The sweet taste of Texas cookbooks

Elizabeth Borst White knows cookbooks! Twenty-five years ago, recognizing the unique window into cultural history that they provide, Ms. White began a collection that now contains nearly 1,600 volumes.  Recently retired after nearly 40 years as a librarian for the Houston Academy of Medicine–Texas Medical Center Library, White understands the value of her Texas cookbook collection as a historical resource and has pledged to donate her materials to The Texas Collection, significantly enriching our already wide assortment of resources in this area. In addition, Elizabeth White has generously established the Biscuits and Gravy Endowed Fund–a permanent endowment that provides funding for future purchases and preservation of the cookbook collection.

White says that her favorite types of cookbooks are “community cookbooks with lots of advertisements for local businesses” because they “give the reader a good picture of the community at that time. We just do not see advertisements for rifles and ammunition, or corsets and ladies’ hats in cookbooks today.”

Here’s a small taste of the delights you can find in the Elizabeth Borst White Texas Culinary Collection:

  • “Treasure Pots,” The Austin Woman’s Club, 1940 which includes recipes for Salmagundi Dressing, Admiration Pie, and ‘Possum and Sweet Taters.
  • What’s Cooking in Our Swedish-American Kitchens, Central Methodist Church, Austin, c.1951, with Wienerbrod (Coffee Bread), Kroppkakor (Potato Dumplings with Pork), and Brysseikax (Iced Box Cookies). Also Tuna Noodles and Tamale Pie.
  • Portrait of A. Fillmore, author of one of the first cook books by an African-American chef, The Lone Star Cook Book and Meat Special (From the Slaughter Pen to the Dining Room Table), Hotel Lubbock, 1929.

 

  • Advertisement for Kitchen Queen’s Baking Powder (“Healthful and efficient.”) and J.E. Grant Fine Wall Papers (“Don’t paper your house like everybody’s house.”) from the Waxahachie Cook Book, 1902 .

 

  • Advertisements for Miss Julia A. Hillyer, Teacher of Piano, and Kauffman Vehicles (“Would be pleased to figure with you if in need of a good Vehicle.”) also from the Waxahachie Cook Book, 1902.

The Texas Culinary Collection is a fascinating look into the kitchens of the past. These cookbooks help us understand the history of the organizations that authored them, and the daily lives of the chefs and homemakers whose recipes they contain. They remind us of businesses and products no longer available, and of trendy foods no longer in fashion. Come in and sample the collection for some great reading and great cooking!

–AO & AWC

3 Comments

  • Wayne Bell

    October 14, 2011 at 3:17 pm Reply

    Enjoyed this article. Am also a collector of cook books, many of which are spiral bound community publications. My collection is now at about 2400 and have just begun trying to catalogue the collection….using program called Delicious Library. Any pointers on a “system” would be welcome. Also, the final disposition of a collection is always a concern, rather than having the collection go to Half Price Books or Goodwill (which incidentally, are where many of my books have come from).
    I now live in Austin (native Texan) but am packing to move to Washington state in the new few weeks. Certainly interested in a response, but mainly just wanted to comment on the article and the information.

  • Awc

    October 14, 2011 at 3:19 pm Reply

    There are so many good database programs out there, we really can’t make a recommendation. Perhaps another book collector can tell you more. You might also consider using a website like Library Thing (http://www.librarything.com/) if you wanted to share your collection with others online.
    There are a number of university and public libraries that have significant cookbook collections. We collect Texas cookbooks, but you might also want to check out Feeding America (http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/cookbooks/), The Texas Women’s University collection (http://www.twu.edu/library/cookbook-collection.asp), and the Los Angeles Public Library (http://www.lapl.org/resources/guides/food_drink.html). Happy collecting!

  • Tracey Fillmore

    November 3, 2013 at 5:39 pm Reply

    Hello,

    I am Artaway Fillmore’s great great daughter. I hava a copy of his orginal of his cook book that he signed for my great great aunt which is his sister. I am so glad you have a copy of it in one of your collections. So I thank you. If have any more information about my great great grandfather I would like to know.

    Tracey Elizabeth Fillmore
    Victoria, Tx.

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