College Cook Lectured by President Dunster in 1650--Eating Between Meals Banned by Kitchen Regulations

An ancient set of College regulations shows most clearly the paternal attitude of the first Harvard presidents as regards the eating habits of the College. Certain orders by the scholars and officers of the College to be observed, dated March 28, 1650, and signed by President Dunster, shows the eating problem to have been a vital issue almost 300 years ago.

The following excerpt would seem to indicate that food outside of regular meal hours was at a premium.

"The butler and cook shall see that all the rooms peculiar to their officers, together with their appurtenances, be daily set and kept in order, clean and sweet from all manner of noisesomeness and nastiness or sensible offensiveness.

"To the butler belongs the cellar and butteries, and all from thenceforth to the farthest end of the south porch; to the cook the kitchen, larder, and the way leading to the hatch, the turret, and the north alley unto the walk; neither shall the butler or cook suffer any scholar or scholars whatever, except the Fellows, Masters of Art, fellow commoners, or, officers of the House, to come into the butteries or kitchen, save with their parents or guardians, or with some grave and sober strangers; and, if any shall presume to thrust in, they shall have three pence on their heads; but, if presumptuously and continually they shall so dare to offend, they shall be Mable to an admonition and to other precedings of the College discipline, at the discretion of the President."