Resources on Cooking & Cookbooks at the MHS Research Center

 

 

  1. Resources on Cooking & Cookbooks at the MHS Research Center
  2. Why Study Cooking & Cookbooks
  3. Online Sources about Cooking & Cookbooks
  4. Resources at MHS

 

Why Study Cooking & Cookbooks

 

Cookbooks attempt to capture what is one of the most fleeting forms of human creativity. From the housewife in Helena to the chef in Chicago, every man and woman creates food, whether it is mundane – say a peanut butter and jelly sandwich – or a masterpiece. What a society has cooked and how they cooked it can tell us much about the world they lived in. Cookbooks, likewise, reflect the lives and experiences of the people who used them, from all walks of life and through many time periods. Changes in cooking and cookbooks reflect the effects of “societal events on the kitchen” and “cookbooks have been used as avenues to express and address larger societal concerns.” Generally speaking, cookbooks tell us a great deal about the history of food, families, and communities.

 

The history of food, cooking, and cookbooks is, of course, not unique to Montana. In fact, books on the art of cooking have been around for more than two thousand years and are documented as early as 350BC. Cookbooks have been produced or published ever since. The invention of the printing press made cookbooks, as it did all books, more available. The first known printed cookbook was printed in Italy in 1485.

 

The publication of cookbooks in the United States came relatively late. William Parks of Virginia, published the first cookbook in the United States in 1742, well over one hundred years after the first colony was established, but this book was not written by an American. Not until 1796 was a cookbook written by an American published in America. American Cookery by Amelia Simmons was published in Connecticut and was the first cookbook to advocate the use of produce indigenous to the country, such as corn. This book was also the first to suggest cranberry sauce as an accompaniment to roasted turkey.

 

Online Sources about Cooking & Cookbooks

 

Resources at MHS

  • Books
      • Fisher, Carol. The American Cookbook: A History. McFarland & Co.: Jefferson, NC. 2006.
      • Luchetti, Home on the Range,
      • McLean, Alice L. Cooking In America, 1840-1945. Greenwood: Westport, CT. 2006.
      • Root, Waverly and Richard de Rochemont. Eating in America. Ecco Press: NJ. 1975.
      • Whitman, Sylvia. What’s Cooking: The History of American Food. Lerner Publications: Minneapolis. 2001.
      • William, Jacquiline. The Way We Ate: Pacific Northwest Cooking, 1843-1900. Washington State University Press: Pullman. 1996.
  • Articles
      • Chaffin, Glenn. “Auth Tish: Beloved Gourmet of the Bitter Root.” Montana'' The Magazine of Western History. Vol. XXI, No. 4, Oct. 1971. Montana The Magazine of Western History'', Vol. 28 No. 2, April, 1978, p. 52.
      • Lutey, Kent. “Lutey Brothers Marketeria: America’s First Self-Serve Grocer,”

 

  • Historic Montana Cookbook Collection
      • The following is a list of the cookbooks in the collection of the MHS, in chronological order by the date of publication.

1881

Montana cook book. Edited by ladies of Butte City …

1893

The progressive cook book. Ed. by Alice Lloyd Free for the First M.E. church of Billings, Montana …

1893

Favorite dishes : a Columbian autograph souvenir cookery book. Over three hundred autograph recipes, and twenty-three portraits, contributed specially by the Board of lady managers of the World's Columbian exposition / illustrated by May Root-Kern, Mellie Ingels Julian, Louis Braunhold, George Wharton Edwards ; compiled by Carrie V. Shuman.

1902

Daily bread : compiled from tested recipes of the ladies of Fergus County, Montana / by the"Home Workers" Society of the First Presbyterian Church, Lewistown, Montana ; Mrs. Frank E. Wright and Mrs. Geo. J. Wiedeman, committee.

1905

Mrs. Johnstone's cook book / Mae Searles Johnstone.

1905

The Helena cook book : containing three hundred recipes / contributed by ladies of Helena and edited by the Aid Society of the First Christian Church of Helena, Montana.

1906

Lincoln Circle No. 2 G.A.R. Cook book / Mrs. W. R. Sanner.

1907

Red Lodge cook book / compiled by the Ladies' Society of the Congregational Church.

1908

Healthful cookery : a collection of choice recipes for preparing foods, with special reference to health / compiled by Mrs. E.E. Kellogg.

1911

Sweets and meat and good things to eat / compiled by Ladies' Guild of the St. James Episcopal Church Bozeman, Montana.

1911

Mrs. Johnstone's cook book of tested recipes / Mae Searles Johnstone.

1913

The economy administration cook book ... ed.by Susie Root Rhodes ... and Grace Porter Hopkins …

1913

Round-up cook book / by the Ladies' Social Circle of First Presbyterian Church Miles City, Montana.

1915

Tested receipes / compiled by the Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

1915

Recipes contributed by students, alumni and faculty ladies of the M.S.C.

1917

Ladies Aid Society cook book / First Baptist Church, Butte, Montana.

