1865 National Sanitary Cake
Library of Congress
An Impressive Dessert
Founded in June 1861, the United States Sanitary Commission (USSC) was a civilian-led relief organization whose thousands of volunteer members raised money (an estimated $25 million, in 1865 dollars, over the course of the conflict) and collected supplies to support the treatment of sick and wounded Union soldiers. While the USSC itself held a number of high-profile “Sanitary Fairs” in multiple northern cities to generate funds, the organization also accepted contributions far and wide. One such donation to the cause came from California, where in early 1865 the women of the Humboldt County Soldiers’ Aid Society created the “National Sanitary Cake” shown here. The elaborate confection was auctioned off multiple times at local fairs in the towns of Arcata and Eureka—a popular process where the buyer would donate the cake back to the auctioneer so it might be sold again and again—bringing in approximately $1,000 when all was done. Where the cake ultimately ended up—and how it tasted—is unknown.
Related topics: food and drink
