed thanksgiving and helped to establish it as a muchloved national holiday in 1863 under president abraham lincoln. Hale wrote letters to congress and published articles in godeys. Godey s lady s book was published from 1830 to 1898. It is a festival which will never become obsolete, for it cherishes the best affections of the. Godey, a publisher and former newspaper editor, established his magazine in 1830 in philadelphia, pennsylvania. It is a festival which will never become obsolete, sarah hale, godeys ladys book.
Our thanksgiving was invented by the victorian bible of. It was published in philadelphia, pennsylvania by louis antoine godey. Hale was the editor of godeys ladys book the most popular magazine, of any type, in the years leading up to the civil war, with a monthly circulation of 150,000 by 1860. Shall it be celebrated throughout our whole country on the same day. Nov 25, 2015 for 40 years, hale pushed for the establishment of a thanksgiving day, publishing editorials in boston ladies magazine and godeys ladys book. Sarah josepha hale, editor of the popular godeys ladys book, stumbled upon winslows passage and refused to let the historic day fade from the minds or tables. This thanksgiving menu is from the civil war years. It strikes a chord to which all hearts are responsive. Mayflower women anchor thanksgiving to plymouth womens enews. Nov 21, 2019 in the years that followed, godeys ladys book editor sarah josepha halewho might be thought of as the 19th centurys martha stewartbegan advocating for the establishment of an annual. Editor of ladies magazine and godeys ladys book, she began to agitate for such a day in 1827 by printing articles in the magazines.
Godeys ladys book sarah josepha hale in 1822, a 34 year old mother of four might reasonably expect that her lifes work had already been established. Jan 30, 2014 in philadelphia in 1830 louis antoine godey 18041878 commenced the publication of godeys ladys book which he designed specifically to attract the growing audience of newly educated american women. The circulation, largely due to its popular colored fashion plates, increased to 150,000 a month. Nov 22, 2017 in the mid1800s, a magazine editor, sarah hale of godey s lady s book, began lobbying national leaders to declare a nationwide thanksgiving holiday in honor of the pilgrim fathers. Our thanksgiving was invented by the victorian bible of the.
As editor of godeys ladys book, one of the most widely read. The american tradition of thanksgiving legends of america. Sarah hale set the table for americas thanksgiving. Most of the credit for the establishment of an annual thanksgiving holiday may be given to sarah josepha hale. In 1847, sarah hale, editor of the very influential magazine, godeys ladys book, wrote an editorial in the november issue, urging state governors to all issue a thanksgiving proclamation for. Plymouth in 1621 wasnt close to being the first celebration. Support for a national thanksgiving holiday grew from a campaign launched by sarah josepha hale 17881879, editor of the philadelphiapublished godeys ladys book. Thanksgiving was being celebrated for years,way before the. Godey s lady s book, alternatively known as godey s magazine and lady s book, was an american womens magazine that was published in philadelphia from 1830 to 1878. Then sarah hale took up the cause of a national day of thanksgiving.
But like many women novelists whose lives would follow a similar pattern in coming generations, sarah josepha hale had a quite different future in store. Jamestown had been settled before plymouth, and colonists in. Hale, a native of new hampshire who became the magazines editor in 1837, believed that a national day dedicated to giving thanks might unify the country at a time of. Turkey wasnt even associated with the thanksgiving holiday until an editor of a magazine called godeys ladys book came across edward winslows writings about the feast in the 1840s. Hale wrote letters to congress and published articles in godey s. Hale wrote in godeys ladys book, eventually sarahs idea caught the presidents eye and in 1863, president lincoln proclaimed the idea of november thanksgiving, to be precise, that last thursday in november would be a national day of. Modern thanksgiving holiday tradition is commonly, but not universally, traced to a poorly documented 1621 celebration at plymouth in presentday massachusetts.
Nov 20, 2019 theres a good chance that these works were seen by the editor of godeys ladys book, sarah josepha hale, who advocated for a national day of thanksgiving around the same time these. The project gutenberg ebook of godeys ladys book, by various this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Nov 25, 2019 hale was the editor of godeys ladys book the most popular magazine, of any type, in the years leading up to the civil war, with a monthly circulation of 150,000 by 1860. She decided that the settlers in 1621 plymouth should be portrayed as. Our thanksgiving was invented by the victorian bible of the parlor.
