It is amazing where we can find clues that help us make that next link in our family tree and move our genealogy research forward. Recently, I came across a blog post genealogist Lisa Lisson on the clues we can find in vintage cookbooks. Honestly, it’s not a research tool I had ever thought of, but as I read through Lisa’s blog, it completely makes sense. As she points out, finding a recipe from an ancestor not only confirms your ancestor’s time and place, but also adds color and context to your ancestor’s life that can’t often be found in other documents, like birth and death records or the census.

“From the charities the sale of the cookbooks supported, we learn what causes were important to our ancestors. Now look at the type of recipes in the cookbook. What are the food trends of that area? City vs rural? Do the recipes represent traditional southern cooking? Or do the recipes represent an African American culture, a Scandinavian heritage or a Polish heritage. The recipes give clues to the ethnic makeup of the community/group.” – Lisa Lisson, How to Use Vintage Cookbooks in Your Genealogy Research (www.lisalisson.com) 

Check out Lisa’s full blog post for more on using vintage cookbooks in your genealogy research. And, you might want to bookmark Lisa’s website because she’s a frequent blogger with tips and advice on genealogy research.