Bear Wallow Books: Our History

Bear Wallow Books began its story in 1978, founded by a historian living amidst the scenic, wooded hills of Brown County in southern Indiana. While teaching at Indiana University and delving into early American history, she noticed recipes everywhere—jotted on scraps brought by immigrants, scribbled by pioneers forging new paths, and carefully included in letters passed down through generations. These timeworn recipes offered more than cooking instructions; they painted vibrant pictures of people’s cultural backgrounds, economic lives, and the ingredients at their fingertips.

The very first Bear Wallow book came to life after a family member requested a collection of recipes. In Brown County, where native persimmon trees flourish, persimmon pudding is a beloved autumn treat—particularly during “leaf-peeping” season, when visitors flock to admire the fall colors. That initial collection became the first edition of Old-Fashioned Persimmon Recipes—and quickly grew into a local favorite.

From there, Bear Wallow blossomed. By the time its founder retired, 27 unique cookbooks had been published, covering everything from Amish fare and apples to woodstove classics and zucchini.

In 1998, Tom and Linda Wolfe became stewards of Bear Wallow Books, expanding the old-fashioned recipe series to 40 titles—each one capturing the spirit and flavors of American heritage.

The tradition continues: In 2018, their oldest daughter, AnneMarie, took the helm. Although Bear Wallow Books and its leadership now reside in Providence, Rhode Island, AnneMarie remains a Hoosier at heart, steadfastly printing the books in southern Indiana—in her view, one of the world’s most beautiful places. She’s supported by her husband Adam, their daughter, and a lively crew of pets: a dog, a cat, a gecko, and three sweet hens. As for their headquarters, it’s small, but it’s said that Rhode Island becomes about 3% larger at low tide…

Vintage Cookbook

You just might find an out-of-print edition in an antique store.

Collectable

Early editions of Bear Wallow Books are sought-after by collectors.

Early Editions

Some early editions fetch big prices online!