Anne Frances Springsteed

Anne Frances Springsteed was an American author remembered for The Expert Waitress, a domestic manual first published by Harper & Brothers in 1894 and later issued in revised editions. Library and archive records also list her as Anne Frances Springsteed Cole and sometimes as “Mrs. Thomas Cole,” reflecting the naming conventions of her era.

Her book was written as a hands-on guide to service in the home, covering the work of the pantry, kitchen, and dining room. The tone is practical rather than grand, focused on method, order, and the everyday details of hospitality.

Reliable biographical information about her appears to be limited online, so only a few personal details can be confirmed with confidence. A Find a Grave record identifies Anne Frances Springsteed Cole as living from 1847 to 1919, which fits the period in which her book was published and circulated.