His preaching inspired the graham flour, graham bread, and graham cracker products. History of vegetarianism the ethics of diet sylvester. Very interesting and unique character to investigate on. Rather, graham and kellogg were concerned that rich, meaty diets were making people sexcrazed and destroying their moral fiber. Sylvester graham, 17941851 as an exponent of the physiological basis of the vegetarian theory of diet, in the most elaborate minuteness, sylvester graham the author of lectures on science of human life has always had great repute amongst food reformers. About the book healthy diet books recommend a healthy diet to supply essential macro and micronutrients. The most important thing about him that we need to focus on is his abolitionist movement. Produced on july 5, 1794, in west suffield, connecticut, sylvester graham was a presbyterian minister before being a top figure in the temperance movement, recommending lifestyle options that contained eating fresh fruits and vegetables and decreasing libido. In every cookbook i have examined, and in all the medicodietetical works i have consulted, i find saleratus or pearlash, and salt always in the recipe for making what those books call brown, dyspepsia, or graham bread.
A variation of the graham cracker, invented by sylvester graham as a staple for the diet, eventually became part of american cuisine. Author of lectures on the science of human life, the philosophy of sacred history considered in relation to human aliment and the wines of scripture, letter to the hon. Sylvester graham and health reform contributions in economics and economic history, 97803214158. Sylvester grahams lectures on the science of human life, condensed by t. Dedicated to the rising generation link to, by a student or follower of sylvester graham 1835. Sylvester graham and antebellum diet american reform. However, graham s contributions to diet reform and vegetarianism in america are undeniable. Jul 14, 2017 it may be easy to render sylvester graham as a comic characterthe jesusfreak vegetarian who invented graham crackers to stop masturbationbut there is a reason his concept of the diet has. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. His lifestyle template was extremely focused on diet and still holds some validity in promoting health. He is the founder of graham crackers, and brought a great health reform in america. For example, some of the cook books by his followers. Sylvester grahams imperial dietetics gastronomica university of.
Lectures on the science of human life link to by sylvester graham, first pub. Sylvester graham, 17941851 as an exponent of the physiological basis of the vegetarian theory of diet, in the most elaborate minuteness, sylvester graham the author of lectures on science of human life. The preferred grahamite lifestyle as practiced by graham and his followers included a diet with no meat or spices and plenty of unsifted, coarsely ground wheat, no white bread, nothing but cold. Sylvester graham a man with big influence caisct pbl blog. Lectures on the science of human life, sylvester graham. The book describes grahams preference for unadulterated flour that is free of chemical additives used even in. Sylvester graham is often referred to as the father of american. Graham lectured on the uses of proper diet as a preventive for disease and people came to hear him lecture by the hundreds. Such was the worldwide fame that the american sylvester graham had achieved in his promotion of wholewheat brown flour, to replace the refined white flour that had become common by the early 19 th century. Since graham is such closely related to suffield, is there any things we can do around the town except going online or analyzing the book you found. Sylvester grahams most popular book is discourses on a sober and temperate life wherein is d. Sylvester graham was born in west suffield, connecticut, on july 5, 1794, the 17th child of the reverend john graham, jr. Jan 15, 2014 one of americas first diet hawks, sylvester graham was certain that sexual desire was ruining society. Sylvester graham 17941851, american reformer, was a temperance minister and an advocate of healthful living.
Sylvester graham was heavily influential in the reformation through the 1800s. One of americas first diet hawks, sylvester graham was certain that. Graham was born on july 5, 1794, in west suffield, connecticut. He called his most important book lectures on the science of human life and felt. Each man was a prominent physician and minister, though sylvester was the more famous of the two for his grahamite philosophy.
