Dr Katie Cooper grew up on Gore farm and is curator of colonial histories at Te Papa. Her PhD examined the history of rural New Zealand from 1840 to 1940 - focusing on the provision of food in rural communities and its preparation in rural kitchens. But it isn't just about food - the rural kitchen is the perfect vantage point from which to examine the overarching structures of the rural economy and rural society during that century. Katie Cooper is giving a free lunchtime talk on 5 July at the National Library in Wellington.