Abby Fisher, sometimes spelled as Abbie Fisher (1831 – 1915) was an American former slave from South Carolina who earned her living as a pickle manufacturer in San Francisco and published the second known cookbook by a Black woman in the United States, after Malinda Russell's Domestic Cook Book: Containing a Careful Selection of Useful Receipts for the Kitchen (1866). Abby Fisher's book, What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking, was published in 1881 by the Women's Cooperative Printing Office in San Francisco.[1]
Abby Clifton was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina to Andrew James, a white farmer, and Abbie Clifton, a slave, in June 1831. Although listed in the US Census as French, her father was more likely an American citizen of French Huguenot origin; in giving her Census account, Abby may have assumed he came from France after hearing him speak French at home.[2] Prior to the 1860 Census in South Carolina, Abby had moved to Mobile, Alabama. She married Alexander C. Fisher,[3] likely around 1859.
The 1880 Census in San Francisco notes that she was 48 years old at the time, corroborating an 1831 birthday (she had not yet celebrated her birthday in 1880). Her race was listed as "Mu.," short for mulatto, or mixed-race. Her occupation is written as "cook", while her husband, Alexander C. Fisher, is "Pickle and Preserve Manfr". They had four children living in the household, Benjamin (16), Eliza (12), Jennie (10), and Mary (3), though Abby Fisher's book notes in her "Pap for Infant Diet" recipe that she also had seven other children: "I have given birth to eleven children and raised them all, and nursed them with this diet."[4] She is buried in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, California.[5]
Career
After arriving in San Francisco after 1877 (her daughter Mary was born in Missouri in 1877), Abby Fisher competed in and won several prizes at local fairs, including two medals at the San Francisco Mechanics' Institute Fair in 1880 and a diploma at the Sacramento State Fair in 1879.[6] She made a big impression with high society in San Francisco and was asked to publish a book based on her experiences with Southern cooking. She noted in the "Preface and Apology" of her book that she entrusted the dictation of her cookbook to her friends, including several of San Francisco's elite. This was because she could neither read nor write, having received no schooling.[6] By 1882, she was listed independently from her husband as a pickle manufacturer. (Her husband, meanwhile, worked as a porter).[7] Fisher's business continued to operate through 1890, when it was still listed in Langley's San Francisco City Directory, May 1890, San Francisco, California. By that time, her operations had moved to Noe Valley (436 27th Street).[8]
Legacy
After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, references to Abby Fisher and her cookbook all but disappeared before a copy of the book resurfaced again at a Sotheby's auction in New York City in 1984.[3] The Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library at Harvard University purchased the book, and Applewood Books reprinted it the next year, in 1985. At the time, Mrs. Fisher was thought to have written "The First African-American Cookbook," but Malinda Russell's older cookbook was rediscovered in the years following publication.
Culinary historian Karen Hess provided historical notes for a second reprint in 1995.
^Fisher, Abby (1995). What Mrs. Fisher Knows about Old Southern Cooking: Soups, Pickles, Preserves, Etc. : in Facsimile with Historical Notes. Applewood Book. ISBN978-1-55709-403-2.
^Brower, Robert W. (2007). "Solving a Culinary History Mystery: Tracing Abby Fisher's Roots to South Carolina". Repast Magazine. XXIII (4): 5.
^ abWagner, Tricia. "Fisher, Abby (1832-?)". Black Past. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
^Fisher, Abby (1995). What Mrs. Fisher Knows about Old Southern Cooking: Soups, Pickles, Preserves, Etc.: in Facsimile with Historical Notes. Applewood Book. ISBN978-1-55709-403-2.
^"Abbie C. Fisher". Find a Grave. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
^ abFisher, Abby (1995). What Mrs. Fisher Knows about Old Southern Cooking: Soups, Pickles, Preserves, Etc. : in Facsimile with Historical Notes. Applewood Book. ISBN978-1-55709-403-2.
