Anna L. Colcord | |
|---|---|
 Colcord in 1908 | |
| Born | Anna Letitia Guise (1864-03-07)March 7, 1864 Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| Died | May 28, 1950(1950-05-28) (aged 86) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | George Washington Cemetery,Adelphi, Maryland |
| Occupation | Writer, editor |
| Period | 1889–1919 |
| Notable works | A Friend in the Kitchen |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
Anna Letitia Colcord (née Guise; March 7, 1864 – May 28, 1950) was an American writer and editor. She published thevegetarian cookbookA Friend in the Kitchen in 1889 and later expanded it in Australia while working for theSeventh-day Adventist Church. It sold widely, going through a number of editions and being translated into several languages. After returning to the U.S., she became a book editor and was involved in a copyright dispute over her workOne Hundred Bible Stories, which led to legal battles but ended without a clear victory, resulting in financial losses for both sides.
Anna Letitia Guise was born on March 7, 1864, inSacramento, California.[1] She married William Alan Colcord (1860–1935) on September 28, 1882, inJefferson, Iowa. They had three sons and one daughter.[2] Soon after marrying, Colcord and her husband joined theSeventh-day Adventist Church in Iowa.[2]
In 1889, Colcord published thevegetarian cookbookA Friend in the Kitchen.[3] In 1893, when her husband was appointed to work for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia, she joined him there with two of their children.[1] They both worked as missionaries and teachers for the church.[4] During this time, she created a new Australian edition of the book, containing 400 recipes, as well as illustrations and cartoons promoting a vegetarian diet.[3] It sold widely in Australia and was later translated into several languages; it was also published in the United States.[1] 18 editions were published in total, with 200,000 copies sold.[5] Further editions ceased to be created due to Colcord leaving the Church in 1914.[3]
In 1902, Colcord returned to the U.S.[2] She moved toWashington D.C., in 1904, where she worked as a book editor for new authors.[1]
A copyright dispute over Colcord’s manuscriptOne Hundred Bible Stories led her to sue the Seventh-day AdventistReview and Herald Publishing Association after her work was included in a denominational book without the agreed-upon authorship credit. In April 1913, she had permitted its inclusion under specific conditions, but the publishers removed her credit before the book's release in 1914, leading to legal action. The book was distributed in 25,000 copies over six years, despite Colcord's objections. The case was heard by theSupreme Court of the District of Columbia.[5]
By March 1922, the dispute concluded without a definitive ruling in Colcord's favor, resulting in financial losses for both parties. Colcord retained the copyright to her original work, but the publishers, having omitted her credit, faced economic setbacks due to the controversy.[5]
Colcord died at theWashington Sanitarium on May 28, 1950, and was buried at George Washington Cemetery,Adelphi, Maryland.[1]
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