1918

War winning recipes / published by the Young Ladies Sodality St. Francis Xavier's Church.

1922

Poplar cook book / published by Presbyterian Ladies Aid Society.

1923

Our best recipes / Home Economics Department, Woman's Club.

1923

St. John's Guild cook book / Ladies of the St. John's Guild of St. John's Episcopal Church.

1923

Our best recipes / Home Economics Department, Woman's Club.

1925

The cook book / compiled by Bozeman Woman's Club Bozeman, Montana.

1925

The cook book / compiled by Bozeman Woman's Club Bozeman, Montana.

1928

Hostess reference and directory/ First Christian Church.

1930

Electric range oven canning, oven dehydration / Mary Ann Laartz, Home Service Department.

1933

Junior Service League cook book.

1935

Cake making at high altitudes.

1935

The Cook's book : containing a talk on baking powder, useful cooking hints, weights and measures, and a collection of choice recipes, many written by Mrs Janet McKenzie Hill …

1936

The Aid cook book / compiled 1936 by Division J, Ladies Aid, First Methodist Episcopal Church.

1936

The mixing bowl / compiled by Palladino Circle No. 515, Daughters of Isabella of Missoula, Montana.

1937

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W. M. F. cook book / compiled by The Women's Missionary Federation.

1937

Cook book / Compiled by the Ladies of the Methodist Church, Townsend, Montana

1937

Meals go modern electrically.

1937

Meat selection and cooking.

1940

The Dorcas cook book / compiled by The Dorcas Society of the Congregational Church Glendive, Montana.

1940

Ever try these? / compiled by the Catholic Daughters of America of Glendive, Montana

1940

Cook by wire / compliments the Montana Power Company Bozeman Division.

1941

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W. M. F. cook book / compiled by The Women's Missionary Federation.

1944

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W. M. F. cook book / compiled by The Women's Missionary Federation.

1946

A modern kitchen guide / compiled by Montana Farmer-Stockman.

1946

What's cookin' at Saint James : a recipe book / collected, compiled, published by St. James Episcopal Guild.

1946

In hoc signo spes mea / compiled by Mount Olivet Shrine No. One.

1946

The Woman's Society of Christian Service cook book.

1948

What's cookin' in Williston / compiled by the Woman's Society of Christian Service of the Methodist Church Williston, North Dakota.

1948

Cooking 'round the world and at home / published by the Women's Association of the First Presbyterian Church of Wolf Point, Montana.

1948

What's cookin' in Sidney, Montana / published by the Officers of Eastern Star.

1948

Rebekah Lodge cook book / published by Yellowstone Rebekah Lodge No. 27 of Miles City, Montana.

1948

What's cookin' in Billings, Montana / Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post No. 1634

1948

Smorgasbord : plain and party foods / issued by members and friends of Dorcas Society of the Emanuel Lutheran Church, Butte, Montana

1948

Daughters of Isabella / compiled by Lenihan Circle No. 516, Daughters of Isabella, Great Falls, Montana.

1950

Flathead Lake, arts and foods. A project of the Flathead Lake branch, Montana Institute of Arts, art group with writers collaborating. Presenting a collection of regional recipes and creative art and writings. Elsie Brammer, project director.

1950

Anaconda, Montana / by The Association.

1950

Cook book / compiled by Rosebud Homemakers Club Rosebud, Montana.

1950

Cook book / compiled by V. F. W. Auxiliary Wibaux, Montana.

1950

Big Timber's treasure of personal recipes / compiled by the Women of the Moose Drill Team No. 1013

1950

Anaconda, Montana / by The Association.

1951

Your household guide / sponsored by Creston Community Club.

1951

Boulder's kitchen secrets / compiled by the Ladies' Aid Society of the Methodist Church, Boulder, Montana.

1952

Bigfork's treasure of personal recipes / compiled by St. Catherine's Club.

1952

Becky's sugar bowl / Rebekah Assembly of Montana I.O.O.F.

1954

Game is good eating. Drawings by Vern Craig.

1954

Bethlehem Lutheran Ladies' Aid cook book.

1954

Preparation of wild game.

1955

Kitchen magic : favorite family recipes piled by the Presbyterian Women's Association of Cut Bank, Montana.

1956

First Reformed favorite foods / compiled by First Reformed Fellowship of Conrad.

1956

Cook book / compiled and edited by Women's Missionary Federation of First Evangelical Lutheran Church Dillon, Montana.

1957

What's cooking in the Flathead / compiled by Flathead County High School Band Fans.

1958

Kitchen magic : favorite family recipes / compiled by St. Anne's Episcopal Guild of Glendive, Montana.

1958

100 favorite democratic dishes.

1958

Kalispell, Montana / compiled by Central Christian Church Christian Women's Fellowship.

1958

Ayrshire Dairy cook book.

1959

Sourdough Jack's Western cookery.

1959

Cook book / compiled by St. Jude's Altar Society of Havre, Montana.