^"Langley's San Francisco directory for the year commencing 1882". archive.org. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
^"Langley's San Francisco City Directory, May 1890, San Francisco, California". SF Genealogy. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
abby, fisher, sometimes, spelled, abbie, fisher, 1831, 1915, american, former, slave, from, south, carolina, earned, living, pickle, manufacturer, francisco, published, second, known, cookbook, black, woman, united, states, after, malinda, russell, domestic, c. Abby Fisher sometimes spelled as Abbie Fisher 1831 1915 was an American former slave from South Carolina who earned her living as a pickle manufacturer in San Francisco and published the second known cookbook by a Black woman in the United States after Malinda Russell s Domestic Cook Book Containing a Careful Selection of Useful Receipts for the Kitchen 1866 Abby Fisher s book What Mrs Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking was published in 1881 by the Women s Cooperative Printing Office in San Francisco 1 Abby FisherBornAbby Clifton1831Orangeburg South Carolina U S Died9 Jan 1915 age 83NationalityAmericanOther namesAbby Clifton FisherAbbie Clifton FisherAbbie FisherOccupation s Cook authorKnown forWriting the second cookbook penned by an African American woman in the U S Notable workWhat Mrs Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking 1881 Contents 1 Personal life 2 Career 3 Legacy 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksPersonal life EditAbby Clifton was born in Orangeburg South Carolina to Andrew James a white farmer and Abbie Clifton a slave in June 1831 Although listed in the US Census as French her father was more likely an American citizen of French Huguenot origin in giving her Census account Abby may have assumed he came from France after hearing him speak French at home 2 Prior to the 1860 Census in South Carolina Abby had moved to Mobile Alabama She married Alexander C Fisher 3 likely around 1859 The 1880 Census in San Francisco notes that she was 48 years old at the time corroborating an 1831 birthday she had not yet celebrated her birthday in 1880 Her race was listed as Mu short for mulatto or mixed race Her occupation is written as cook while her husband Alexander C Fisher is Pickle and Preserve Manfr They had four children living in the household Benjamin 16 Eliza 12 Jennie 10 and Mary 3 though Abby Fisher s book notes in her Pap for Infant Diet recipe that she also had seven other children I have given birth to eleven children and raised them all and nursed them with this diet 4 She is buried in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma California 5 Career EditAfter arriving in San Francisco after 1877 her daughter Mary was born in Missouri in 1877 Abby Fisher competed in and won several prizes at local fairs including two medals at the San Francisco Mechanics Institute Fair in 1880 and a diploma at the Sacramento State Fair in 1879 6 She made a big impression with high society in San Francisco and was asked to publish a book based on her experiences with Southern cooking She noted in the Preface and Apology of her book that she entrusted the dictation of her cookbook to her friends including several of San Francisco s elite This was because she could neither read nor write having received no schooling 6 By 1882 she was listed independently from her husband as a pickle manufacturer Her husband meanwhile worked as a porter 7 Fisher s business continued to operate through 1890 when it was still listed in Langley s San Francisco City Directory May 1890 San Francisco California By that time her operations had moved to Noe Valley 436 27th Street 8 Legacy EditAfter the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire references to Abby Fisher and her cookbook all but disappeared before a copy of the book resurfaced again at a Sotheby s auction in New York City in 1984 3 The Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library at Harvard University purchased the book and Applewood Books reprinted it the next year in 1985 At the time Mrs Fisher was thought to have written The First African American Cookbook but Malinda Russell s older cookbook was rediscovered in the years following publication Culinary historian Karen Hess provided historical notes for a second reprint in 1995 See also EditCuisine of the Southern United States Soul foodReferences Edit Fisher Abby 1995 What Mrs Fisher Knows about Old Southern Cooking Soups Pickles Preserves Etc in Facsimile with Historical Notes Applewood Book ISBN 978 1 55709 403 2 Brower Robert W 2007 Solving a Culinary History Mystery Tracing Abby Fisher s Roots to South Carolina Repast Magazine XXIII 4 5 a b Wagner Tricia Fisher Abby 1832 Black Past Retrieved 24 October 2017 Fisher Abby 1995 What Mrs Fisher Knows about Old Southern Cooking Soups Pickles Preserves Etc in Facsimile with Historical Notes Applewood Book ISBN 978 1 55709 403 2 Abbie C Fisher Find a Grave Retrieved 7 December 2017 a b Fisher Abby 1995 What Mrs Fisher Knows about Old Southern Cooking Soups Pickles Preserves Etc in Facsimile with Historical Notes Applewood Book ISBN 978 1 55709 403 2 Langley s San Francisco directory for the year commencing 1882 archive org Retrieved 22 October 2017 Langley s San Francisco City Directory May 1890 San Francisco California SF Genealogy Retrieved 22 October 2017 External links EditWorks by Fisher Abby at Faded Page Canada Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abby Fisher amp oldid 1123638066, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
