Vintage Home Bureau Cook Book – Second Edition
Prepared by LaSalle County, Illinois Home Bureau
Circa early–mid 1940s

A wonderful, heavily used example of a classic Midwestern community cookbook, filled with handwritten recipes, household notes, and period additions that make this a true one-of-a-kind piece of domestic history.

This cookbook was issued with the title page serving as the front and an original patriotic paper wrapper as the back cover, a construction typical of Home Bureau and Extension Service publications of the era. The striped wrapper is marked “Plastic Binding – Chicago, U.S. Patent No. 170855” and remains present.

✍️ Handwritten & Added Content
• Numerous handwritten recipes throughout
• Soap-making recipes (lye soap, hard soap, cold soap)
• Pickling and preservation notes
• Folk household remedies
• Loose handwritten recipes included
• Period newspaper clippings pasted inside

📚 Contents

Includes extensive sections on:
• Breads, cakes, cookies & desserts
• Canning, pickling & food preservation
• Farm and household cooking
• Meat curing, freezing, and pantry methods

📏 Condition
• Good vintage condition
• Original plastic comb binding intact
• Paper wrapper present with heavy wear, staining, and edge loss from use
• Interior complete and readable
• Writing, toning, and age wear throughout (expected and desirable for this type of cookbook)

Please review all photos closely as they are part of the description.

🎯 Why collectors want this

Community cookbooks like this were working household tools, and copies with extensive handwritten family content are especially sought after. This example offers a genuine glimpse into Midwestern home life during the WWII era.