Carson Gulley facts for kids

Carson Gulley (June 9, 1897 – November 2, 1962) was an amazing chef and a pioneer in many ways. He was the head chef at the University of Wisconsin–Madison for many years, from 1926 to 1954. He is famous for a delicious fudge-bottom pie recipe that is still enjoyed on campus today!

The dining hall where he worked is now called Carson Gulley Commons. It was the very first building at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to be named after an African American person. This shows how important he was to the university.

Carson Gulley was also a star on television and radio. From 1953 to 1962, he had his own weekly cooking show called "What's Cooking" on WMTV. He also hosted a radio cooking show called "WIBA Cooking School of the Air." Listeners could even get recipe booklets by mail! He and his wife made history as the first African American couple to host their own TV show in Wisconsin during the 1950s.

Beyond cooking, Gulley was a leader in civil rights. He led the Madison branch of the NAACP. He worked hard to make sure everyone had fair chances, especially when it came to finding a place to live. His efforts helped the Madison City Council pass a Fair Housing Ordinance, which made housing fairer for all people.

He even published a book called Seasoning Secrets: Herbs and Spices in 1949. The famous scientist George Washington Carver suggested he write it!

Early Life and Beginnings

Carson Gulley was born on June 9, 1897, in a small town called Zama, in Nevada County, Arkansas. He grew up in a large family with ten children. His family worked as sharecroppers, which meant they farmed land owned by someone else and shared the crops they grew.