Maria McIlvaine Gillmore

Maria McIlvaine Gillmore
Gillmore (left) and Dr. Wood (right) in the corridor of the new hospital in Ponte Nova, Brazil, 1926
Born	Maria McIlvaine (1871-05-08)May 8, 1871 Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	January 12, 1965(1965-01-12) (aged 93) Summit, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Cookbook writer, Presbyterian missionary
Spouse	Henry Van Kleeck Gillmore ​ ​ (m. 1905; died 1911)​

Maria McIlvaine Gillmore (born Maria McIlvaine; May 8, 1871 – January 12, 1965) was an American cookbook writer and Presbyterian missionary. She authored the books Meatless Cookery and the Economy Cook Book. She later joined the Commission Appointed to Visit Chile and Brazil by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, where she contributed her experiences as a missionary to the book Modern Missions in Chile and Brazil.

Biography

Early and personal life

Maria McIlvaine was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on May 8, 1871. Her parents were Edward Shippen (1843–1910) and Annie Belleville McIlvaine (née Hunt; 1842–1918). She had two sisters and one brother. McIlvaine was educated privately.

She married Henry Van Kleeck Gillmore on June 21, 1905. He was the grandson of General Quincy Adams Gillmore and served in the Spanish–American War. In 1911, he died from pneumonia.

Gillmore later moved to New York City. where she managed hostess houses at Camp Upton from 1917 to 1918. She was also an active member of several societies, including the Japan Society, the Asiatic Society, and the American-Oriental Club.

Cookbook writing

1914 cover of Meatless Cookery.

Meatless Cookery

In 1914, she published Meatless Cookery: With Special Reference to Diet for Heart Disease, Blood Pressure and Autointoxication. It focuses on dietary recommendations for heart disease, blood pressure, and auto-intoxication.

In the introduction, Dr. Louis F. Bishop, M.D., describes the difficulty of bridging the gap between technical education and practical application in health. He explains that certain cells in the body can become sensitive to the proteins in meat, eggs, fish, and stock soups, making them a source of irritation and contributing to conditions like arteriosclerosis.

The book emphasizes the necessity of eliminating harmful foods to improve health. It includes a chapter on "Meat Substitutes", featuring recipes such as cereal coffee, almond milk, rice milk, and peanut butter sandwiches. Additionally, it contains nutritional information on peanut butter and peanuts.

The book has also been cited as the first to argue that a vegetarian diet may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, the earliest known English-language mention of rice milk in a recipe, and the first use of the term "auto-intoxication".

Economy Cook Book

In 1918, she published the Economy Cook Book, which was intended to be a practical guide to meal planning, emphasizing the importance of arranging meals to promote health and growth. It highlights the need for appropriate nutrition for both adults and children, with children requiring more protein-rich foods like meat, fish, and milk. For adults, particularly those over forty, the book recommends a lighter diet with less meat.

It also supports wartime efforts by offering recipes that reduce the use of wheat, meat, sweets, and fats, while incorporating alternatives like vegetable fats, cornmeal, and honey. The menus follow a balanced approach, ensuring proper proportions of nutrients, and encourage minimizing food waste as part of a patriotic duty.

Missionary work

McIlvaine was a prominent figure in the First Presbyterian Church in Trenton. She later became part of the Commission Appointed to Visit Chile and Brazil by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church. The commission's goal was to assess and support the church's missionary work in these countries. McIlvaine contributed to Modern Missions in Chile and Brazil, a book that captured the commission's experiences and insights into the missionary efforts in both regions.

Death

Gillmore died at a nursing home in Summit, New Jersey, on January 12, 1965. She was buried at West Point Cemetery.

Publications

• Meatless Cookery: With Special Reference to Diet for Heart Disease, Blood Pressure and Autointoxication (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1914)
• Economy Cook Book (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1918)

External links

• Meatless Cookery (web version)