Nettie McBirney
Encyclopedia
Nettie Williams McBirney (November 24, 1887 – December 16, 1982) was a Tulsa
inventor, writer and entrepreneur, who wrote a cooking column under the pseudonym Aunt Chick for the Tulsa Daily World
from 1935 to 1955.
degree from the Stout Institute
in Menomonie, Wisconsin
. She moved to Claremore, Oklahoma
in 1909 to teach home economics. Two years later, she became supervisor of home economics at Muskogee
schools. After marrying Sam P. McBirney
, coach of the University of Tulsa
football team and vice president of the National Bank of Commerce, she settled in Tulsa in 1916.
In 1935, she approached Tulsa World editor N.G. Henthorne about writing a cooking column that contained simple advice and taught cooking
techniques. "Kitchen Log" ran five times a week in the World through 1955. She also became a demonstration chef, first at Vandever's Department Store and other stores in Tulsa, and later in many other parts of the country.
McBirney began inventing kitchen aids during the Depression
, such as a non-stick pastry canvas and rolling pin
cover and a pie pan that promised perfect bottom crusts
on pie
s. The invention she became best known for was her Cooky Molding Cutter, now known as Gramma's Cutter, a cookie cutter
designed to easily release the molded cookie dough and maintain a 3-D appearance. She began selling them in 1948 and they quickly caught on; Princess Margaret
purchased a set of the cookie cutters for Prince Charles
in 1952, and Wrigley
purchased, then sold 70,000 sets as a special promotion the same year.
s was donated to the Tulsa City-County Library
in 1973.
s. Most notable is Aunt Chick’s Pies, which sold over 650,000 copies.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
inventor, writer and entrepreneur, who wrote a cooking column under the pseudonym Aunt Chick for the Tulsa Daily World
Tulsa World
Tulsa World is the daily newspaper for the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the primary newspaper for the northeastern and eastern portions of Oklahoma, and is the second-most widely circulated newspaper in the state, after The Oklahoman. It was founded in 1905 and remains an independent newspaper,...
from 1935 to 1955.
Biography
Born November 24, 1887, Nettie McBirney earned a home economicsHome Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
degree from the Stout Institute
University of Wisconsin-Stout
The University of Wisconsin–Stout is a member campus of the University of Wisconsin System. The school was founded in 1891 in Menomonie, Wisconsin and enrolls more than 9,300 students...
in Menomonie, Wisconsin
Menomonie, Wisconsin
Two other spellings of the name appear elsewhere, see Menomonee and Menominee. For the town, see Menomonie .Menomonie is a city in and the county seat of Dunn County in the western part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The city's population was 16,264 as of the 2010 census...
. She moved to Claremore, Oklahoma
Claremore, Oklahoma
Claremore is a city and the county seat of Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 18,581 at the 2010 census, a 17.1 percent increase from 15,873 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area and home to Rogers State University...
in 1909 to teach home economics. Two years later, she became supervisor of home economics at Muskogee
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
schools. After marrying Sam P. McBirney
Sam P. McBirney
Sam P. McBirney was an Irish-American football coach and banker. He was the head football coach for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team in 1908 and from 1914 to 1916. His undefeated 1916 team outscored opponents 566 to 40 to become the highest scoring college football team during the 1916...
, coach of the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
football team and vice president of the National Bank of Commerce, she settled in Tulsa in 1916.
In 1935, she approached Tulsa World editor N.G. Henthorne about writing a cooking column that contained simple advice and taught cooking
Cooking
Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
techniques. "Kitchen Log" ran five times a week in the World through 1955. She also became a demonstration chef, first at Vandever's Department Store and other stores in Tulsa, and later in many other parts of the country.
McBirney began inventing kitchen aids during the Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, such as a non-stick pastry canvas and rolling pin
Rolling pin
thumb|A wooden "roller" type rolling pinA rolling pin is a cylindrical food preparation utensil used to shape and flatten dough. Two styles of rolling pins are found; roller and rods. Roller types consists of a thick cylindrical roller with small handles at each end; rod type rolling pins are...
cover and a pie pan that promised perfect bottom crusts
Crust (baking)
In baking, a crust is the outer, hard skin of bread or the shell of a pie. Generally, it is made up of at least shortening or another fat, water, flour, and salt. It may also include milk, sugar, or other ingredients that contribute to the taste or texture. An egg or milk wash can be used to...
on pie
Pie
A pie is a baked dish which is usually made of a pastry dough casing that covers or completely contains a filling of various sweet or savoury ingredients....
s. The invention she became best known for was her Cooky Molding Cutter, now known as Gramma's Cutter, a cookie cutter
Cookie cutter
A cookie cutter in American English and biscuit cutter in Commonwealth English is a tool to cut out cookie/biscuit dough in a particular shape. They are often used for seasonal occasions when well-known decorative shapes are desired, or for large batches of cookies where simplicity and uniformity...
designed to easily release the molded cookie dough and maintain a 3-D appearance. She began selling them in 1948 and they quickly caught on; Princess Margaret
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI....
purchased a set of the cookie cutters for Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
in 1952, and Wrigley
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
The William Wrigley Jr. Company is a company headquartered in the Wrigley Building in Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois. The company was founded on April 1, 1891, originally selling products such as soap and baking powder. In 1892, William Wrigley, Jr., the company's founder, began packaging...
purchased, then sold 70,000 sets as a special promotion the same year.
Marriage and children
She married banker Samuel P. McBirney in 1913. The couple had four children: Susan Bush, Williams, Samuel, and Mary Megan Bryan.Death and afterward
Nettie McBirney died on December 16, 1982. Her collection of about 1,000 cookbookCookbook
A cookbook is a kitchen reference that typically contains a collection of recipes. Modern versions may also include colorful illustrations and advice on purchasing quality ingredients or making substitutions...
s was donated to the Tulsa City-County Library
Tulsa City-County Library
The Tulsa City-County Library is the major public library system in Tulsa County, Oklahoma.-Overview:The library system serves those who live, work, go to school in, own land in, or pay property taxes on land in Tulsa County. There are 25 branches in the system: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,...
in 1973.
Published works
While writing her Kitchen Log column, Aunt Chick also found time to write several cookbooks, most of which dealt with pies and other dessertDessert
In cultures around the world, dessert is a course that typically comes at the end of a meal, usually consisting of sweet food. The word comes from the French language as dessert and this from Old French desservir, "to clear the table" and "to serve." Common Western desserts include cakes, biscuits,...
s. Most notable is Aunt Chick’s Pies, which sold over 650,000 copies.
Patents
- Piepan (US Pat. 2135782, filed Oct 10, 1936)
- Piepan (US Pat. 2179512, filed Oct 10, 1936)
- Cooky Molding Cutter (US Pat. 2596159, filed Aug 25, 1948)
- McBirney Cooky Molding Cutter (US Pat. D156549, filed Aug 25, 1948)