H70.142.57

• california gold rush

Cook Book. Description: Cook-book: "A New System of Domestic (not Reitz collection) Cookery, by a Lady, 1854". From the History Information Station: The full title of the book is"A New System of Domestic Cookery formed upon Principles of Economy and adapted to the Use of Private Families."Authorship is "By a Lady", and the publishing information indicates it was published in Halifax by Milner and Sowerby in 1854 Cookbooks have been written for hundreds of years, but they only became popular in the 19th century. During that time many people moved away from their families and old family homes, seeking opportunities in the West or in the booming new fields of business and industry. One goal of cookbooks was to ensure that people could meet traditional standards of cooking and eating, even without the family's guidance. This cookbook carefully notes that it is "By A Lady", to assure buyers the recipes are as good as (or better than) Grandma's.