The Settlement Cook Book

History & Provenance

Before Martha Stewart and Julia Child, there was Lizzie Black Kander. In 1901, this Milwaukee social worker created a cookbook to help Jewish immigrant women learn American cooking and household management. What started as an $18 printing of 1,000 copies became one of the most beloved American cookbooks of the 20th century. The Settlement Cookbook was published by the Settlement House, a charitable organization providing education to immigrant and impoverished young women. Its tagline — "The way to a man's heart" — reflected its era, but its recipes were revolutionary: clear measurements instead of "pinches" and "dashes," practical instructions, and a blend of Jewish favorites with American standards. This 2nd edition features the iconic yellow hardcover with red heart design that became the book's signature look from the 1960s onward.