Bertha L. Turner facts for kids

Bertha Lee Turner (1867–1938) was an important American caterer, cookbook author, and community leader. She lived in Pasadena, California in the early 1900s. Bertha Lee Turner is best known for putting together The Federation Cookbook: A Collection of Tested Recipes Compiled by the Colored Women of the State of California. This book helped save and celebrate the cooking traditions of Black women.

Early Life

Bertha Lee Turner was born Bettie Lee in 1867 in Kentucky. She was one of four children born to Squire (Henry) Lee and Sophia Mitchell. Her father, Squire, was a veteran of the American Civil War. He gained his freedom after fighting in the Union Army.

By 1880, when Bertha was 13, her family had moved to Marion, Indiana. Her mother, Sophia, worked doing laundry to support the family. She later married Edward Dupree, who was also a Civil War veteran.

Bertha married James Turner on December 6, 1891, when she was 24 years old. They had one son named Raymond by 1895. Around 1900, Bertha and James worked in the home of an ice manufacturer. Bertha was a servant, and James was a butler. Between 1900 and 1906, the Turners moved to Pasadena, California.

Career and Community Work

In Pasadena, Bertha Lee Turner became very active in business and her community. She started a successful catering business. She also joined important groups like the National Federation of Colored Women and the Sojourner Truth societies. Bertha employed many people in Pasadena and even offered scholarships to promising students. She was also a member and trustee of The African Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1910, Turner collected recipes and edited The Federation Cookbook. This cookbook was created to preserve Black cooking traditions and celebrate the skills of local housewives. The book included recipes from cooks in and around Pasadena, many likely from the National Federation of Colored Women. The cookbook showed that Turner was a State Superintendent of Domestic Science and a private caterer.

Bertha was known as an excellent cook and hostess. Newspapers often wrote about the wonderful dinners she hosted. For example, in 1917, she held a beautiful dinner for guests from New York. People said the table looked like "fairy land" and the five-course meal was unforgettable.

Around 1917, Turner began catering for various clubs in Pasadena, including Club No. 2 and the Shakespeare Club. She even contributed recipes to the Shakespeare Club's 1936 cookbook. Bertha also supported the arts, helping to fund many events, including a play in 1915 about Anthony Burns.

In 1924, Bertha and her husband moved to a large, modern home on Winona Avenue. In 1925, when her daughter-in-law was involved in a car accident, Turner wrote a Letter to the editor of the California Eagle newspaper. She wanted to correct unfair reporting about the event. From 1931 to 1934, Turner managed the Tea Garden concessions at the famous Hollywood Bowl.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1937, Bertha Lee Turner became very ill. She was diagnosed with bladder cancer and passed away on February 4, 1938. Her death was a big shock to the Pasadena community. The California Eagle newspaper reported her death as the most important social news of the week. George Garner from the newspaper wrote that "hers was a niche that she alone could fill," meaning she was truly special and irreplaceable.

Her funeral was held at the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pasadena. About 1500 people attended, showing how much she was loved and respected. Bertha Lee Turner is buried at Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum in Altadena. At the time of her death, she was known as "California's wealthiest colored citizen" and had employed hundreds of people over the years.