The Ossoli Club cookbook (1894-1935) provided funding for the keystone accomplishment of the Club , the first documented woman’s club in Highland Park, Illinois: the establishment and maintenance of the first public beach in Highland Park in 1911. The Club maintained the beach, provided swimming lessons, play equipment in the sand and in the water, changing rooms, chaperones, and lifeguards from the Young Men’s Club; with yearly improvements until the City and Park District took over those responsibilities. The cookbook and the Club’s records offer an example of food and culture, public spaces and public safety, and women as actors in the public sphere.
Ladies Home Journal, v30, 1913 notes that the Ossoli Club of Highland Park raised $335.00 selling the book at a 1911 domestic arts and science day. That is 11,000 in 2024 dollars to support their Central Ave. Beach, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The article also notes that the beach, in its third year, saw 100-400 visitors daily.
A copy of this book is held at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign view as-is and text.
Index created by Catherine Lambrecht
Ossoli Club prolific contributors:
Mrs. E. B. Peirce: 28 recipes
T. R. Wyles: 14 recipes
Mrs. Thorn: 14 recipes
Mrs. G. H. Campbell: 9 recipes
Mrs. Hussey: 9 recipes
Mrs. G. A. Mason: 9 recipes
Mrs. Howard Wrenn: 8 recipes
Perhaps the only male contributor: Granville Mott (likely forgot to add ‘Mrs.’)
250 recipes without any known contributors
Ossoli Cook Book Contributors
Mrs. Adams, Mrs. L. R. Allen, Celia Hopkins Arnold, Mrs. Ayers (4), M. B., M. D. B., Mrs. W. H. Baldwin,
Mrs. R. J. Beatty (3), Mrs. Chas. Beckurts, Mrs. E. A. B. (3), Mrs. E. A. Bournique (3), Mrs. H. N. Boyd (2),
Mrs. H. W. Boyd, (2), Mrs. Ten Broeck (3), Mrs. J. V. Brown, Mrs. C. W. Buckley (3), Bessie S. Bullard,
M. F. C., M. J. V. C., M. W. C., Mrs. F. B. C., Mrs. H. H. C., Mrs. G. H. Campbell (9), Mabel D. Carey,
Mabel D. Cary, Mabel D. Curry, Marion Carr (3), Mrs. Henry Carver (2), From the Carruabbee Shop,
No. 6 Madison Street, Mary F. Clark (7), Mrs. H. B. Clarke (4), Isabel L. Clark, Mrs. G. O. Clinch,
Mrs. D. Cobb, Mrs. Daniel Cobb (6), Mrs. Crandall (2), Mrs. John Fitch Curtis, G. C. D. (2), Mary Deane,
Mrs. C. D., Mrs. R. Calvin Dobson (5), F. M. Doty (4), M. F. Doty, Mrs. D. M. Ershine, Mrs. D. M. Erskin, Miss A. M. Everett (3), Mrs. C. B. Farwell, Chicago, Mrs. Benjamin Fessenden,
Mrs. Benjamin A. Fessenden, K. F., Kate Floyd (3), Kate F. Floyd (3), Mrs. Kate F. Floyd, Elinor B. Fyffy, E. G. (5), E. G. (4), Clara G. Geer (4), Mrs. John Glass (7), Mrs. Kate Floyd, Mrs. E. F. Gorton (3), Mrs. Gregory, Mrs. H. B., Mrs. C. Granville Hammond, From Marion Harland, J. E. B. Haskin (3), L. E. B. Haskin, Mrs. Hastings (3), Mrs. Frank P. Hawkins (5), Miss Freda Heintz, Mrs. L. W. Henry, Mrs. Hirschberg (2), Martha Holmes, Mrs. C. C. Hughes (3), Mrs. C. D. Hughes, Mrs. Hussey (9), Mrs. Ives (5), Mrs. M. A. Ives, Mrs. W. R. Jacoby, Alma Koepke, Mrs. J. C. L., Mrs. H. B. Lensch, Mrs. Luther (7), Mrs. Lyman, Mrs. G. N. Lyman (2), Mrs. G. A. Mason (9), Mrs. Frank R. McMillin (5), Mrs. McMeekin, Chicago, Mrs. Mihilk, Mrs. Mihills,
Mrs. William Millard, Mrs. Wm. Millard, Mrs. William Millerd, Mrs. George E. Moore (4),