Sarah josepha hale, editor of a womens magazine, godeys ladys book. When this editor, sarah josepha hale, read winslows writings, she decided to bring this historic celebration back to life. For 40 years she edited the most popular womens magazine in the country, godeys ladys book. Hale s goal was to teach americans how they should be in character. In 1827, she began a campaign to reinstate the holiday after the model of the first presidents. William bradford wrote, at the beginning of his history of plymouth. Thanksgiving as a national holiday godeys arm chair, 1856 louis godey, editors table, sarah josepha hale, godys ladys book, september 1860, editorial for thanksgiving, library of congress. It was the most widely circulated magazine in the period before the civil war. As the longtime editor of godeys ladys book, she wrote hundreds of. Theres a good chance that these works were seen by the editor of godeys ladys book, sarah josepha hale, who advocated for a national. She was an editor in the 19th century of the most widely circulated national publication, godeys ladys book.
Presidents washington, adams and monroe proclaimed national thanksgivings, but the custom fell out of use by 1815, after which the celebration of the holiday was limited to individual. The project gutenberg ebook of godeys ladys book february. She promoted thanksgiving as the yearly centerpiece of a woman s domestic skill. During that time she presided over publication of a wide range of topics including short stories, fashion and recipes, and lobbied for. Godeys ladys book simple english wikipedia, the free. Godeys ladys book, american publication that, from 1830 to 1898, pioneered a format still employed by magazines devoted to womens issues. Shooting the thanksgiving turkey, godeys ladys book and magazine, november 1879. Its circulation rose from 70,000 in the 1840s to 150,000 in 1860. And every november it would feature recipes for the thanksgiving feast and holidaythemed short stories, often about an extended family about to sit down to dinner when they are surprised by a longlost son, home from the frontier or. Sarah hale, a magazine editor, campaigned tirelessly for a national thanksgiving day. Hale also frequently published thanksgiving recipes in her magazine, godeys ladys book. Mayflower women anchor thanksgiving to plymouth womens. Godey s lady s book, alternatively known as godey s magazine and lady s book, was an american women s magazine that was published in philadelphia from 1830 to 1878. In 1846, sarah josepha hale, the influential editor of godeys ladys book, began an.
In the 1850s, godeys, with a circulation of 150,000, had become the most popular magazine in the united states. A couple of decades later, sarah josepha hale, the editor of godeys ladys book, proposed a day of unity and remembrance to counter the trauma of the civil war, and in 1863 abraham lincoln. Plymouth governor william bradford declares a feast to give thanks to god for their first harvest. Editors table the following are all the excerpts related to thanksgiving from 1860, 1859, 1858, 1857, and october 1855. It was published in philadelphia, pennsylvania by louis antoine godey in 1836, godey bought the bostonbased american ladies magazine, and merged it.
She tried to define her countrys place in history, clarify its identity over against that of the world community, and. Men do not carry illness like they carry a knapsack. Aug 31, 2011 turkey wasnt even associated with the thanksgiving holiday until an editor of a magazine called godeys ladys book came across edward winslows writings about the feast in the 1840s. We hope our readers will be unanimous in favor of this measure. Editor of ladies magazine and godey s lady s book, she began to agitate for such a day in 1827 by printing articles in the magazines.
Sarah josepha hale, editor of the popular womens magazine godeys ladys book, campaigned for decades to have thanksgiving celebrated nationwide as a way to fortify family togetherness. Godey s lady s book was the chief financial success among the philadelphia magazines, and, after the port folio a political and literary journalmagazine, enlisted the services of the greatest number of the best writers. During the first six years of its existence, it included mainly articles clipped from british womens magazines. A handcolored fashion plate from godeys ladys book, 1853. So very victorian in nature was sarah hales magazine, godeys ladys book, that it was taken over in the 1890s by the puritan, but not before godeys changed thanksgiving and helped to establish it as a muchloved national holiday in 1863 under president abraham lincoln.
Nov 20, 2018 sarah josepha hale, editor of the popular womens magazine godeys ladys book, campaigned for decades to have thanksgiving celebrated nationwide as a way to fortify family togetherness. So very victorian in nature was sarah hales magazine, godeys. She promoted thanksgiving as the yearly centerpiece of a womans domestic skill. The following are all the excerpts related to thanksgiving from 1860, 1859, 1858, 1857, and.
