UW Students Plan Suffrage

University of Wyoming students in the first-year seminar “Food, Culture, Language” are bringing a piece of history back to life.

They will host a Wyoming suffrage tasting event and fundraiser at the UW Holiday Market in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts Friday, Dec. 13, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Students selected a recipe from “The Woman Suffrage Cook Book,” originally published in 1886. They will offer free samples of the recipe to taste.

Hazel Homer-Wambeam, from Laramie, is researching the use of cookbooks in furthering the suffrage movement.

“This cookbook had a larger goal than just cookery,” she says. “During the 1880s, it was sold at events in Boston to raise funds for the women’s suffrage movement. Its purpose was ‘to go forth a blessing for housekeepers, and to be an advocate for the elevation and enfranchisement of women’ at the same time.”

Since the cookbook does not list baking times or temperatures, students formed four baking groups with different recipe interpretations to find the best instructions for modern kitchens.

They also created a contemporary interpretation of the recipe and will be selling jarred ingredients of it.

“We’re making gingerbread cookie mix in a jar,” says Emma Magruder, of Fort Collins, Colo. “There are layers of spices, candied ginger and flour.”

The jars cost $10 and must be purchased by cash or check. All proceeds will benefit the Karma Fund, a program created by the UW International Student Association in 2011. The program helps international students pay for medical expenses in cases of medical emergencies.

Students in the class selected the Karma Fund with unanimous support.

“As soon as I heard about the Karma Fund, I found myself completely supporting the cause and wondering what I could do to help,” says Erik Gwaltney, from Green River. “I wanted to become involved immediately.”

Katie Banks, another student from Green River, agrees.

“The Karma Fund caught my attention as soon as I was aware of it, because it has an amazing motive and supports our community,” she says. “I’m super excited that our class decided to support it.”

Students in the first-year seminar have been studying different cultural practices, languages and identities that unite individuals from across the globe and history within the topic of food. They are paired with international conversation partners to gain diverse perspectives.

“In addition to the international focus, this event was partly inspired by women’s suffrage, since this year is the 150th year of women’s voting rights in Wyoming,” says instructor Mollie Hand.

The event is sponsored by UW’s Service, Leadership and Community Engagement office and the UW Office of Engagement and Outreach.

For more information about the event, visit www.uwyo.edu/fye/karma-kitchen or email Gwaltney at egwaltne@uwyo.edu.