Harris Cookbook

A worn thin paper book. A hand written recipe for chowder is on the right side. In the background is a wooden spoon on the right and a rose printed plate with pink jelly on the left.
Harris Family cookbook in the Kitchen

Country of Origin: Canada
Year: ca. 1910
Materials: Cardboard and paper 

The Harris Family were assisted by multiple household staff including cooks. Some of the cooks came from the British Isles, bringing their recipes with them, others were local women hired on by the family matriarchs. This cookbook contains multiple pages of recipes from various people within the household. The handwriting varies depending on the page, pointing to multiple authors. Some of the recipes also denote that these recipes were passed from other community members or friends.

A large number of recipes focused on preserving food. Nearly the entire first half is dedicated to pickling a preserving, and many of the baked recipes that follow used dried fruit for flavouring. This book has been a very useful resource for museum staff, and some of these recipes have been tried and tested by staff. Videos for these recipes can be found on the Eldon House YouTube channel.

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.