Penfield Books

12/22/2025

Author Michele Patrick represented Penfield Books at the Czech Embassy Christmas Market in Washington DC! She sold out of our Czech books and looks forward to returning to next year.

Here’s how Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC described us in promotions leading up to the event:

“For over 46 years, Penfield Books has been the nation’s leading source for Czech and Slovak titles - from history and culture to cookbooks and children’s stories, preserving Czech heritage for generations.”

12/21/2025

In print since 1989, ‘Scandinavian Holiday Recipes’ by Michelle Nagle Spencer offers recipes and reflections on the traditions, sites, and events associated with the holidays observed by Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish Americans.

12/15/2025

This revision of Scandinavian Christmas, out of print for over a decade, features Christmas scenes from Washington to Pennsylvania. There are stories by Selma Lagerlöf, facts about St. Lucia traditions for Swedish Americans, and information about Norwegian and Danish customs. Norwegian immigrant Elizabeth Koren’s beautiful essay about Christmas is included. Photographs show St. Lucia arriving in a replica of a Viking boat at Poulsbo, Washington; Christmas customs at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museumin Decorah, Iowa; the American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the Danish Windmill, Elk Horn, Iowa; Swedish American Museum, Chicago; and the St. Olaf Christmas choirs and orchestra, Northfield, Minnesota. Recipes feature all five Scandinavian countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Finland from American contributors. They include beverages, appetizers, vegetables, side dishes, breads, soups, main dishes, and desserts. Back cover features O&H Danish Bakery in Racine WI.

Compiled by Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret and Whitney Pope.

12/12/2025

The sign on the door of the State Historical Society of Iowa’s Centennial Building, where the society’s Iowa City research facility has been located since 1956, let visitors on Wednesday […]

12/11/2025

‘Christmas in the Midwest’ was initially published in 1984. This revised and expanded version was published in 2010 by Penfield Books. Author Clarence Andrews attended the Iowa Writer's Workshop and went on to receive his PhD from the University of Iowa where he later taught in the English department and the School of Journalism.

Description:

You will find the spirit of Christmas here in the writings of distinguished American writers, including Hamlin Garland, Susan Glaspell, Phil Stong, Ruth Suckow, Susan Allen Toth, James Whitcomb Riley, Paul Engle, and Hartzell Spence. Delicious recipes are included.

The front cover features Phil Odden and his Fjord horses. The back cover photo is of Eric Olesen displaying baked goods from the family bakery, O&H Danish Bakery in Racine, Wisconsin.

12/10/2025

In 1951, Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret was fired from her job as a photojournalist at the Cedar Rapids Gazette. The reason: she was pregnant. She responded by photographing the birth to […]

12/07/2025

In 1951, Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret was fired from her job as a photojournalist at the Cedar Rapids Gazette. The reason: she was pregnant. She responded by photographing the birth to […]

11/12/2025

11/11/2025

Michele Patrick represented Penfield Books at the Czech Embassy Christmas Market in Washington DC over the weekend. She sold out of Penfield cookbooks, and we're having trouble keeping her latest book "Haunted Prague" in stock. Thanks Michele!

09/08/2025

Crown Prince Haakon will be in Decorah IA on October 6th!

The Norwegian embassy announced that His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway will visit Iowa, Minnesota and New York.

06/20/2025

Joan’s negatives and many of her personal belongings are currently stored at this facility.

The building on Iowa Avenue, which opened in 1956, is home to books, newspapers, vital records, photographs and more artifacts, which are available to the general public for research.

03/21/2025

Marj collaborated with us on many books, magnets, and postcards over the last few decades. It's difficult to overstate her contributions to the Czech community. The work she did and the art she created will reverberate for many years to come. The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids IA will be hosting a memorial on Saturday 3/21/25 at 11am.

View Marjorie Ann Kopecek Nejdl's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.