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MSS 16939, Domestick Education manuscript, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.
This collection is minimally processed and open for research.
This collection contains a four-page autograph manuscript folio entitled "Domestick Education." The unsigned, undated manuscript presents a two-chapter, dual-perspective narrative of Kitty, a frustrated domestic servant, and her mistress, Mrs. Makadoo. The focus on female characters and knowledge of domestic work suggests a likely female authorship. The spelling suggests an American author, although the story is vaguely set in the United Kingdom. Mention of Charles Dickens' Dombey, published in parts between 1846 and 1848, gives us a rough date for when this may have been written.
Chapter one is from Kitty's perspective. Kitty is described as overworked and overburdened by the Makadoo family – expected to complete the tasks of a cook, scullery maid, housemaid, valet, nanny, and lady's maid every day. Despite being overwooked Kitty maintains a calm and collected demeanor around the Makadoo family. One night, Kitty, charged with additional tasks by Mrs. Makadoo and her daughter, Miss Annetta, while preparing supper, refuses to take the blame for the subpar bread, about which Mr. Makadoo complains. She exposes the dysfunctional nature of domestic labor. Mrs. Makadoo then accused Kitty of disloyalty to the family, to which Kitty defended herself.
In the second chapter, we have Mrs. Makadoo's perspective. She expresses deep discontent with being challenged by someone of a lower class, much less the family's own servant. She is also offended that Kitty contrasted the Makadoo family with the Haywoods, Kitty's previous employer. Kitty claimed that the women of the Haywood family sought to "learn something about housekeeping" so that they would act as more just managers of their servants. Outraged, Mrs. Makadoo visits the Heywoods to prove Kitty a liar. Upon arrival, Mrs. Makadoo finds Isabella, the young Heywood heiress, answering the door and providing refreshments to guests. This was a stark break from the traditional practices by the Makadoos, but was apparently rather commonplace in the more modern Heywood household. Following her visit with the Heywoods, Mrs. Makadoo's perspective on domestic labor changed, and she resolved to make sweeping changes in the household. The narrative ends with Annetta "changing the course of her conduct" and becoming "an expert at housekeeping."
This collection was purchased from Marginalia by the Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia on 19 December 2025.
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