Mrs. Carleton Morely (3), Granville Mott, Mrs. J. G. Mott (3), Mrs. F. C. Nickels, Mrs. J. V. Norcross (4),
Mrs. John V. Norcross, Mrs. Norcross, Old English, Miss F. Papps, Mrs. Frank Pardridge,
Mrs. Frank R. Pardridge, Grace D. Pardridge (3), Grace I. Pardridge, Mrs. E. B. Peirce (26), Mrs. E. B. Pierce, Mrs. E. V. Peirce, Mrs. C. B. Pierce, Mrs. J. W. Prindiville, Mrs. A. A. Putnam (2), Mrs. John A. Putnam (3), Mrs. C. B. Richards (2), Mrs. H. B. Robert, Mrs. H. B. Roberta (3), Mrs. H. B. Roberts (3), Miss E. S. Rumsey, E. M. S., Mrs. E. M. S., A. L. M. S. (4), Mrs. F. S. S (4), Good Housekeeper used by Edna Sampsell, Edna Sampsell, Kate Moored used by Edna Sampsell, Lillian Prescott Kingsbury used by Edna Sampsell, Mrs. Holmes used by Edna Sampsell, Receipt from Baltimore used by Edna Sampsell, Used by Edna Sampsell (5), Florence M. Schauffler (5), Mrs. C. E. Schuffler, H. O. Schumacher (2), Mrs. H. O. Schumacher (2), Schall, Sheridan Road, Mrs. W. K. Sidley (2), Mrs. Slade (2), Clara R. Smith, Mrs. Byron L. Smith, Mrs. J. P. Smith (3), Mrs. L. Smith, Mrs. Paul Smith, Mrs. Fred M. Steele (2), Mrs. W. J. Strong (2), Mrs. H. L. Taylor (5), Mrs. Henry Thayer (4), Mrs. Thorn (14), Amanda S. Tillman, Mrs. Traxel (2), Mrs. Troxel (4), Jessie J. Ulrich (2), Jessi J. Ullrich, Mrs. Van Nortwick, VanNortwick (2), Van Northw’k (2), Mrs. I. P. Veazey, E. W., Mrs. Chas. H. Warren (3), This was copied from Martha Washington’s own handwritten receipt book, and is baked and served at the D.A.R. luncheons. This recipe was donated by the Almeda, California, Chapter, Mrs. E. M. Watkins (4), Mrs. F. M. Watkins, Mrs. Frank L. Wean, Mrs. Frank Lincoln Wean (3), C. B. Willit, C. B. Willits, Mrs. Thomas C. Williams (3), E. L. Wolcott, Mrs. Frank V. Wran, Mrs. Howard A. Wrenn (8), Mrs. T. R. Wyles (14),
Mrs. L. G. Yoe (3) (130 contributors)
Front of the book advertiser
Woods Electric, Highland Park
Back of the book advertisers
Please refer to the book for the nature of their businesses.
William Anderson, Highland Park
Barsumian Brothers, Highland Park
J. M. Bilharz – Highland Park
George A. Bock – Highland Park
James Bowden, Highland Park
J. J. Cahill, Highland Park
Clement, Curtis & Co. – Chicago
Fred S. Dole, Caterer – Highland Park
Herman A. Drieske, Ravinia
James H. Duffy – Highland Park
Erskine Bank – Highland Park
Paul Gieser – Highland Park
Greene’s News Co., Highland Park
Earl W. Gsell, Highland Park
Highland Park Dairy
Highland Park Fuel Company
Highland Park Greenhouse (Bahr)
Highland Park Ice, Highland Park
H. P. Jeppesen, Highland Park
Johnson & Co., Highland Park
Lake Shore Creamery, Highland Park
Albert Larson, Highland Park
Levin the Jeweler, Highland Park
Moraine Hotel Stables, Highland Park
E. Nelson, Tailor, Highland Park
A. E. Norrlen, Highland Park
Parisian Dye House, Highland Park
T.E. Pierson, Highland Park
D. C. Purdy and Sons, Highland Park
Reliable Laundry – Highland Park
C. G. Rosenow, Highland Park
Lydia M. Rowen, Highland Park
Fred Schaefer, Plumbing Highland Park
Fred W. Schumacher, Highland Park
Frank Siljestrom, Highland Park
Jesse Sobey, Highland Park
R. J. Southerton, Highland Park
Sparkling Spring Mineral Water
R. J. Tillman, Highland Park
Warrens, Highland Park
William Witten, Highland Park
Frank G. Zahnle, Highland Park