People Libraries
Click the images to learn more.
Abby Fisher
(1832 - ?)
Hailing from South Carolina and later moving to San Francisco to become an entreprenuer, this cook carried on the tradition of preservation through her delicious canned goods and pickles. Learn more about her here.
Cleora Butler
(1901-1985)
A cook born and raised in Oklahoma who spent over eighty years honing her culinary craft and serving her community through delicious food. Learn more about her here.
Georgia Gilmore
(1920-1990)
From raising six kids to feeding her Alabama community and fundraising for the Civil Rights Movement, this home cook made vital contributions to improving the lives of Black folks. Learn more about her HERE.
Leah Chase
(1923-2019)
Gaining international renown for her landmark restaurant in New Orleans as well as her no-nonsense approach to good creole food. Learn more about this culinary powerhouse HERE.
Lena Richard
(1892-1950)
Black women have been captivating audiences through food media for a long time, but who knew we were getting televised in the 1940s! Learn more about Lena HERE.
Mahalia Jackson
(1911-1972)
Mahalia already had a booming gospel music career, but wanted to do even more for her community. Learn about her HERE.
Rufus Estes
(1857 - 1939)
A former slave who went on to develop a culinary acumen that made him in high demand for White wealthy people during the Victorian Era. Learn about Rufus HERE.
Sylvia Woods
(1926-2012)
A humble, brilliant chef known for her namesake restaurant and food’s ability to draw celebrities from the world over. Learn about her HERE.
Vertamae Grosvenor-Smart
(1937-2016)
This Geechee Girl was a trailblazing griot for her many skills which included proudly putting Gullah Geechee people on the map through her writing and broadcasting talents. Learn more about her HERE.
Illustrations by the amazing Brittanie Mitchell for Seeds & Receipts.
Note the library lists people in order of their given names not their last names.