MOUNTAIN MEASURES: A Collection of West Virginia Recipes | Junior League of Charleston, West Virginia 1993 ©1974

MOUNTAIN MEASURES: A Collection of West Virginia Recipes is a regional cookbook first published in 1974 by the Junior League of Charleston, West Virginia.  The cookbook has been named a Southern Living Hall of Fame winner.

This is a difficult to find Junior League cookbook and includes photographs accompanied by bits of local history, and poetry from Louise McNeill, a West Virginia poet and historian of the Appalachian region.   Many recipes were gathered from West Virginia and Charleston persons of note, and those recipes are accompanied by the cook’s biography.  Recipes deemed “local” are marked with a quilt square icon.

It is a great example of a "community cookbook,' which were often published for women by women.  These cookbooks provide unexpected insights into aspects of American culture and public history at a given time in history. For example, in this cookbook, contributors use their husband's first name and last name with the title Mrs. Additionally, these cookbooks provide the reader a snapshot of historical details not documented elsewhere and have become unofficial records of the past.  For some cookbook collectors and culinary scholars, their historical value far outweighs the recipes inside. 

The 394-page comb bound hardcover cookbook is in good used condition. There is some light discoloring on some of the page edges--particularly on the top. No bent edges, tears and handwritten notes inside, other than the previous owner's name on the inside cover.  Inside the back cover, there is some roughness on the inside backing. The Southern Living Hall of Fame sticker is on the front. This is a copy from the ninth printing in 1993. 

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