• First edition 1966 Cincinnati Cook Book with pioneer recipes, Caroline Williams illustrations, and regional culinary history. COVER
  • First edition 1966 Cincinnati Cook Book with pioneer recipes, Caroline Williams illustrations, and regional culinary history. Recipe 1
  • First edition 1966 Cincinnati Cook Book with pioneer recipes, Caroline Williams illustrations, and regional culinary history. Recipe 2
  • First edition 1966 Cincinnati Cook Book with pioneer recipes, Caroline Williams illustrations, and regional culinary history. Copyright page
  • First edition 1966 Cincinnati Cook Book with pioneer recipes, Caroline Williams illustrations, and regional culinary history. Back cover
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Co‑operative Society of The Children’s Hospital

The Cincinnati Cook Book – First Edition (1966) – Children’s Hospital Co‑operative Society

The Cincinnati Cook Book – First Edition (1966) – Children’s Hospital Co‑operative Society

$35.00 USD
$35.00 USD
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AT A GLANCE

Title:
"The Cincinnati Cook Book"
Publisher:
Co‑operative Society of The Children’s Hospital
Type:
Cookbook
Style:
Community & Fundraising Cookbooks
Artist:
Caroline Williams, Illustrator
Author:
Margaret P. Fisk, Cookbook Chairman
Era:
Mid-Century Modern (1945- 1970)
Date:
November 1966 (First edition)
Origin:
Cincinnati, Ohio
Dimensions:
6 ¼" × 9 ¼"
Condition:
Very Good (VG)
Location:
Cincinnati, Ohio USA
Cover:
Softcover comb-bound
Pages:
304
OCLC:
304277
Book genre:
Community & Junior League
Notes:
Caroline Williams illustrations

First edition of beloved hospital cookbook with pioneer “receipts,” Cincinnati restaurant favorites, and 19 Caroline Williams illustrations.

The Cincinnati Cook Book is a first edition, published in November 1966 by the Co‑operative Society of The Children’s Hospital. The pink‑and‑red front cover features an illustration of The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. 

Dishes reflect the region’s eastern, southern, and “old country” culinary roots, offering a vivid portrait of Cincinnati’s diverse food traditions, and blends pioneer family “receipts” more than a century old, mid‑century “quickie” dishes, and prize recipes from Cincinnati restaurants with national reputations.

The book and cover is richly illustrated with drawings by Cincinnati artist Caroline Williams, including views of Tyler Davidson Fountain, Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Music Hall, Mount Adams, Eden Park Water Tower, and other landmarks—giving the volume a distinctive sense of place and especially desirable to collectors of Cincinnati history. 

Printed in a run of just 5,000 copies, this substantial 304‑page cookbook like many early fundraising cookbooks, lists contributor names in married form—such as “Mrs. John A. Smith”—quietly documenting the social conventions of the era.  Measures 6 ¼" × 9 ¼" and is in very good condition, with a clean, intact red comb binding, expected age toning, and only light surface scuffing to the cover. 

Artist Biography

Caroline Williams (1908–1988) was a Cincinnati artist best known for her long‑running “A Spot in Cincinnati” series, published in the Cincinnati Enquirer from 1932 to 1979. Sketches were celebrated not only for their charm but for the historical research she poured into each, enriching the city’s understanding of its own past.

Williams studied at the University of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Art Academy, and the Art Students League in New York before joining the Cincinnati Enquirer as a staff artist in 1932. She left the paper in 1945 to work independently, producing books and prints from a small studio she built behind her cabin. 

Browse our complete Community & Junior League Cookbooks collection for more fundraising cookbooks and recipes.

Just a quick heads‑up: the photos reveal details far better than text alone, so they’re worth a close review.

We share as much accurate information as possible about each item—from provenance to condition—but the images often show the nuances best. If you ever need more details, we’re always happy to help.

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The Legacy of Community Cookbooks

Community cookbooks are valued for their historical significance, their role in fundraising, and their ability to preserve culinary traditions. Often passed down through families with handwritten notes on time-worn pages, they reveal an intimate look into American culture and social norms—particularly the role of women.

Naming conventions like "Mrs. John A. Smith" reflect the hierarchy and identity of women during an era of limited societal power; while the recipes reflect food trends, kitchen technologies, and patterns of cultural assimilation. These cookbooks trace the larger story of America as it was reshaped by immigration, urban growth, and industrial change.

The tradition began during the Civil War with Maria J. Moss's, A Poetical Cookbook (1864), which raised funds for soldiers' families. Junior League organizations are major publishers, first publishing The Junior League Recipe Book (1930). Many have maintained popularity through the generations—like Charleston Receipts (1950), the oldest community cookbook that is still in print today.

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