God of the rolling years returning harvest, a tribute to thy boundless love we bring, without whose gracious gifts the spirit starveth, and hope falls lifeless from its loftiest wing. Along the way, hales editorials crusaded for many things, especially female education and an annual day of thanksgiving. Wills traced it back to a new hampshire widow, sarah hale, who was a writer trying to support her family. In the 1860s godeys considered itself the queen of monthlies. When an edition of plymouth governor william bradfords chronicle of the settlement, of. Hale influenced a national audience through her magazine, godey s lady s book, where she printed thanksgiving recipes, stories, and editorials. Plymouth in 1621 wasnt close to being the first thanksgiving celebration. Most of the dishes are in book, civil war recipes receipts from the pages of godeys.
Thanksgiving at plymouth, held by the pilgrims and. Massasoit and 90 other wampanoag are invited to join the 52 pilgrims for this threeday feast. Godeys ladys book welcome to one of the most popular. Sarah became literary editor of the magazine that would become known as godey. It wasnt until magazine editor sarah josepha hale campaigned for the national holiday in her writing, an effort bordering on obsession.
While the most widely recognized first thanksgiving was shared in 1621 by the pilgrims and wampanoag at plymouth colony, it would take another 242 years before the harvest celebration was an official holidayestablished october 3, 1863 in a. Hales monthly column each november, year after year focused on thanksgiving. Thanks to the woman who helped make a november thursday. Godeys ladys book, alternatively known as godeys magazine and ladys book, was an american womens magazine that was published in philadelphia from 1830 to 1878. Thanksgiving before 1863 was something of a moveable feast, with states honoring. Godey s lady s book sarah josepha hale in 1822, a 34 year old mother of four might reasonably expect that her life s work had already been established.
The noble annual feast day of our thanksgiving resembles, in some respects, the feast of pentecost, which was, in fact, the yearly season of thanksgiving with the jews. November, godeys ladys book, accessible archives updated 112017. No evidence suggests that the native americans were even invited to the feast held in plymouth. Leslie, eliza 1837, reprint 1853, miss leslies complete cookery, directions for cookery, in its various branches, applewood books, bedford, ma. Sarah josepha hale, in godeys ladys book, 1864 the widows thanksgiving, harpers magazine, december 5, 1874. Sarah josepha buell hale, can be called the godmother of thanksgiving. Sarah josepha hale, an editor of a magazine called godeys ladys book, would present the turkey as the big bird at the head of the table and published many recipes. The first thanksgiving was in virginia, not massachusetts. For 40 years, hale pushed for the establishment of a thanksgiving day, publishing editorials in boston ladies magazine and godeys ladys book. Godey s lady s book was a 19thcentury american monthly women s magazine. Many people felt that this family holiday should be a national celebration, especially sarah josepha hale, the influential editor of the popular womens magazine godeys ladys book. Her first editorial about a national day of thanksgiving appeared in godey s lady s book in 1837.
Authentic thanksgiving menu from godeys magazine foods. Godey s lady s book, july december 1855, vol 51, a famous women s magazine in the 19th century, sarah hale, louis godey, focusing on fashion, home life, literature and a variety of subjects. Godeys ladys book was a 19thcentury american monthly womens magazine. Godeys ladys book, american publication that, from 1830 to 1898, pioneered a format still employed by magazines devoted to womens issues louis a. The driving force behind making thanksgiving a national holiday. Godey s lady s book began in 1830 as the lady s book. Nov 21, 2011 sarah josepha hale, editor of the popular womens magazine godeys ladys book, a real trendsetter for running a household, was a leading voice in establishing thanksgiving as an annual. Thy rainbowpledge, in living colors painted on the cloudshadowed arch of summer skies.
She turned it into the centurys most successful periodical even after a new owner named it for himself, dubbing it godeys ladys book. It wasnt until 1846, when sarah hale, editor of godeys ladys book, began a letterwriting campaign to establish the last thursday in november as national thanksgiving day, that the idea gained further momentum. Thanksgiving as a national holiday godeys ladys book. How thanksgiving dinner has changed over the years insider. Nov 21, 2016 sarah josepha hale is often called the godmother of thanksgiving. Godeys magazine was published in philadelphia, pennsylvania. In the mid1800s, a magazine editor, sarah hale of godeys ladys book, began lobbying national leaders to declare a nationwide thanksgiving holiday in honor of the pilgrim fathers. Instructions for making ornaments in rice shellwork. Plymouth in 1621 wasnt close to being the first thanksgiving. Sarah josepha hale is often called the godmother of thanksgiving. From maine to mexico, from plymouth rock to sunset sea, hale wrote. In the 1860s godey s considered itself the queen of monthlies. Notes identical page numbers exist due to two separate sections in the book.