This pamphlet’s main value is historical. Historians studying the culture of the 1950s, particularly that of women, could use this as a primary source of reference to the culture of the time. Its content and language reflect the optimism of the 1950s—a time when thoughts of war were in the past, and people looked toward a new and brighter future, filled with fun activities and the money to engage in them. This was a time when thoughts could be about entertaining, tickling your palate, challenging your imagination (“Pretty as a Picture Parties”, 1), square dancing (“Pretty as a Picture Parties”, 6), and catching up on the latest gossip (“Pretty as a Picture Parties”, 7).

              The pamphlet echoes society’s role for women during this era. The writer suggests that a woman who dreams of becoming a “famous movie star, a successful designer, [or] a world-renowned artist” can “make their dreams come true” (“Pretty as a Picture Parties”, 1) in the kitchen. Young women needed the support of their mothers and they needed to “impress their severest critics, the other girls” (“Pretty as a Picture Parties”, 7). The idea that a woman could “let the boys have their fling” (“Pretty as a Picture Parties”, 6) mirrors society’s view that women were in charge of the household.

              More generally, this pamphlet depicts social activities in the 1950s. It also gives the reader a glimpse of what might have been the social expectations of the time with respect to entertaining: staples of a good party (games, decorations) and acceptable gender-based divisions of labour.

              The pamphlet also has value as a cookbook from this era, and as an example of advertising strategies that companies used to promote their products. In this work, a corporate interest (the Home Service Dept. of the Canada Starch Company) takes a warm, personal, friendly tone addressing its readers.