Photo courtesy of the Boston Globe – April 1st, 1894
The first cooking school in America opened its doors to students in 1879. That was the Boston Cooking School, founded by the Women’s Education Association. The school’s chairman was Sarah E. Hooper, who after traveling abroad during the 1850s, was so impressed with the vocational training provided at industrial schools for domestic workers in England and Scotland, that she opened her own school in Australia where she was living at the time. There, a much-needed type of education, Sarah’s school became a big success giving her the confidence and expertise to try such an endeavor when she moved back to America. Since then, cooking and education have gone hand in hand. In today’s post, you’ll find 26 vintage photographs that highlight the relationship between food and teaching as seen in classrooms around the globe. It’s a fun look at history via the kitchen lens. Each of these photos tells its own unique story, from the equipment used to the clothing worn to the expressions on the faces of the teachers and students themselves. Let’s take a look…
The Naval Cooking School, New York City circa 1915-1920Cake Making at the Boston Cooking School, Boston, MA, 1908Cooking class at Stanthorpe State School, Australia, 1933The Edison Cooking School, Seattle, 1955Students preparing lunch at the Boston Cooking School, Boston, MA, 1908Cooking Students at the Montgomery Industrial School for Girls, Montgomery, Alabama, 1910Welfare Hall cooking class, Boston, MA, 1905Cooking School for Working Mothers, Berlin, Germany, 1913Sherman Indian High School Cooking Class, Riverside, California, 1910 Teachers and Students at The Hotel and Culinary School of Finland, Helsinki, 1956High school cooking class, Washington DC, 1899Cooking class at Grafton Public School, Australia, 1926Cooking Class for Boys, Norway, 1963Cooking class at the Carlisle Indian School, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 1901Elementary school cooking laboratory, New York circa 1908-1915Chevy Chase High School cooking class, Bethesda, Maryland, 1935The Frigidaire Cooking School, Clarkesville, Georgia, 1950High school cooking class, Watertown, New York, 1909Montgomery Blair High School cooking class, Silver Spring Maryland, 1935Cooking class at a school for girls, Jerusalem 1936 Cooking class at Banneker Junior High School, Washington DC 1942Forst Street Public School cookery class, New South Wales, 1910Home Economics class, Ontario, Canada, 1959The Star Bulletin Cooking School, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1934Y.W.C.A. Cooking class, Canada 1939Salem Boys Club cooking class Salem, Oregon, 1976. Photo courtesy of the Statesman JournalAfrican American Cooking Class circa 1910-1940Teacher’s College Domestic Science Class & Cooking Laboratory, Oxford Ohio, 1915Housekeeping and cooking students, Germany, 1905Ohio State Normal College Cooking Laboratory, 1910Wood Stove Cooking Class circa 1899
As we welcome this studious month of September, we wanted to say a special cheers to all the teachers out there who have kept our minds fed and our bellies full throughout history. Hope you have enjoyed this unique glimpse into the past. Happy Labor Day!
In the Vintage Kitchen: Where History Comes To Eat 
Fascinating photos and article! Thank you for sharing them with us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the photos!
LikeLike