Written in 1906, One Hundred Recipes is a collection of “tried” recipes from the Domestic Science School in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The book contains information about food costs and preparation and the size of suitable portions. The recipes are easy to understand and require very little preparatory work. Most aim to serve one to two people and include the price of the ingredients, suggesting the book was meant for the newly married couple.

     Founded in 1898, the Domestic Science School aimed to teach young women household management, a key attribute of femininity in turn-of-the-century Canada. Notable domestic science crusader Adelaide Hoodless advocated for this sort of education for women, to “prevent divorce” and any “domestic shipwrecks.” To capably manage and run a home, Hoodless and others stressed that Canadian women needed to learn about domestic affairs in a recognized, formal setting like a school. Since women did most of the household shopping and food preparation at this time, cookbooks like One Hundred Recipes helped with concerns such as budgeting, portion size, and kitchen problem-solving. Such books, in addition to a domestic science education, were considered fundamental in creating a “true home.”

Tried Recipes from Domestic Science School, Halifax, N.S. Halifax, N.S.: McAlpine Publishing Company, Limited 1906. Gift of Una Abrahamson. Archival & Special Collections, University of Guelph.