Boardinghouse Women: How Southern Keepers, Cooks, Nurses, Widows, and Runaways Shaped Modern America

Elizabeth S. D. Engelhardt's Boardinghouse Women: How Southern Keepers, Cooks, Nurses, Widows, and Runaways Shaped Modern America explores the fascinating and complex history of southern boardinghouses and the women who owned, worked in, or stayed in them. Challenging the common perception that boardinghouses existed primarily in the Northeast or in urban centers, Engelhardt demonstrates that southern boardinghouses continued to flourish well into the twentieth century. These spaces not only provided opportunities for their owners and employees but also played a critical role in shaping broader American culture. In a society where women's roles were narrowly defined, boardinghouses allowed women to expand their opportunities, ranging from providing short-term financial relief to enabling them to become successful entrepreneurs, pursue new careers, or reinvent themselves personally. In doing so, these women directly confronted societal ideas about race, gender, and class, all while leaving a lasting impact on southern cuisine and hospitality.Eight thematically organized chapters highlight the personal stories of women whose lives were tied to southern boardinghouses. The women discussed in the book are as diverse as their reasons for being involved in boardinghouses, yet they all developed innovative plans and strategies to navigate and challenge the social and racial constraints of the South. Boardinghouses provided these women with the rare opportunity to become entrepreneurs without having to engage in traditional business practices, which were often inaccessible to them due to systemic barriers. Running a successful boardinghouse required careful planning and constant decision-making, to attract the “right” kind of boarders to maintain an acceptable social reputation. As Engelhardt shows, networking was also a pivotal skill for these women, as they often relied on others in the community to sustain and grow their businesses.The flexibility of boardinghouses allowed women to adapt these spaces to meet their individual needs. For some, boardinghouses offered temporary solutions during times of financial hardship or personal difficulty, such as widowhood. Simply renting out rooms in their private home could help women provide for their families. Others found opportunities to build successful businesses or used them as platforms to launch new careers. Boardinghouses also allowed women to join political debates. Engelhardt highlights the stories of women like Mary Ellen Pleasant and Mary Surratt to demonstrate some of the political activities that took place in boardinghouses. Pleasant used the income from her boardinghouse to fund abolitionist activities. Meanwhile, Surratt's boardinghouse became infamous as the site where the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln was plotted.By becoming successful businesswomen or engaging in political debates, boardinghouse women directly challenged traditional ideas about gender roles. At the same time, many women also used gendered ideals to their advantage, especially when it came to their roles as caregivers. Boardinghouse women often provided care for the sick or offered temporary homes for university students. Through these services, boardinghouse women took on important functions within their own communities. Similarly, boardinghouse women created safe spaces for marginalized groups, including African Americans, who faced significant danger and discrimination while traveling across the segregated South.One of the central themes Engelhardt explores is food and the broader cultural significance it holds. She reveals how women like Mary Randolph were instrumental in shaping southern culinary traditions. Boardinghouse cooks had to source local ingredients and prepare meals that were affordable, easy to make, and delicious for large groups of people. These meals also needed to be consistent, as boarders often expected the same comforting dishes on a regular basis. By publishing their recipes and cookbooks, boardinghouse women not only built their careers as culinary authors but also helped define the concept of southern food. Additionally, guidebooks for boardinghouse keepers played a significant role in shaping the ideals of southern hospitality.Engelhardt masterfully brings to life the personal stories of boardinghouse women, ranging from enslaved cooks to owners whose boardinghouses became politically significant spaces in Washington, DC. Her attention to detail and the rich historical context she provides underscore the extensive research that went into this project and help her to successfully convey her argument. Boardinghouse Women is a valuable resource for readers interested in women's history, the history of food, southern culture, or the history of boardinghouses themselves. Engelhardt's ability to combine these different aspects of history makes the book an insightful addition to upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses. Her innovative approach to examining the lives of southern boardinghouse women allows for a nuanced understanding of the ways in which these women shaped both their immediate communities and broader American culture.