The historical origins of Thanksgiving are threefold:  the New England tradition of harvest home, a 17th century religious observation combining prayer and fasting, and the commemoration of the landing of the Pilgrims.  While a Thanksgiving holiday has been observed in New England since 1676, it was not until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln formally established a national holiday of Thanksgiving, designating it on the last Thursday of November.
“To our national birds-
The American Eagle,
The Thanksgiving Turkey:
May one give us peace in all our states-
And the other a piece for all our plates.”
–Book of Thanksgiving by Paul Dickson

Appetizers
Hors d’oeuvres by Eric Treuille

Main Dishes
Better Homes and Gardens Poultry Cooking Made Easy
Thanksgiving Dinner by Kathryn K. Blue
Betty Crocker Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook by Betty Crocker
Year-Round Turkey Cookbook by Barbara Gibbons
Woman’s Day Book of Great Turkey Feasts by Kim Honig
The Thanksgiving Table by Diane Morgan
Giving Thanks: Thanksgiving Recipes and History, from Pilgrims to Pumpkin Pie by The Plimoth Plantation
Thanksgiving 101 by Rick Rodgers
As American as Apple Pie:  20 Best Loved Dishes in 12 Sublime Variations by Phillip Stephen Schulz
Great Country Inns of America Cookbook by James Stroman

Desserts
Heartland Baking From the Midwest’s Best Cooks
Great American Pie Book by Judith Choate
Beatrice Ojakangas’ Great Holiday Baking Book

Entertaining
Natalie Dupree’s Comfortable Entertaining
The Best of Martha Stewart Living:  Holidays

Holiday Books
Book of Thanksgiving by Paul Dickson
There’s No Place like Home for the Holidays:  Stories, Poems, and Family Fare
The Thanksgiving Book:  An Illustrated Treasury of Love, Tales, Poems, Prayers, Poems, and the Best in Holiday Feasting

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