Oldest Cookbook in Your Collection

[barbszy]

What's the oldest cookbook you own? Is there a family history behind it?

[barbszy]

I have about 4 cookbooks from the 1950's. One was my grandmother's. Another, nearly identical one (in identical bad condition) was DH's grandmother's. Then, 2 friends who know I collect cookbooks happened to find some others of the same era. These last 2 are actually in usable shape. One of them is the same as my grandmother's but I am not afraid to open this one and look up recipes. It has an intact binding and the pages are in better condition.

Even though the 2 grandmothers' cookbooks are crumbling, I can't bear to get rid of them!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Barb, this is an excellent topic! I never thought to ask my grandmother for her cookbooks! I got my great-great-grandfather's Bible that he took with him in the Civil War as well as other family Bibles, but I never thought to ask for her cookbooks! My grandmothers were the only ones who cooked and my father taught my mother how to cook.

I would have to say that my oldest cookbook is one that my aunt gave me for my high school graduation.

[cat lover]

I'm going to have to look and see, I know I have several that belonged to my grandmother and most of the old ones from my great aunt I gave my sister years ago; and they may have been the really old ones. I'm sure some I have go back to the 1920's if not earlier; but I will have to look.

[ajrsmom]

I have one old cookbook that was given to me by my Mother. It was my grandmothers. :) I believe it's from the 1930's. :D

[crochet2]

Barb, I was sorely mistaken. I thought that the Amy Vanderbilt cookbook I had which was my mother's was about 6 years older than it was. It is from 1961 and is the "Book Club Edition". That is the oldest one I have.

My sister has the Egg Harbor City one from maybe the women's club from the 70's in which I submitted my recipe for chicken and yellow rice. And I got one from the EHC PTO from 2004 which includes a recipe for "Funeral Pie", a recipe the current undertaker says his grandmother used to make for all the funerals. The funeral parlor (one of 2 in town) has been family owned since the mid-1800's. So that would probably be one of the oldest recipes in there.

Take care all!! Norma

[pag36]

I will have to check I have LOTS of cook books but think the one that belonged to my Paternal G-Mom is the oldest, I am afraid to open it, the front cover is gone but I also have another one just like it. Will check mine and see

[sky_40]

My mon's that I put together myself and Joy of Cooking

[cau]

I have a St. Denis Parish cookbook from the 50's. I have the Joy of Cooking my mom gave me as a shower gift. I wish I had dh 's moms but I didn't think fast enough. I am lucky to have both my moms and dh's moms china though.

[Kricket]

The oldest cookbook I have is on my self right now is "Cakes, Pastry and Dessert Dishes" published in 1918. (Does anyone know how much 'butter the size of a walnut' is????) I also have another one from 1905 packed away and many from the 30's, 40's and 50's. I think I use my 50's cookbooks the most (I have lots of these) as you make most things from scratch instead of starting with prepared foods such as pie crusts, biscuits, etc.

[cat lover]

I finally looked through some of my old ones I haven't given away to my sister(I know I gave her the oldest one). The old ones I have mostly are actually paper booklets from companies that my grandmother must have either sent for or maybe they wee given away back then. In the 1930's and 1940's are what I have found so far. Most are from like Arm & hammer, Spry, and things like that.