Beard, James, 1903-1985

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James Andrews Beard was born in Portland, Oregon on May 5, 1903. He studied briefly at Reed College in Portland but left in 1923 to join a touring theatrical troupe and pursue a career as an actor and singer. In the mid-1930s he began to supplement his income with catering work, and in 1937 he settled in New York and opened a gourmet food shop, Hors D'Oeuvre Inc. The work at the shop led to Beard's first book, Hors d'Oeuvres and Canapés, in 1940.

During the war years, Beard served with the U.S. Seamen's Service, establishing sailors' canteens in Rio de Janeiro, Puerto Rico, Panama and Marseille. When he returned to New York he resumed writing cookbooks, publishing prolifically and establishing himself as America's most noted culinary authority. In 1946 he was given his own segment on a pioneering television program, NBC's "I Love to Eat," becoming one of the first TV chefs.

Over the years, Beard contributed articles and columns to numerous magazines, including Women's Wear Daily, House and Garden and Gourmet. In the 1970s he wrote a syndicated newspaper column, "Beard on Food."

In 1955 Beard established the James Beard Cooking School, in New York, and for many years he served as a consultant to food producers and restaurateurs. He also ran his own restaurant, in Nantucket, for a while.

Beard published over twenty books in his lifetime, among them The Fireside Cookbook, The James Beard Cookbook, Delights and Prejudices, a Memoir with Recipes, and James Beard's Theory and Practice of Good Cooking.

James Beard died on January 21, 1985 at age 81.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Portland Civic Theatre (Or.). Portland Civic Theatre Photographs Collection [graphic], 1925-1994. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. : Series I., General Correspondence, 1922-1977 (bulk 1946-1966). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Papers of M.F.K. Fisher, 1860-1995 (inclusive) 1929-1992 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn James Beard Foundation Archive, Bulk, 1990-2008, 1939-2008 Fales Library & Special Collections
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed with initials : Glen Ellen, California, to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1980 Nov. 15. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Papers of Julia Child, 1925-1993 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Beard, James, 1903-1985. Letters, 1952-1964. Indiana University
referencedIn Corner Book Shop (New York, N. Y.). Records, 1940-1980 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed with initials : Last House [Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1976 Dec. 28. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Beard, James, 1903-1985. Letters, 1952-1964. Indiana University
referencedIn Papers of Dione Lucas, ca.1930-1995 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed : Last House [Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1980 Oct. 27. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn James Beard Collection Fales Library & Special Collections
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed with initials : Last House [Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1979 Nov. 13. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed : St. Helena, California, to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1971 Jan. 22. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed with initials : Last House [Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1979 Jan. 15-16. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Kauffman, Mark. Papers, 1966-1992 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed with initials : Last House [Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1975 Nov. 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed with initials : Last House [Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1978 Jan. 4. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Papers of M.F.K. Fisher, 1860-1995 (inclusive) 1929-1992 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Corner Book Shop (New York, N. Y.). Records, 1940-1980 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Beard, James, 1903-1985. James Beard papers [manuscript], 1937-1985. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. : Series II., Alfred A. Knopf Personal, 1874-1984 (bulk 1953-1984). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf James Beard Papers, ca. 1950-1980 Fales Library & Special Collections
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. Series V., Editor Files, 1873-1984 (bulk 1960-1980). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Cecily Brownstone Papers, ca. 1940-2002 Fales Library & Special Collections
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Typed letter signed with initials : Last House [Glen Ellen, California], to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1975 Oct. 8. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Voices from the Food Revolution: People Who Changed The Way Americans Eat, An oral history project conducted by Judith Weinraub, 2009-2011 Fales Library & Special Collections
referencedIn James Beard photographs collection [graphic], 1968-1984. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Gypsy Rose Lee papers, 1910-1970 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Beard, James, 1903-1985. James Beard Papers. Fales Library & Special Collections
referencedIn Chez Panisse. Chez Panisse, Inc. pictorial collection [graphic]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Child, Julia. Additional papers of Julia Child, 1890-2004 (inclusive) 1950-2001 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. Collection of typed letters signed (184), autograph letters signed (19), autograph and typed postcards signed (15), and autograph notes signed (7) : St. Helena, California, Last House [Glen Ellen, California], and Aix-en-Provence, to David Pleydell-Bouverie, 1968-1992. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Beard, James, 1903-1985. [Culinary ephemera : informational]. Box 323. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Papers of Simone Beck, 1920-1993 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Beard, James, 1903-1985. James Beard papers [manuscript], 1937-1985. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Beard, James, 1903- person
associatedWith Beck, Simone, 1904-1991. person
correspondedWith Brown, Helen Evans person
associatedWith Brownstone, Cecily. person
associatedWith Chez Panisse. corporateBody
associatedWith Child, Julia. person
associatedWith Corner Book Shop corporateBody
associatedWith Corner Book Shop (New York, N. Y.) person
correspondedWith Dione Lucas, 1909-1971 person
associatedWith Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy), 1908-1992. person
associatedWith Gourmet. corporateBody
associatedWith Gourmet. corporateBody
associatedWith James Beard Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith Jones, Judith, 1924- person
associatedWith Kauffman, Mark. person
associatedWith Lee, Gypsy Rose, 1914-1970 person
associatedWith M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy) Fisher, 1908- person
associatedWith Portland Civic Theatre (Or.) corporateBody
associatedWith Simone Simca Beck, 1904-1992 person
associatedWith Wilson, José person
associatedWith Wilson, José person
associatedWith Woman's day. corporateBody
associatedWith Woman's day. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York City NY US
Portland OR US
Subject
Cookery, American
Authors
Cooking
Cooking, American
Cooking schools
Cooks
Culinary Industry
Food writing
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1903-05-05

Death 1985-01-23

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 87884896