Feeding America is a collection of historic American cookbooks, a section of the Michigan State University’s wider collection of historic cookbooks. Their website includes images of the page scans as well as text versions and downloadable pdf reproductions of the cookbooks. While the collection is of cookbooks, the content of these books is more than just recipes. There is also content about the knowledge of that time about how to prevent or treat illnesses, and on homemaking topics in general. For an example, check out The Frugal Housewife published in 1830. Also interesting is Hotel Keepers, Head Waiters, and Housekeepers’ Guide, which is described as the “second major Black-authored culinary work in America”. I’d highly recommend even just browsing the introductions written to accompany each text, highlighting its historical significance, or watch their video tour of the collection.
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I’m loving The Frugal Housewife!!!! What a treat!!!
“A child of six years old can be made useful; and should be taught to consider every day lost in which some little thing has not been done to assist others.”… Ah, yes…looking beyond onesself and one’s narrow interests.
“No false pride, or foolish ambition to appear as well as others, should ever induce a person to live one cent beyond the income of which he is certain.” … Boy…could our credit-card-debt-laden society every use that piece of old time advice!!!