Introduction

Published between 1908 and 1909, the Cobalt Souvenir and Cook Book is a compilation of both recipes and advertisements which provide an interesting look at a small, Canadian town during its heyday. Likely created as a source of income for both the church and the town itself, the cookbook contains over 200 recipes covering all types of sweet and savoury foods. Desserts are abundant with more than half of the book filled with recipes for cakes, pies, cookies, and other sweet treats. Overall, the recipes have simple instructions with minimal ingredients and are very indicative of the period in which this book was written. However, many recipes lack specific cooking times and temperatures, which was not uncommon for the time. The cookbook lives up to its souvenir description by containing pictures of the town, its citizens, and its mines throughout. Pages occupied by local business addresses and advertisements with detailed drawings fill many of the remaining pages. In combination with the photos, these advertisements would likely entice someone in the area of Cobalt to contact its tradespeople for services. The book’s age is apparent as the cover and pages are stained and torn from years of use. Still, the faded image on the cover of four men setting up camp is unmistakable and depicts the early prospectors arriving in Cobalt after the discovery of silver. Handwritten notes appear in pencil beside some recipes and provide insights into one of the cookbook’s previous owners. Using this cookbook as a reference, the reader may gain a better understanding of what life was like during the silver mining boom in Canada during the early 20th century. 

                                                                                                                                    

The library is committed to ensuring that members of our user community with disabilities have equal access to our services and resources and that their dignity and independence is always respected. If you encounter a barrier and/or need an alternate format, please fill out our Library Print and Multimedia Alternate-Format Request Form. Contact us if you’d like to provide feedback: lib.a11y@uoguelph.ca