1959

Feasting is fun / compiled by St. Peter's Pro-Cathedral, Helena, Montana.

1959

Recipes of Swansons Mountain View Lodge / compiled by Ruby F. Swanson.

1960

Clear Creek specials / compiled by Clear Creek Homemakers Club.

1960

Kitchen magic : favorite family recipes / by the members of the altar soci ety of St. William's Catholic Church Gardiner, Montana,

1960

Roundup of beef cookery; a complete guide to the best beef recipes from the ranch kit chens of America. Edited by Demetria Taylor and prepared in collaboration with the American National CowBelles.

1962

Sidney Past Matrons' Club cookbook.

1962

Montana Grange cookery / compiled by the Montana State Grange.

1963

First ladies' cook book, compiled and edited by Mrs. Tim Babcock.

1963

Fair Oaks P T A cookbook / compiled by Fair Oaks Middle School.

1964

Recipes and remedies of the pioneers / by Tag Rittel; illustrated by Lyla Rittel.

1965

Recipes that please cook book / compiled by the Gallatin County Democratic Woman's Club.

1965

Electric City cookery / compiled by Ave Maria Court No. 1166 Catholic Daughters of America.

1965

Our favorite recipes / compiled by women of St. Anne's Guild of St. James Episcopal Church Bozeman, Montana.

1965

What's cookin' in Flathead County / compiled by Flathead County Democratic Women's Club.

1967

Cow-country cook book.

1968

Blackfeet Indian cook book / Blackfeet Indian Vista Associates Program.

1968

Favorite recipes cook book / American Business Women's Association Copper Chapter.

1968

Becky's sugar bowl / Rebekah Assembly of Montana I.O.O.F.

1968

What shall we have for dinner : cook book / compiled by Unit No. 7 American Legion Auxiliary.

1969

Fryingpans West / by Sam Arnold.

1969

Blackfeet cookbook / compiled by Blackfeet VISTA volunteers.

1969

KOYN "All Nation" cookbook / KOYN Radio

1969

Cook book : favorite recipes from our best cooks / compiled by Little Brown Church Youth Group.

1970

The New historical treasures from Idaho kitchens

1970

KOYN Radio VIP cookbook.

1970

Mount Sentinel Women's Club recipes.

1970

American cooking, the Northwest, recipes

1971

America's charitable cooks: a bibliography of fund-raising cook books published in the United States (1861-1915).

1971

Pioneer kitchen; a frontier cookbook. Illustrated by Kathy Cernusak.

1971

Favorite recipes / compiled by the Ta OWa Ki Ya Horizon Club.

1971

Prize recipes of Bozeman / compiled by Major Drennen Auxiliary to Post 903 Veterans of Foreign Wars Bozeman, Montana.

1971

Marion Community cook book / compiled by Marion Mothers Club.

1971

North Fork kitchens cookbook

1971

Choice recipes / compiled by Orchard Homes Woman's Club.

1972

What's cookin' on Clear Creek / compiled by Clear Creek Homemakers Club.

1973

First ladies' cook book, compiled and edited by Mrs. Tim Babcock., Montana's First Lady 1962-1969.

1973

Shelby's feeder's digest / compiled by St. William's Altar Society.

1973

Old time chuck : out of the fire and in to the pot / Musselshell Valley Historical Museum.

1973

From our - kitchen - to yours / Compiled by American Lutheran Church Women St. Paul Lutheran Church.

1973

Montana cowgirls.

1973

My mom's favorite recipes cook book / compiled by the third grade classes Hawthorne School Bozeman, Montana.

1973

Sharing more of our favorites / sponsored by the Dorcas Guild Manhattan Christian Reformed Church Manhattan, Montana.

1973

Recipes and remembrances / compiled by Flathead Area IX Agency on Aging.

1973

Stampede Beef in a Hurry! / compiled by North Central Montana CowBelles

1973

Sourdough recipes / prepared by the Fergus County Extension Service.

1974

Christopher Robin sampler / compiled by Christopher Robin Pre-School.

1974

Diamond anniversary cookbook / compiled by Custer Chapter No. 25 O. E. S. Order of Eastern Star.

1974

Food a-plenty / compiled by Sacred Heart Parish Council of Catholic Women

1974

Grandma's favorite recipes : early ways in early days of preserving food / compiled by Range Riders Reps Miles City, Montana

1974

Note-worthy favorite recipes : cook book / compiled by Columbia Falls High School Band

1975

Food on the frontier : Minnesota cooking from 1850 to 1900, with selected recipes / by Marjorie Kreidberg.

1975

The Wolf Point Woman's Civic Club cookbook.

1975

Not by bread alone : home made kitchen magic / compiled by ALCW of American Lutheran Church Richey Montana.

1975

Zion Luther League cookbook.

1976

Art a la carte.

1976

Butte's heritage cookbook / edited by Jean McGrath.

1976

The Montana cookbook.

1976

Cookery of the prairie homesteader / by Louise K. Nickey ; ill. by David Jersey.