Lucretia Randolph Garfield

Lucretia and Milk Cookies

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First Ladies - 1850 to 1900

Lucretia Randolph Garfield*

President James A. Garfield*

First Lady Lucretia and President James A. Garfield
First Lady - March 4, 1881- September 19, 1881
Quotes from Lucretia - 

• "It is horrible to be a man. But the grinding misery of being a woman between the upper and nether millstone of household cares and training children is almost as bad."
• Lucretia loved books and reading. "It would be of about as much use to stop breathing as to let books alone, if they are anywhere in the region about me. I have to read. . .as I have to live."

​Factoid - James wrote 1,200 letters love letters to Lucretia!  
Bio -

• Lucretia grew up in Ohio, the daughter of a farmer.  Her family made sure that Lucretia well-educated.   At 15, her parents sent Lucretia to Geauga Seminary, where she met James Garfield, thinking he was a "strange genius".  After prep school, both Lucretia and James attended college together and began a romance. Lucretia became a schoolteacher and James went on to finish his degree and finally married at age  26. 
• When the Civil War began, James was  separated many times from Lucretia and their daughter.  Then he began his political career and was away from home for long periods.  The death of their first child brought the couple closer together and renewed their relationship.  
• Lucretia was an intellectual and played an integral part in James's career, writing speeches and despite being shy, entertaining guests and politicians. She flawlessly became First Lady, when he was elected President.  Her time in the White House was brief, but she researched the history of the White house and made plans for a restoration.  Lucretia also hosted events and dinners for ambassadors, military leaders and more. 
• Sadly, Lucretia developed malaria and went to recuperate in New Jersey.  While there, she received a telegram that James had been shot.  Lucretia returned to Washington and stayed by his bedside for the next 80 days, until he passed away.  The public admired her devotion so much that they donated $360,000 to Lucretia and her children.

About James - James Garfield was the 20th President, serving only a few months before being assassinated.  In his short period as President, he advocated for Civil Service Reform and sought to reduce political corruption. He fought against the spoils system and aimed to modernize the presidency. His death led to national support for reforming the federal bureaucracy.

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Milk Cookies

James and Lucretia Garfield were a big proponents of nutrition.  Their guests were served nutritious, simple foods and lots of milk.  James love milk.  Milk Cookies were a popular cookie of the times.  My grandmother, Annie, had milk cows and often made these cookies.

​Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened to room temp
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup warm milk + 1 extra teaspoon
1 egg, room temperature, slightly beaten
2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Prepare a cookie sheet by greasing or line with baking paper. 
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder together. 
3. Mix in the butter and egg.  Gradually pour in the milk and mix until just combined.  Don't over-mix or the cookies will be tough!
4. The cookie dough should form a ball and not be too sticky.  If it's too sticky, add a tiny bit more flour; if it's too dry, add a little more milk.
5.  With clean hands, scoop the cookie dough into small balls, place on prepared cookie sheet and flatten a little bit with a fork.  Sprinkle with a little sugar.
6.  Bake for about 10 min. Cool about 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then move to a wire rack to finish cooling.  Cookies will be crispy on the outside and softer on the inside.
   
7. Enjoy with a glass of milk!

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Portrait Credits*
Lucretia Garfield - The White House Collection; Daniel Huntington, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
James Garfield - Ole Peter Hansen Balling, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons