A Treatise on Domestic Economy

by Catharine Esther Beecher

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

Genres: History

284 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1977

About the author

Lyman Beecher fathered Catharine Esther Beecher, who promoted equal educational opportunities for women, as well as Edward Beecher, Henry Ward Beecher, and Harriet Elizabeth Beecher Stowe.

Catharine Esther Beecher, a known American, expressed her forthright opinions on females and her vehement support of the many benefits of the incorporation of kindergarten into children.

Beecher was the daughter of and outspoken religious leader and Roxanna Foote Beecher. Her sister served as the 19th century abolitionist and writer, and Charles Beecher, her brother, worked as clergyman.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

My sister gave me a copy of this book for Christmas a couple years ago. I get so much amusement out of reading it. It's no great work of literature, obviously, but it is a marvelous time capsule of what it meant to be a young woman in the 1850s, and that is truly fascinating.

[Alexandria Blaelock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very practical how to guide for a young and inexperienced woman thrust into to position of having to manage a home. Parts of it, including the basics of household budgeting, are surprisingly relevant today.

[Anu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Beecher’s book deals with the title quite literally; how the domestic economy works and instead, how it should. In the well-structured narrative, Beecher has described, giving minute details, how a domicile should be run. Her piece is not restricted to any particular part of a domicile, cooking or cleaning, for instance, but is a lengthy write-up of how the gardens should be kept, names (and scientific names) of the plants, including the right season for them, to be grown in a garden, their various uses in the household, how barn animals and barnyards, for that matter, should be attended to, how should one construct a house in order to have maximum utility from minimum space, how medicines should be administered, taking care of the sick, the right age at which education should be imparted to young boys and girls, and the kind of education specific to both. It contains a detailed account of dresses to be worn and the method in which they should be sewn, the age at which this should be learnt, how clothes should be washed, the manner of supervision of domestics by the mistress of the house, and being of any possible assistance in the household.

Readers would appreciate how well-thought-out and ably-structured the narrative is. Beecher has roped in her personal experiences while incorporating inputs of her friends, acquaintances, a few authors who have worked in one or two similar fields, even a doctor or two. The book contains a chapter on expenditure, titled ‘Economy of Expenditure’ that makes relevant points on how excess expenses can be avoided and the expenditure, thus, economized. The other chapters too are brimming with information, supported by drawings in places, enlightening a reader on the nitty-gritty of maintaining a household while also taking care of one’s and others’ health.

Though readers would find it inarguable that Beecher has indeed, through her detailed narrative, instructed in bettering domesticity, it cannot go unnoticed that this is a partial account, targeting women in particular. Championed as an educator and a staunch supporter of women’s education, it cannot be overlooked that Beecher insisted on educating women only in the aspects of household education. It is understood that during the mid-1800s when this piece was published, women were nearly bereft of formal education and Beecher wanted to propagate against the practice, but where she led, could seem to be an even darker territory. Vying for education that brings nothing of pecuniary value to a household, should not have been the kind of education sought for women. Despite her logic that women are great nation-builders as they support the 'gentlemen' from an exceptionally well-maintained household, it is undeniable that their role is meager and does not help in building a nation, as argued. Beecher has, in a way, stereotyped men and women into gender roles which, even presently, remains of dispute and a root cause of misogyny, practised in one form or the other.

Readers would also find Beecher’s informative and instructive ideas drawn from her personal experiences, or derived from a 'successful experiment by an acquaintance’, or came to be known ‘through a reputable doctor’, quite baseless, ill-founded, and diverting.

Beecher’s book intended to illumine the minds of women to understand how their place is in the household and not in the politics of a nation. The narrative is undoubtedly educational to an extent but would have served the purpose better had it not been provided for just women. That is what renders this book partly pointless, completely biased, and absolutely distasteful.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not so surprising that Beecher’s politics, and her articulation of women’s role in maintaining the household, has not aged perfectly with changing science or changing politics. Yet what we can see Beecher doing is locating a particular kind of authority and purview through which women can exert control over their households, and she argues by extension, the moral and economic health of the family. If women are always in the position of instructing women on household care, then each aspect of household care needs to be quantified and assessed for its efficacy and rigor in maintaining lofty Christian values. By giving us an account of household labor as systematic, Beecher argues for the centrality of women’s education and their place in the civic, social & political sphere of American life.

[Melissa Du · Rating 1 out of 5]

quite shocking account of the "proper place" for American women. even if representative of the common thoughts at the time, I found a lot of the claims (for example, that education is detrimental to the health of women) just so hard to digest.

[Bel · Rating 3 out of 5]

a book i read for my architecture class. very interesting. a square shaped house is the best shaped house. so true catherine