Thanks for Dinner: The 1930s
Thanksgiving During the Great Depression

Menus: By Decade

Recipes: By Type

Major Changes Seen in the 1930s

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Influence from the 1920s is still evident in the early 1930s. Menu items are more elaborate towards the beginning of the decade and gradually simplify as the Great Depression wore on. The number of dishes tends to remain high with muliple appetizers and desserts common.

Thanksgiving Menus

1930: Public Service Radio Thanksgiving Dinner
Fruit Cocktail
Celery         Olives         Salted Nuts
Scalloped Oysters
Roast Turkey         Gravy         Bread Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes         Baked Onions
Mashed Yellow Turnips
Moulded Cucumber Salad
Pumpkin Pie         Mince Pie
Election Cake         Coffee
- Swann, Ada Bessie, Public Service Electric and Gas Company, and N.J.) WAAM (Radio station : Newark. Public Service Radio Cooking School Recipe Book. Newark, New Jersey: Station WAAM, 1928-1930.

1930: Thanksgiving Dinner I
Rrapefuit Cocktail
Roast Turkey         Golden Rule Walnut Stuffing
Raspberry Jam
Marshmallow Sweat Potatoes         Shredded String Beans
Romaine Salad         Cream Cheese Dressing
Pumpkin Tartlets         Golden Rule Coffee
- Allen, Ida Cogswell Bailey, 1885-1973, and Citizens' Wholesale Supply Company. Golden Rule Foods-- the Golden Rule Way. Columbus, Ohio: Citizens' Wholesale Supply Co., 1930.

1930: Thanksgiving Dinner II
Julienne Soup         Wafers         Celery
Roast Chicken
Mashed Potatoes         Buttered Spinach         Corn Pudding
Asparagus Salad        Golden Rule French Dressing
Hot Mince Pie         Frozen Pudding
Golden Rule Coffee
- Allen, Ida Cogswell Bailey, 1885-1973, and Citizens' Wholesale Supply Company. Golden Rule Foods-- the Golden Rule Way. Columbus, Ohio: Citizens' Wholesale Supply Co., 1930.

1931: Good Housekeeping Institute Thanksgiving Dinner 1
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Roast Turkey         Giblet Gravy
Buttered Spinach         Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Jelly
Romaine Salad         French Dressing
Individual Pumpkin Pies
Nuts         Whipped Cream
Raisins         Coffee
- Good Housekeeping Institute (New York, N.Y.). Good Housekeeping's Book of Meals, Tested, Tasted, And Approved: Favorite Recipes And Menus From Our Kitchens to Yours. 4th ed. New York: Good Housekeeping, 1931.

1931: Good Housekeeping Institute Thanksgiving Dinner 2
Halves of Grapefruit
Roast Duck         Apple Stuffing
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Creamed Turnips        Cole-slaw
Baked Squash
Cider
Ginger Pudding         Foamy Sauce
Coffee
- Good Housekeeping Institute (New York, N.Y.). Good Housekeeping's Book of Meals, Tested, Tasted, And Approved: Favorite Recipes And Menus From Our Kitchens to Yours. 4th ed. New York: Good Housekeeping, 1931.

1932: Thanksgiving Dinner
Fruit Cocktail or Oyster Cocktail
Petite Marmite
Roast Turkey, Chicken, Duck, or Smoked Ham        Chestnut Stuffing
Sweet Potatoe Glace         Buttered Cauliflower
Celery
Moulded Cranberry Jelly
Bread and Butter
Hearts of Lettuce         Rouquefort Dressing
Marshmallow Pupkin Pie
Fruit         Nuts
Black Coffee
- Allen, Ida Cogswell Bailey, 1885-1973. Ida Bailey Allen's Modern Cook Book: 2500 Delicious Recipes, Formerly Published As Mrs. Allen On Cooking, Menus Service. Garden City, N.Y: Garden City Pub. Co, 1932.

1932: General Electric Thanksgiving Dinner
Shrimp Cocktail
Roast Turkey
Mashed Potatoes        Chestnut Stuffing
Carrots in Butter         Cranberry Jelly
Tomato Jelly Salad
Saltines
Mince Tarts with Vanilla Ice Cream
Nuts         Fruit         Mints
Coffee
- General Electric Company. Electric Refrigeration Department. The Silent Hostess Treasure Book. [5th ed.]. Cleveland, Ohio: General Electric Company, 1932.

1934: Thanksgiving Dinner
Consomme a la Royal, Celery
Roast Turkey
Garnish: Sausage Cakes and Italian Chestnuts
Escalloped Oysters
Mashed Potaoes         Sweet Potato and Almond Croquettes
Sweet Pickled Peaches         Gooseberry Jelly
Cauliflower         Hollandaise Sauce
Cranberry Frappe
Chicken Salad, French Style
Ginger Ice Cream         Hot Apple Pie
Neufchatel Cheese         Crackers
Black Coffee
- Hill, Janet McKenzie, 1852-1933. Practical Cooking And Serving: a Complete Manual of How to Select, Prepare, And Serve Food. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Doran, 1912-1934.

1934: Thanksgiving Dinner (Colonial Style)
Clam Chowder         Pickles
Wild Turkey Stuffed with Chestnuts
Roast Spare Ribs (Pork)         Pumpkin Sauce
Succotash         Mashed Turnips         Onions
Mashed Potaoes         Cole Slaw
Boston Brown Bread        Rye Bread
Pumpkin Pie         Apple Pie         Cheese
Thanksgiving Pudding
Fruit
Cider Cup
- Hill, Janet McKenzie, 1852-1933. Practical Cooking And Serving: a Complete Manual of How to Select, Prepare, And Serve Food. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Doran, 1912-1934.

1935: Thanksgiving Dinner
Oyster Broth
Roast Chicken or Turkey         Dressing         Gravy
Mashed Potatoes         Buttered Onions         Mashed Squash
Coleslaw
Cranberry Sauce         Peach Pickles         Celery
Rolls         Strawberry Jam         Butter
Pumpkin Pie         Apple Pie
- Harris, Florence La Ganke, 1886-, and Hazel Hanna Huston. The Home Economics Omnibus. Boston: Little, Brown, 1935.

1936: Thanksgiving
Fruit Cocktail
Celery         Olives
Cream of Corn Soup with Crisp Crackers
Roast Turkey         Chestnut Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes         Baked Stuffed Onions
Cranberry Sauce
Pumpkin Pie         Cheese
Coffee
- Splint, Sarah Field, 1883-1959. The Art of Cooking And Serving. Cincinnati, Ohio: Procter & Gamble, 1936.

1937: General Foods Thanksgiving Dinner
Tomato Juice Cocktail
Roast Turkey         Chestnut Stuffing
Cranberry Mold
Brussels Sprouts         Riced Potatoes
Down South Biscuits
Lettuce Salad         Cheese Straws
Delicious Pumpkin Pie
Coffee
Buts         Cream Wafers         Raisins
- General Foods Corporation. Consumer Service Dept. General Foods Cook Book. 5th ed. New York: Consumer Service Department, General Foods Corporation, 193

1937: Women's World Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving Fruit Cocktail
Roast Stuffed Turkey         Giblet Gravy
Mashed White or Sweet Potatoes
New England Creamed Onions
Mashed Turnips
Cranberry Jelly or Frappe         Celery
Pumpkin Cream Pie
Coffee
Candies
- Woman's World. Three Meals a Day At Home: the Woman's World Book of Home Cookery for 1937. New York: Woman's World, 1937.