FEATURED SPEAKER FOR DECEMBER MEETING

LETICIA PIERCE BRYAN

Kentucky Homemaker

portrayed by Cynthia Resor

Lettice Pierce Bryan was a remarkable yet often overlooked figure in Kentucky’s culinary and cultural history. Her landmark cookbook, The Kentucky Housewife, published in 1841, holds the distinction of being the first known cookbook written and published in Kentucky. Spanning 456 pages, it offers a comprehensive guide to 19th-century homemaking, including recipes for food and drink, remedies for illness, and practical household advice—providing a rare and invaluable glimpse into domestic life before modern conveniences.

The Kentucky Housewife remains a testament to the resilience, resourcefulness, and influence of women in shaping American homes and communities. Lettice Pierce Bryan’s legacy endures through her writing, offering future generations a window into the everyday lives of 19th-century women and the foundational role they played in American history.

Dr. Cynthia Resor of Lancaster portrays Lettice Pierce Byran. Dr. Resor retired from Eastern Kentucky University after 20 years teaching history for teachers, teacher education courses, medieval history, and study abroad classes. Before her career at EKU, she was a high school social studies teacher. She is the author of three books about the history of daily life and ordinary people and loves to share her enthusiasm for history.

We’ll meet at historic Spindletop Hall, 3414 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511.

December meeting

$43 per person

Postmark 11/24/2025; No RSVP after 11/28/2025

You can mail a check to: Lexington Chapter Treasurer Sharon Martin, P.O. Box 1194, Lexington 40588