LANCASTER — The story of the American Revolution is often told through the battles fought by soldiers, but a program at Thayer Memorial Library will shine a light on the women whose work at home helped sustain the fight for independence.
Foodways historian Stacy Booth will present “In Support of the Army: How the Housewives of Massachusetts Supported the Formation of the Continental Army Through Foodways” at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 24, at Thayer Memorial Library, 717 Main St.
Booth will explore the vital role Massachusetts housewives played in feeding and supporting the Continental Army during the early years of the Revolutionary War. As local militia units evolved into a unified force under Gen. George Washington, families at home were preserving food, preparing meals and finding ways to keep soldiers supplied.
“The program will also examine how food and cooking became powerful tools of political protest, as women responded to British taxation and policies that fueled the growing movement toward independence,” Booth added.
A foodways historian with nearly 20 years of experience, Booth specializes in 17th- and 18th-century New England cooking traditions and historical demonstrations. She previously worked at Plimoth Patuxet Museums and Coggeshall Farm Museum, where she portrayed early American life through first- and third-person interpretation.
Booth currently serves on the board of Col. Bailey’s 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, a Revolutionary War reenactment group that has participated in national events for more than 50 years. Over the past decade, she has traveled from Canada to Maryland demonstrating hearth and campfire cooking, as well as baking in outdoor bread ovens at living history events.
She also operates Forgotten Recipes, a business that brings historical cooking programs and displays to libraries, museums and historic homes throughout New England. Booth is currently pursuing a master’s degree in gastronomy at Boston University.
The program offers a unique look at an often-overlooked chapter of Revolutionary War history, highlighting how everyday household work became an essential part of America’s fight for independence.
“The contributions of these women are often overlooked,” Booth said. “I hope people leave with a new appreciation for how important their work was to the Revolutionary War.”
For more information, or to register for this event, visit the library’s calendar at thayermemoriallibrary.org. For additional information on Stacy Booth, visit revolution250.org.
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