Chris L. Rutt
Encyclopedia
Christian Ludwig Rutt was a managing editor for the St. Joseph News-Press
who is credited with coming up with the recipe and name for Aunt Jemima
pancakes.
Rutt was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. In 1865 he moved with his parents to Atchison, Kansas
where he attended St. Benedict's College (now Benedictine College
). He worked for several years at newspapers in Leavenworth, Kansas
and Texas
.
He moved to St. Joseph, Missouri in 1885 where he worked for the St. Joseph Gazette
working for John N. Edwards.
In 1889 he attended a white minstrel
show where the song Aunt Jemimah was being performed. The minstrels had red bandana
s in their hair, and wore aprons. He and Charles Underwood had recently bought the Pearl Milling company in St. Joseph. They trademarked the image. Unable to make it work they sold to the R.T. Davis Milling Company in St. Joseph. Davis would hire Nancy Green
to portray the character at the World's Columbian Exposition
in 1893.
In 1900 he was made editor for Gazette. In 1902 he became managing editor of the Daily News which would become the News-Press. According to St. Joseph newspaper lore at one point he would write an article in the morning Gazette and then refute it in the afternoon News.
Rutt continued as editor until his death in 1936.
St. Joseph News-Press
The St. Joseph News-Press is a daily morning newspaper in St. Joseph, Missouri. It is the flagship of the News-Press & Gazette Company which owns newspapers, television and radio stations and cable television systems throughout the United States.-History:...
who is credited with coming up with the recipe and name for Aunt Jemima
Aunt Jemima
Aunt Jemima is a trademark for pancake flour, syrup, and other breakfast foods currently owned by the Quaker Oats Company of Chicago. The trademark dates to 1893, although Aunt Jemima pancake mix debuted in 1889. The Quaker Oats Company first registered the Aunt Jemima trademark in April 1937...
pancakes.
Rutt was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. In 1865 he moved with his parents to Atchison, Kansas
Atchison, Kansas
Atchison is a city situated along the Missouri River in the eastern part of Atchison County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Atchison County...
where he attended St. Benedict's College (now Benedictine College
Benedictine College
Benedictine College is a co-educational university in Atchison, Kansas, founded in 1971 by the merger of St. Benedict's College for men and Mount St. Scholastica College for women. It is a Roman Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts, and residential college located on bluffs overlooking the...
). He worked for several years at newspapers in Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
He moved to St. Joseph, Missouri in 1885 where he worked for the St. Joseph Gazette
St. Joseph Gazette
The St. Joseph Gazette was a newspaper in St. Joseph, Missouri from 1845 until June 30, 1988, when its morning position was taken over by its sister paper, the St...
working for John N. Edwards.
In 1889 he attended a white minstrel
Minstrel
A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty...
show where the song Aunt Jemimah was being performed. The minstrels had red bandana
Bandana
Bandana can refer to:*Another name for a kerchief*Bandana *Bandana *Bandana, Kentucky, a small town in the United States*Y Bandana, a Welsh alternative rock band.**Y Bandana , their self-titled debut album....
s in their hair, and wore aprons. He and Charles Underwood had recently bought the Pearl Milling company in St. Joseph. They trademarked the image. Unable to make it work they sold to the R.T. Davis Milling Company in St. Joseph. Davis would hire Nancy Green
Nancy Green
Nancy Green was a storyteller, cook, activist, and one of the first African-American models hired to promote a corporate trademark as "Aunt Jemima".- Biography :...
to portray the character at the World's Columbian Exposition
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
in 1893.
In 1900 he was made editor for Gazette. In 1902 he became managing editor of the Daily News which would become the News-Press. According to St. Joseph newspaper lore at one point he would write an article in the morning Gazette and then refute it in the afternoon News.
Rutt continued as editor until his death in 1936.