In the cookbook, Wise Wives Keep Husbands Happy by Using this Good Guide to Wholesome Cookery (Wise Wives), the title outlines the era and style of the book. The title depicts a more conventional form of femininity where women stayed home to be wives and mothers, cleaning and cooking while their husbands were at work. It suggests that in order to be a "wise wife" you must have two things: a husband and the desire to cook. This cookbook was compiled by "the Ladies of St. Vital," Manitoba, who were members of one of two churches: St. Mark’s Anglican Church or Regent’s Park United Church, now known as St. Mary's United Church. At the time of its publication in 1925, the book was sold for 50 cents and all of the proceeds from the book's sale were divided between the two churches. Each recipe in the book contains a notes stating who contributed it. For example, "A. Followell" shared both the Crumb Cake and the Chocolate Cake recipes. The book also includes pages dedicated to advising readers on how to cook for husbands, how to find a proper husband, and various hints and tricks about keeping a proper household.