Too often the only time newspapers and histories written in the 19 th century discussed a person of color the passage only dealt with a funny story, an eccentricity, or something that painted a picture of a character. It also gives us a chance to see some details of the life of a man who wasn’t always famous and was never white. His story is interesting not only because of his unexpected success, but also because we know enough about his life to be able to see some of the highs and the lows he experienced. By the time he died in 1914 he had hosted Presidents, Senators, and the rich and famous at the restaurant he built, and his skills as a hunter fisherman and guide were almost as prized as his prowess as a chef. In 19 th century America, this descendent of African, Native American and European ancestors, raised in poverty, unable to read or write, struggled for everything he gained. What George Crum was able to do was overcome a number of obstacles to become arguably one of the best known cooks in the country, in his own restaurant, in a community famous for its excesses at both the dining room table and gambling table.
George crumb death full#
For a full discussion of that topic please see “Saratoga Springs, New York: Birthplace of the Potato Chip” and “Saratoga Potato Chip Stories: Traditions, Myths, and Legends.”
Let me begin with something that will probably disappoint most people who read this, I don’t believe that George Crum invented the potato chip. George Crum New York Herald August 4, 1889.
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