As a christian reform physiologist, graham explored the relationship between sexuality and the mind, body, and health, rooting his beliefs in the christian tradition. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Graham, john, 17221796 and graham, sylvester, 17941851 inclusive dates. One early health reformer was sylvester graham, a presbyterian minister who preached temperance and advocated a vegetarian diet, sexual restraint, and water bathing treatments. Sylvester graham project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The reverend sylvester graham july 5, 1794 september 11, 1851, a 19thcentury presbyterian minister, was an american dietary reformer who was known for his emphasis on vegetarianism, the temperance movement and his emphasis on eating wholegrain bread. Sylvester graham, 17941851 text from the 1st edition, 1883. Sylvester graham is often referred to as the father of american vegetarianism, which some scholars argue is not entirely true, as graham himself was influenced by english minister dr. One of americas first diet hawks, sylvester graham was certain that sexual desire was ruining society. Contents, history of bread, laws of diet, material of bread, properties of bread, fermentation. Sylvester graham has 27 books on goodreads with 46 ratings. Christian minister and early healthfood guru sylvester graham is best remembered today for the flatbread he baked and sold, called graham crackers, although grahams. Graham lectured on the uses of proper diet as a preventive for disease and.
The inspiration for the graham cracker was a preacher. Around 1829, sylvester graham developed the graham diet. May 20, 2014 diet, at first, was regulated in the dormitory by a mr. Sylvester graham was born in west suffield, ct in 1794, a decade which would later be recognized as the start of the second great awakening. Books by sylvester graham author of a treatise on bread. He is best known as the inventor of graham crackers, made from wholewheat flour. Avoid all simulating and unnatural foods, living entirely on the products of the vegetable kingdom and pure water. Throughout the 1830s americans debated the teachings of graham, and he was both acclaimed and scorned. The classic guide to breadmaking freshly baked bread is an incredibly evocative aroma, feeding in to a shared understanding of this versatile food which has been an important staple in our diet since the dawn of agriculture. The reverend sylvester graham july 5, 1794 september 11, 1851 was an american presbyterian minister and dietary reformer known for his emphasis on vegetarianism, the temperance movement, and eating wholegrain bread.
Shyrocks 1931 paper sylvester graham and the popular health movement, 18301870 is a fine entry point into this history. Sylvester graham the original american vegan baker. Such was the worldwide fame that the american sylvester graham had achieved in his promotion of wholewheat brown flour, to replace the refined white flour that had become common by the early 19 th century most americans today are familiar with graham crackers. Sylvester graham graham, sylvester, 17941851 a wikipedia article about this author is available graham, sylvester, 17941851. Kellogg, and their followers are amongst the most prevalent. Graham was raised by relatives who gave little attention to his. With religious beliefs that linked meat and alcohol to sexual desire, the graham diet by sylvester graham in the 19th century was a highly criticized vegetarian diet. Graham developed a system of healthy living that eschewed strong drink and. Graham, sylvester nutrition, body, diet, health, water. While there are plenty of other materials to be found in this collection, the books written by sylvester graham, j. He also put forth the idea that moderation is beneficial, and that certain foods and behaviors are detrimental to both physical and spiritual health. Published at last, this book is an important contribution to understanding jacksonian americasocial historians and historians of medicine will find this book as. His father, the clergyman john graham, was seventytwo years of age at the time of his birth. Dietary reformer sylvester graham scihi blogscihi blog.
Sylvester graham, born july 5, 1794, west suffield, conn. Sylvester graham the vegetarian resource group vrg. Graham cracker history sylvester graham diet background. A treatise on bread and breadmaking by sylvester graham. Ellen white, an advocate of vegetarianism and hydrotherapy, was a founder of. Sylvester graham biography famous people biographies.
Graham actually wrote a whole book on cholera and how to prevent it. Eat your books has indexed recipes from leading cookbooks and magazines as well recipes from the best food websites and blogs. Sylvester graham and health reform as want to read. Eating in grahams work is a quotidian act through which fictions of racial and gendered embodiment are upheld. However, grahams contributions to diet reform and vegetarianism in america are undeniable. There are probably few people who, were the question put to them directly, would not say that they consider bread one of the most, if not the most, important article of. Collaterally connected with the ducal house of montrose, his father, a.
