The Real Inventor of Food Journalism:The Story Behind the First New York Times Food Writer Jane Nickerson and Her Food Section, 1942-1957

Dr. Kimberly Voss, Associate ProfessorUniversity of Central Florida

Craig Claiborne’s Biographer:

•“Jane Nickerson’s world of canned fish and weekend bargains.”

English/Journalism Degree

New York Times 1942-1957

Florida Cookbook

Lakeland Ledger

Food as Hard & Soft News

Rationing/Self Sacrifice

“Emergency Potatoes”

Food Prices

Mixes

“Eating As It Was Back Then”

“Joy of Cooking” Review

Nutrition & Bread

Grocery Shopping

Radio Programming

Cooking & Gender• Nickerson: “Yesterday the 100 finalists in the Pillsbury National

Recipe Contest took over the grand ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, turning a room favored for automobile shows and debutante balls into a fragrant, friendly kitchen. Results of what Pillsbury termed “the Bake-off” will be announced today at a luncheon on the hotel’s Starlight Roof, when Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt will present nine awards ranging from $500 to $50,000.”

Nickerson’s Legacy

Mimi Sheraton

•"Neither I nor any other female food writer I knew was given an interview for his job, no matter her credentials.” – upon Claiborne’s first retirement, 1972