March not only signals the coming of Spring (my favorite season!), but it is also Women’s History Month (which has been observed in the United States since 1987). Every woman has a unique and special story, but for this post I would like to honor and celebrate Sarah Josepha Hale.
Born in New Hampshire in 1788, Mrs. Hale was a fascinating woman with a long list of achievements. She was a prolific writer, penning novels, poems (including “Mary had a Little Lamb”), essays, cookbooks and magazine articles. She served as the editor of the influential women’s magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book for 40 years (from 1837 to 1877). Launched in 1830 by Louis A. Godey of Philadelphia, Godey’s was aimed toward educating and entertaining an ever-expanding audience of American women. In this role, Hale became a well-known authority for middle-class women regarding fashion, cooking, literature, and morality.
She used her writing and editing skills and influence to lift other women up. In 1853, she wrote the book, Woman’s Record, or Sketches of All Distinguished Women, from the Creation to A.D. 1868. Organized into four sections that correspond with eras, each contains biographies of women who made a difference. Beginning with the Creation to the birth of Christ (the first era), then segueing to the period spanning the Birth of Christ to the Year 1500 (the second era), then the Year 1500 to 1850 (the third era) and ending with Living Female Writers (the fourth era). The varied entries range from Cleopatra and Joan of Arc to Anne Boleyn, Abigail Adams and Eliza Leslie to name a few.
Many of her books were cookbooks and books of etiquette to inform nineteenth century women what should grace their tables and how they should entertain, carry themselves and decorate and clean their houses. These include books such as The Ladies New Book of Cookery, Mrs. Hale’s Receipts for the Million and The Good Housekeeper, or The Way to Live Well. Outdated in 2026, but important for women at the time (and a wonderful historical exercise to view through our modern lens). She also wrote other children’s songs and literature such as My Little Song Book, Spring Flowers, or The Poetical Bouquet and The School Song Book, as well as books of poetry, short stories and sketches and served as an editor and illustrator for several publications.
But she is probably the most well-known for advocating to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. In 1863, after a seventeen year campaign, she was able to convince President Lincoln that a national Thanksgiving holiday might help heal the nation after the devastating Civil War. She highlighted the importance of celebrating this holiday through her editorial expertise, helping promulgate and merge a variety of practices into modern holiday traditions through the magazine’s suggestions and advice columns for holiday entertaining. So not only do we have her to thank for making Thanksgiving a national holiday, but also for helping to associate the holiday decorating and culinary touches that go along with it.
Thank you Sarah Josepha Hale for your many important literary contributions!
A full list of Mrs. Hale’s works can be found in Rutgers QuickSearch.