BC Food History Network
The BC Food History network and website were established in 2011 as a way to support documentation and dissemination of historical information related to food. Food history is a part of our cultural heritage. It can be considered one of many sub-genres of our broader history, but it can also be viewed as the unspoken, the silent driving force behind all history. As author Mark Kurlansky (2007) writes, “If future historians want to look at what life was like in the early 21stcentury – the technological and information revolutions, the blessings and dangers of globalization, the challenges to the survival of the healthy planet – they would do well to look at our food.” Margaret Visser (1986) found much the same thing when she took a simple meal of nine ingredients and then researched each ingredient in Much Depends on Dinner. Food makes history so interesting!
Inquiries in BC Food History
The BC Food History Network takes a broad view of food history as encompassing historical accounts of all types of food sources, (indigenous, naturalized, and introduced), food production and food transformation, the associated cultural, economic, environmental, and sociological aspects of food, and individuals and groups who have made a significant historical contribution related to food. Therefore, our inquiries are wide-ranging. Often they are just bits and bites of history in blogs that may pique your curiosity and make you want to know more about food in the present and past. Occasionally, they more in-depth explorations in the form of research papers, some of which have been presented at conferences. We also offer resources for food history researchers and for teachers.
We believe that recovering food history contributes to a better understanding of food practices and has the potential to make a more food literate consumer, to improve healthy eating habits, to honour and preserve family and community traditions, and to renew a sense of the pleasure of eating.
We welcome guest blog posts with an emphasis on food history. We operate informally. Comments are welcome, as are suggestions for new topics. We also have a Facebook page.
Acknowledgments
The BC Food History acknowledges grants and contributions of individuals and organizations since its establishment in 2011.
THEN/HIER [The History Education Network] and individual contributions enabled the purchase of the first domain name, web hosting and the barebones of the website.
THESA ( BC Teachers of Home Economics Specialist Association) sponsored the Eat Your History student contests by providing prize money and publicity.
The Canadian Home Economics Foundation has contributed grants from various funds over the years to enable the maintenance and continuous updating of the website
British Columbia Historical Federation recognized the website of the BC Food History Network in a 2016 Best Website Award.
Founding Members of BC Food History Network
(1947 – 2026)
Mary Leah was a founding member of the BC Food Network and she acted as webmaster. She was passionate about history. Her graduate studies (MA, PhD) involved documenting home economics history particularly the early pioneers in BC. Community cookbooks and cookbook research as women’s studies brought her to food history. She was a well-respected home economics teacher and a home economics teacher educator. In her retirement she continued to teach on-line courses for UBC’s home economics masters students until 2024. Her blog posts and history research papers continue to engage readers and contribute to the field. She died unexpectedly this winter and we mourn her loss.