University of Guelph Library
Canadian Cookbook Collection
The Canadiana collection of cookery books at Guelph comprises books used by Canadians and contains approximately 4,000 items. The subject matter in the collection ranges widely--there are books containing recipes and general information about the preparation of food, social histories of food, food handling texts, customs, etiquette, and many other aspects of culinary arts and practices. Because cookery and dining are fundamental human activities, cookbooks often record important traditions and document cultural change in Canadian life. Researchers interested in the historical and sociological aspects of food, nutrition, cookery, household economy, manners, or women's studies find a treasure trove of information in this collection. Other researchers are interested in the bibliographic features of the books themselves or information about authors or compilers. Over the years, many books have been generously donated by individuals interested in the preservation of Canada's culinary past. You can browse through hundreds of books generously added to the collection by Canadian authors and collectors such as:
One delightful feature of the collection is the presence of community cookbooks across Canada (many compiled for fund raising purposes) which depict regional, ethnic, family, and societal traditions. An important feature of the collection is the holdings for Cuisine Canada's Canadian culinary book awards winners. As well, the collection features many fascinating early 19th century works and pamphlets by fictional "cooking personalities" created by Canadian and American firms, for example Robin Hood Flour's "Rita Martin."
The entire collection can be browsed at this main catalogue link and sorted by author, date, title, etc.
Canadian Cookbook Collection Highlights, compiled by Elizabeth Driver
Mrs Clarke's Cookery Book, Toronto, 1883 -- TX715.6 C54
The first Canadian cookbook to be published in American editions (under various titles, from 1889, e.g., The People's Cook Book, Chicago: The People's Publishing Co., 1889); enjoyed a huge distribution in Canada, under various titles, up to about 1920 (The Dominion Cook Book, The Hudson's Bay Cook Book, etc.); the author had an English connection and some of the recipes are related to ones in The Official Handbook for the National Training School for Cookery Containing the Lessons on Cookery Which Constitute the Course of Instruction in the School, compiled by R.O.C. [Miss Rose Owen Cole], London: Chapman and Hall, 1877, but there are also distinctly Canadian recipes such as Governor's Sauce
The Souvenir Cook Book, by the Ladies' Aid Society of Grace Church, Winnipeg, 1896 -- TX715.6 S6583
The first cookbook compiled in Manitoba; rare (one of only two known publicly held copies); in Susan Coyne's play called Kingfisher Days, a character refers to this book
The P.L.A. Cook Book, by the Ladies' Aid Society of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, St John's, Newfoundland, 1925 -- TX715.6 P52
The second cookbook compiled in Newfoundland; this is the second of three editions (the first appeared in 1924) of a popular local cookbook that was remembered and honoured in 1992 when the same church published The New P.L.A. Cook Book
New Cook Book of Tested Recipes, Evangeline Chapter I.O.D.E., 1934 -- TX715.6 N4756
One of a series of six favourite Halifax cookbooks from the Evangeline Chapter of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, published in the period 1924-52
Tested Recipes, by St Josaphat's Ladies' Auxiliary, Edmonton, Alberta -- TX715.6 T459
An important record of Ukrainian cookery as practiced in the Canadian West