It doesn’t make it any less fun, but I’m pleased to have found Mrs. Mary Ellis Ames was a “Betty-Crocker style” fictional spokesperson, contrary to a biographical website who does a great job researching–normally, but gave Mary Ellis a birth and death date. It took me hours of research and confirming, but the results were worth it.
To become enrolled in the Pillsbury Cookery Club, it was a bit of a scavenger hunt. First, you’d find a recipe folder in a bag of Pillsbury flour, and then you’d send the trademark from the folder to Mary Ellis Ames. That’s all. Then you were a “Club Member” which was of high value in 1935, as much of 1935 social life revolved around IRL (in real life) clubs, unlike today. Yet not all women who wanted to join clubs back then could join, for one reason or another. Inviting all women to be club members in their homes, Pillsbury became a successful club.
See the winner of a contest they had that was won by Ella Way from Hero, Vermont.
With Club membership you’d receive a Club booklet periodically, such as the above 1935 Bulletin #12. [Reddit link for inside pages]
