Vintage Cookbooks Passed Down in the Family

[Cookbook Shop]

Greetings from Arizona! Being an avid collector of vintage cookbooks, I am curious to know what (favorite or otherwise) cookbooks you inherited from family members-- mother, father, aunt or grandmother. Two old cookbooks I inherited from my mother are The American Woman's Cookbook (1947) edited by Ruth Berolzheimer, Rumford Complete Cook Book (1931) inherited from her Aunt and Better Homes and Garden's 23rd DeLuxe edition (1951) from my Paternal grandmother. I didn't choose these, but they are mine and cherished never-the-less. My mother was born in 1916 and I in 1950. Cindy

[TexasBirdGirl]

Wow, no one replied. I am a newbie and just came across your post, and I love vintage cookbooks.
I have several vintage Better Homes and Gardens "New" Cookbooks, I found mine in antique and thrift shops, but some are the same editions I grew up with.
I also, have The Woman's Day Encyclopedias of Cooking. LOVE THEM!!

[Margaux]

I also love old cookbooks. Unfortunately, my mother never was one for using cookbooks (or recipes of any kind, for that matter). So we don't have any family cookbooks--I do have the vintage Picayune cookbook, as well as an interesting collection of books my husband and I have accumulated over the past 30-40 years. (note--HIS cookbooks are from the past 40 years--not mine!) Some of the old recipes are quite amusing. If you need to know how to prepare a snipe, aspic, or fine young stingaree, let me know!

[TexasBirdGirl]

Originally Posted by Margaux

I also love old cookbooks. Unfortunately, my mother never was one for using cookbooks (or recipes of any kind, for that matter). So we don't have any family cookbooks--I do have the vintage Picayune cookbook, as well as an interesting collection of books my husband and I have accumulated over the past 30-40 years. (note--HIS cookbooks are from the past 40 years--not mine!) Some of the old recipes are quite amusing. If you need to know how to prepare a snipe, aspic, or fine young stingaree, let me know!

That is funny!

[licia]

I have the American Woman's Cook Book, but not the same as my mother had - hers was 1947, but mine is 1963. They are much the same. I also have several Betty Crocker and Better Homes and Gardens books. Many in my collection are Southern Living. I also collected cook books from the many Pilot club auxiliaries, churches and garden clubs, joy of cooking, Fanny Farmer, etc. One of my most favorite is "The taste of Georgia". I'm not collecting anymore since I have no room to put them. There are several hundred in my collection.

[Barbara]

I have my mother's American Woman's Cookbook - 1947

[licia]

Barbara, did you ever make the coconut snowballs in that cookbook? My mother made those for us often.

[Kathleen]

The oldest cookbook I have is a McCall's Cooking School cookbook from the 1970s. My mother and grandmothers never used cookbooks. One summer, I annoyed all in trying to copy down recipes, so I have the book I wrote things down in. I would say it is my most treasured possession.

I have a few cookbooks that are replicas, which are fun to read. One was produced for railroad kitchen cars. It's amazing how detailed they were in the heyday of train travel where meals were served by porters and the silver was real!

~Kathleen

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by licia

Barbara, did you ever make the coconut snowballs in that cookbook? My mother made those for us often.

I remember my grandmother making those - we loved them, should get out that book and see if I can be inspired to make them - we have 2 new grand children after all! Start those memories.

[Heatherbe]

I haven't inherited any cookbooks yet, but there are a couple that I "procured" from my mother when I left home that I have often refer to. The Diet Cookbook from the Bureau of Consumer Research (remember them?) 1974 and The Woman's Advantage Diet 1989. I know I know.. diet cookbooks? lol But they have lots of taste.When I got married, my mother gave me my most prized cook book believe it or not is The Sheraton World Cookbook 1980.