Kate Sanborn

Kate Sanborn (July 11, 1839 - July 9, 1917) was an American author, teacher and lecturer. Also a reviewer, compiler, essayist, and farmer, Sanborn was famous for her cooking and housekeeping.

Early years and education

Katherine Abbott Sanborn was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, July 11, 1839. Her father was the educator Edwin David Sanborn, who occupied the chair of Latin and English literature, at Dartmouth College, for nearly fifty years, In 1859, he accepted the Latin professorship and presidency of Washington University in St. Louis, returning four years later to the chair of oratory and literature at Dartmouth, which he held until he retired from active work. Her mother was Mary Ann (Webster) Sanborn, daughter of Ezekiel Webster, of Boscawen, New Hampshire. Sanborn was a descendant of Captain Ebenezer Webster, the Revolutionary hero, and grand-niece of Daniel Webster.

Sanborn was educated primarily at home by her father, although tutors were employed for mathematics instruction. She began studying Latin at the age of eight and continued until leaving home to support herself. According to contemporary accounts, her Latin studies extended beyond a typical college curriculum and involved years of translation, scanning, vocabulary study, and work on phrasing. She was also required to memorize portions of prose or poetry daily and complete written descriptive exercises. Family activities reportedly included the use of quotations and anecdotes as part of her instruction. Biographical sources state that this educational approach contributed to the development of her memory and language skills. Her daily writing exercises, conducted under her father's criticism and guidance, emphasized word choice, expression, and the use of synonyms. Contemporary accounts further described the instruction as being shaped by a close relationship between Sanborn and her father rather than by a formal or burdensome teaching structure.