- Bradley, Martha. The British Housewife, or, The Cook,
Housekeeper's and Gardiner's Companion. Blackawton, Devon:
Prospect Books, 1996, [orig. 1756 or 1757]. E #20447
- These six volumes explain "what is necessary to be done in the
Providing for, Conducting, and Managing a Family, throughout the
Year." C, D, H
- Fielding, Sarah. The Governess, or, The Little Female
Academy. London: Printed for A. Millar, 1768. E 12mo
#6452
- Fielding's novel, "calculated for the entertainment and
instruction of young ladies in their education," focuses on a
widowed teacher as she develops a model school for girls.
CH, ED, N
- Fordyce, James. Sermons to Young Women: in two
volumes. London: Printed for D. Payne, 1770. LSC 252
F713S
- The author addresses female virtue, piety, and meekness,
asserting that "men of sensibility desire, in every woman, soft
features, and a flowing voice, a form not robust, and a demeanour
delicate and gentle." E, ED, M, R
- Gisborne, Thomas. An Enquiry into the Duties of the Female
Sex. London: Printed for T. Cadell jun. and W. Davies, 1797. E
#11292
- Discusses women's duties in society and in the family, such as
"contributing daily and hourly to the comfort of husbands, of
parents, of brothers and sisters, and of other relations,
connections and friends." E, ED, M, MO
- Glasse, Hannah. The Servants Directory, Improved; or,
house-keepers companion. Huntington, IN.: Huntington
Laboratories, Inc., 1971, orig. 1762. E Pam 12mo #12310
- Glasse explains the duties of servants, including "the
chamber-maid, nursery-maid, house-maid, [laundry-maid, and],
scullion, or under-cook." Includes a "TABLE to cast up Expences or
wages by the Day, Week, Month, and Year." D,
SR

- The Ladies' Diary: or, the womens almanack [serial].
[London]: Printed by J. Wilde, 1751. E Pam 12mo #2349, 1751 Library
has: 1728-1730; 1732-1735; 1747; 1751; 1770; 1774; 1798-1812.
- An edition of one of the earliest serials for women, containing
poetry and domestic advice, as well as mathematical questions and
"enigmas" to solve. N, PA
- The Lady's New and Elegant Pocket Magazine [serial].
London: Printed for the editor by Alex Hogg, 1795. E 12mo L157N,
v.1 Library has: v.1 (1795) and v.2 (1796).
- This serial features articles "on every curious, useful, and
entertaining Subject," including history, geography, music,
cookery, and "The Married State." C, E, M, N,
PA
- Marriott, Thomas. Female Conduct: being an essay on the art
of pleasing. London: Printed for W. Owen, 1759. E #12819
- Marriott's poem instructs women on proper marital conduct: "Ye
Wives! 'twill much conduce to nuptial Ease / Your Husband's Friends
to cultivate, and please; / Let a kind Welcome, in your Face,
appear; / As if, by you, his Guests invited were...". E, M,
N, R
- Moir, John. Female Tuition, or, An Address to Mothers, On
the Education of Daughters. London: Printed for messrs. Murray
and Highley, [between 1797 and 1799]. E 12mo #6337
- Moir addresses maternal authority, virtue, honor, and
appropriate amusements for girls: "Family affairs are by far the
most proper objects to engross their minds, or occupy their
talents. This is their natural province." E, ED, MO,
R
- Moxon, Elizabeth. English Housewifry: Exemplified in Above
Four Hundred and Fifty Receipts... Leeds: Printed by J.
Lister, [175-?]. E 12mo #6147
- "A Book necessary for Mistresses of Families, higher and lower
Women Servants, and confined to Things USEFUL, SUBSTANTIAL, and
SPLENDID, and calculated for the Preservation of Health, and upon
the Measures of FRUGALITY, being the Result of thirty Years
Practice and Experience." C
- Peckham, Ann. The Complete English Cook, or, Prudent
Housewife. Leeds: Printed by G. Wright, 1767. E 12mo
#6127
- This cookery book pays particular attention to "elegance and
economy, and most especially to what is nourishing and wholesome,
both in the choice and in the preparation of such provisions as the
different seasons of the year afford." C
- Wilkes, Wetenhall. A Letter of Genteel and Moral Advice to
a Young Lady. London: C. Hitch and L. Hawes, 1753. LSC 170
W682L
- Wilkes presents "A system of RULES and INFORMATIONS...to
qualify the FAIR SEX to be useful, and happy in every Scene of
Life." Topics include the use of time and money, education,
Christian conduct, and the duties of a wife. E, ED, M,
R
- Wollstonecraft, Mary. Thoughts on the Education of
Daughters, with Reflections on Female Conduct in the More Important
Duties of Life. London: J. Johnson, 1787. E W864TH
- "No employment of the mind is a sufficient excuse for
neglecting domestic duties, and I cannot conceive that they are
incompatible. A woman may fit herself to be the companion and
friend of a man of sense, and yet know how to take care of his
family." E, M, MO, R
- The Young Woman's Monitor. London: Printed for F. and
C. Rivington, 1799. D-3 Pam #14
- This booklet emphasizes "the great happiness of early piety,
and the dreadful consequences of forsaking the path of virtue."
With advice on religious deportment, avoiding sin, appropriate
dress, and Christian marriage. F, M, R
Subject Guide
Throughout this bibliography, these subject letter codes are
used to identify works relating to a particular topic. The guide is
displayed at the bottom of each page.
- C = Cookery
- CH = Children's prescriptive literature
- D = Domestic management
- E = Etiquette/conduct
- ED = Education
- F = Fashion/beauty
- H = Health
- M = Marriage
- MO = Motherhood
- N = Narrative/fiction/poetry
- P = Political and social issues
- PA = Pastimes
- R = Religious life/morality
- RF = Reference works
- S = Sexuality
- SR = Servants
- W = Work/employment outside the home