HAPPY BIRTHDAY
META GIVEN!
Meta Given Turns 131 years old on January 25, 2019
Meta Given was a famous cookbook author & entrepreneur with a 70 year work history from
1902 - 1972!
This picture is a composite of pictures of Meta Given over the years:
- 1925 Meta Given promotion picture 1924-1925
- 1930 Meta Given promotion picture 1930s
- 1940 Meta Given promotion picture 1940s
- 1942 Meta Given and staff picture taken in "Meta Given's Scientific Kitchen" business for 1942 cook book "Modern Family Cookbook"
- 1942 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Picture for syndicated column
- 1931 Promotional picture of Meta Given doing demo of how to prepare dough for apple pie.
- 1975 Picture taken for article written by Jane Nickerson for the Okala Star Banner in Florida.
Meta Given was born during a very cold and stormy winter in 1888. She was the first of two children to James Henry Given and Eliza Ann (Lacy) Given. Meta Given grew up in the Ozarks of Missouri getting a fine education at various schools in Missouri. In 1902 she obtained her teaching certificate and began teaching grammar school. Eventually after attending Normal School #2 out of Warrensburg Missouri she taught at a Junior school, high schools and some colleges.
While Meta Given taught she would continue to go to school and eventually to the University of Chicago where she obtained her Bachelor's of Education in Home Economics. Meta Given graduated from University of Chicago in 1924 at the age of 36. In 1925 she started working for the Evaporated Milk Association while she was trying to obtain her masters at the University of Chicago. By 1927 she had abandoned her aspiration of a master at the University of Chicago. She continue to work for the Evaporated Milk Association until 1930.
Upon leaving that job she worked for the Chicago Tribune from June of 1930 to July of 1931. She wrote over 365 article for the Chicago Tribune. She also was a judge for various competitions which often included readers sharing their recipes. Meta Given was let go from her second job in as many years in 1931. She drifted doing demonstrations and consulting work for various companies. Eventually, in 1933, she purchased a scientific kitchen business that she named "Meta Given's Scientific Kitchens." She managed this business with 4 or 5 employees until 1948.
During her business years, she wrote syndicated food column in many papers around the United States. She wrote two famous cookbook "Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking" (1947) and "Modern Family Cook Book" (1942) selling around 4 million between the two books. She also edited another cookbook sometime called: The Art of Modern Cooking and Better Meals: Recipes for Every Occasion 1936-1939 Revised and Edited by Meta Given.
#8 favorite antique cookbook by abebooks.com readers
Based on the picture above Meta Given's "Encyclopedia of Cooking" was #8 favorite antique cookbook. Today you can find both of her books on various websites that buy and sell books including: amazon.com/meta given, ebay.com/meta given, etsey.com and abebooks.com.
In 2018, Danette Bishop Mondou completed and published Meta Given's only biography. Meta Given was the author of Mondou's family favorite cookbook "Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking" published in 1953 15th printing one volume. The original cookbook in 1947 was published in two volumes. There were many publishings of both books from 1942-1972.
Mondou and her family became interested in 2011 about Meta Given. Who was she? Was she only a cookbook author? Through some research between 2011 and 2013, not much could be found. Eventually through a blog called Sandy's Chatter, Mondou was able to get her first real information through this blog. Google has a newspaper archive and books that have been uploaded to their site. Through both of these sites Mondou was able to find some great information. Then through further research the site newspapers.com had over 7000 articles that were either written about Meta Given or written by Meta Given in her syndicated columns. Over the years that number has risen to over 10,000 articles.
These articles filled in the majority of Meta Given's life from 1902 until present. Mondou was able to find all of her work history from 1902 through 1972. Mondou was also able to find all of Meta Given's family history on Ancestry.com and other websites.
Meta Given's timeline is listed on the back of the biography.
Please join Danette Bishop Mondou in wishing Meta Given a Happy 131st Birthday!
