Be A Ready Hostess does not contain submitted recipes of club members. This is likely a stock publication in which the members of an organization sold local advertising to cover the publication costs, then sold the book as a fund-raiser. The Business and Professional Women's Club's 1952 version shown here is almost as good as a City Directory for the number of High Point business that can be found in its pages. Like other community cookbooks, it asks the users to shop with the advertisers: "Let us in return express our sincere appreciation by patronizing this group, thus proving that this is a very worthy medium of advertising."

In addition to the advertising, Be A Ready Hostess contains tips on entertaining, a schedule of salaries, airline and automobile distances between cities, and special menus among other useful information. It also includes a photograph of the Business and Professional Women's Club's officers and a listing of its membership, showing the members' address and occupation.

There are a few recipes included under each section, too.

Gift of Helen Eshelman.

1980.014.020