A Road Scholar program by Penelope Bingham

This presentation looks at aspects of American culture in the 20th Century as reflected in its cookbooks, including changing gender roles and social structure; patterns of immigration and integration of immigrant groups into American society; and changing understanding of ideal nutrition and diet. The program focuses on a decade-by-decade survey of important American cookbooks, utilizing lecture and discussion with illustrative out-of-print cookbooks.

Penelope Bingham holds degrees from Wellesley College and the University of Chicago and has been an avid collector and appraiser of cookbooks for many years. Her personal collection of cookbooks now exceeds well over 2,000 volumes, and she has given numerous programs on American culture and cookbooks to libraries and professional organizations around Illinois.

For more information contact Eve G. Kirk, 815.332.5161.