A Family of Writers

Célestine Eustis (1836-1921)

In 1904, when Célestine Eustis was in her late sixties, she wrote COOKING IN OLD CREOLE DAYS: La cuisine créole à l’usage des petits ménages. This cookbook was part of an interest in the exotic regional culture of Louisiana and an interest in the Old South. A reflection of Celestine’s Creole heritage, New Orleans background, French living, and privileged lifestyle, the recipe book celebrates the culinary traditions and dinners produced in the well-staffed kitchens of wealthy Southern society.
 

In the book, Eustis frequently pays tribute to particular servants who once prepared the recipes. “Calf’s Liver a la Celeste Smith,” was originally prepared by “Mme. Eustis Mere’s Cook,’ and the recipe for “Pot Au Feu” was given to Eustis by “an old colored cook brought up in James Madison’s family.” Eustis also mentions Mme. Josephine Nicaud, who served in Ambassador Eustis’ family for over forty years. The introduction sets the tone for this nostalgic, “noblesse oblige” approach to cookery, recalling the old black cooks of the south, and the delicious food that appeared when they were in charge.
 

The book includes quaint illustrations and old-time song lyrics, which bring to mind Lafcadio Hearn, author of La Cuisine Creole (1885)(included in this collection) and his fascination with the city of New Orleans and its Creole culture.

H. Nelson Eustis (1915-2003)

The Council of The Royal Philatelic Society of Victoria awarded the John Gartner Medal for 2001 to Nelson Eustis FAP, for his lifelong achievement in authoring and publishing The Australian Air Mail Catalogue.
The Australian Air Mail Catalogue was first published in 1937, followed by a supplement in 1941. New editions appeared in 1965, 1976, 1984, 1990 and a sixth edition in 1997.
This record of 64 years of publication by the same author is probably a world record in philatelic literature, and one that will be very difficult to surpass. Each edition has not merely been a reprint of that which preceded, but is an enlarged and updated version.
In addition Nelson Eustis authored a number of other philatelic works, largely concerned with the subject of Australian aerophilately.
The Council of The Royal Philatelic Society of Victoria presented the award to Nelson Eustis at the Federation’s 2001 Annual General Meeting in Canberra in order that Nelson could be honoured in front of a gathering of Australian philatelists from all around the country, many of whom relied on and benefited from his work over some sixty four years.

Helen Eustis (1916-??)

A native of Cincinatti, Ohio and a resident of New York (1954) Helen Eustis was the daughter of Harold Claypoole Eustis and had a son Adam Eustis Fisher.
 

Her novel, THE HORIZONTAL MAN, was awarded the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar as best first mystery of 1946. THE FOOL KILLER was her second novel, besides which she has published a volume of short stories including, THE CAPTAINS AND THE KING DEPART, (Harper & Brothers; 1949); as well as numerous articles and short stories in big and little magazines such as Mister Death and the Redhead, (short story) Argosy (UK) May 1960; THE RIDER ON THE PALE HORSE, (western short story) The Saturday Evening Post; Feb 11, 1950.