His preaching inspired the graham flour, graham bread, and graham cracker products 29 graham has been called the father of vegetarianism in the united states of america. Antebellum health reformers weber state university. His mother was declared insane and institutionalized three years after her husbands death, and sylvester was raised by a succession of neighbors and relatives. Light and stearns, 1837 multiple formats at help with reading books report a bad link suggest a new listing. Sylvester graham a man with big influence caisct pbl. It may be easy to render sylvester graham as a comic characterthe jesusfreak vegetarian who invented graham crackers to stop masturbationbut there is a. But no matter how farfetched, faddish ideas continue to appeal to dieters. Sylvester graham 17941851 library of congress he became a presbyterian minister in northampton, mass. Christian minister and early healthfood guru sylvester graham is best remembered today for the flatbread he baked and sold, called graham crackers, although graham s. Graham boarding houses, graham restaurants, and graham publications sprang up, all inspired by his views. His father, a 72yearold clergyman, died 2 years later. Lectures on the science of human life sylvester graham. The classic guide to breadmaking by sylvester graham.
Hot log 1 i think that a research on sylvester graham would help lead our investigation. Diet reform emerged from a distrust of 19th century medical practices, as well as the temperance movement led by protestants which gained popularity in the united states around the same time. Aug 20, 2002 the reverend sylvester graham, an eccentric presbyterian minister from connecticut, promoted a strict, abstemious diet that won him countless converts during americas health craze of the 1820s. Sylvester graham was born on july 5, 1794, in west suffield, conn. Sylvester graham, in his lectures on the science of human life, published in 1849 expounded on the following.
Daniel webster, on the compromises of the constitution, a lecture to young men, a lecture on epidemic diseases generally, and particularly the spasmodic cholera, lectures on the science of human life, grahams. Graham family papers 17311849 university of michigan. Fresh milk and eggs were frowned upon but not proscribed. Start by marking sex, diet, and debility in jacksonian america. His successful book treatise on bread and breadmaking appeared in 1837. Born in west suffield, connecticut on july 5, 1794, sylvester was seventeenth child of 72 year old reverend john graham jr. History of vegetarianism sylvester graham 17951851. Imagine having a single searchable index of all your recipes both digital and print. Molasses or brown sugar is also a fixture in the ordinary recipe books, and as a small. Activist, author 5jul1794 11sep1851 subject of books. Sylvester graham s most popular book is discourses on a sober and temperate life wherein is d. Sylvester graham, a presbyterian minister and reformer, is best known for his creation of the graham cracker.
According to graham, an unhealthy diet rich in sugar, meat, and fat stimulated desire. Graham was an american presbyterian minister who mainly preached nutrition and wanted to reform the eating habits of america and the world. Stewart who cofounded the school, but in 1836 when the stewarts departed, a joint studentfaculty started regulating the diet and there was worry that the regulation was not aligned closely enough with grahams theory. History of vegetarianism the ethics of diet sylvester graham. Graham created his own form of flour which is essentially the same as wholegrain flour, but ground more coarsely and unsifted, which became another staple of his diet. A treatise on bread and breadmaking sylvester graham. Historians still argue over why this religious movement. Become a member and you can create your own personal bookshelf. Dec 15, 2015 7 thoughts on sylvester graham a man with big influence hykshannon december 15, 2015 at 1. Books by sylvester graham author of a treatise on bread and.
He called for relying on homemade wheat bread and is thought to have produce the graham cracker. Sylvester graham and many of his allies were ordained ministers who posited. Within two years, his father was dead, and graham was raised by various relatives. As an exponent of the physiological basis of the vegetarian theory of diet, in the most elaborate minuteness, the author of lectures on science of human life has always had great repute amongst food reformers both in the united states and in this country. Grahams treatise on bread and breadmaking includes a history of bread, discussion of various grains and which make the best breads, preparation of flour and other ingredients, the process of fermentation, how to prepare and bake bread dough, and discussion of bread varieties. The graham family papers contain an assortment of letters, documents, and diaries relating to john graham, sr. In 1850 a british vegetarian, living in india, wrote to a journal in england mentioning that his diet included graham bread. American vegetarianism has a religious past smart news. Sylvester graham started preaching to americans about natural foods in 1830.