Mrs. Welch’s Cook Book

 

Name: Mrs. Welch’s Cook Book 

  Author: Mary B. Welch 

Publisher: Mills & Co., Des Moines (1884) 

Tags: domestic economy, historical cookbook, Iowa Agricultural College, 19th-century recipes, American culinary education, butter making, food preservation, vintage illustration, women in culinary history, instructional cooking 

Description: Published in 1884 by Mills & Co. in Des Moines, Mrs. Welch’s Cook Book is a visually ornate and educational culinary text authored by Mary B. Welch, an instructor in Domestic Economy at Iowa Agricultural College. The cover features detailed illustrations of food preparation techniques, including butter pressing and barrel churning, reflecting the domestic technologies of the era. The stylized typography and integrated cooking motifs highlight its dual role as both a practical guide and a cultural artifact. This book is a cornerstone of early American culinary pedagogy, emphasizing the role of women in shaping institutional food education.