Ida Bailey Allen

Ida Bailey Allen
Born	(1885-01-30)January 30, 1885 Danielson, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	July 16, 1973(1973-07-16) (aged 88) Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.
Other names	The Nation's Homemaker
Occupations	Chef Journalist Radio personality Author
Culinary career
Cooking style	Cuisine of the United States

Ida Cogswell Bailey Allen (January 30, 1885 – July 16, 1973) was an American chef and author who was once popularly known as "The Nation's Homemaker," writing more than 50 cookbooks. She was described as "The original domestic goddess" by antique cookbook experts Patricia Edwards and Peter Peckham.

Early years

Allen was born in 1885 in Danielson, Connecticut.

Career

In 1924 Allen was food editor of the Sunday New York American. By 1928 she was hosting a regular daytime radio show which expanded to two hours the following year. She not only performed on the show, she also produced and sold her own advertising; she was a pioneer in selling spot advertising rather than having a single company sponsor a show. The program ended in 1932, at which time she began a syndicated cooking show on the Columbia Broadcasting System. She became television's first female food host on Mrs. Allen and the Chef.

She was an editor of Good Housekeeping, writing the "Three Meals a Day" column, as well as Home Economics Editor of Pictorial Review and Woman's World. She was president and founder of the National Radio Home-Makers Club. During World War II, Allen was drafted by the US Food Administrator as lecturer.

She once lived atop 400 Madison Avenue, New York City where visitors were able to see the "latest developments in homemaking", and could watch her staff develop and test new recipes for cooking. A 1932 promotional book she wrote for Coca-Cola, When You Entertain, was so popular 375,000 copies were sold in under six months.

Death

Allen died July 16, 1973, in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Published works

Mrs. Allen's Cookbook, 1917, one of the many cookbooks authored by Allen

This is a partial list of Allen's published works.

• For The Bride - Helpful Hints Practical Suggestions and Valuable Records. Reuben Donnelley Corp., Chicago 1922 & 1923.
• Home Partners, or, Seeing the Family Through, Privately Printed, 1924
• Your Foods and You, PF Collier & Son, 1929
• Gastronomique: A Cookbook for Gourmets, 1962
• Best Loved Recipes of the American People, 1973