@HickoryStick,
Okay, I went to my cookbook library and actually went to the trouble to write out a few favorites.
Top of my list, and one you should look for is:
Talk About Good! By the Junior League of Lafayette Louisian
I believe the book available because I saw a used copy for sale here in the Midwest last year.
The Heritage of Southern Cooking, by Camille Glenn
The spine on mine is broken in dozens of places.
I Hear America Cooking by Betty Fussell
I used to read cookbooks like others read novels, and this was a good read!
Finally, the stock books I have used the most are:
Joy
Fannie Farmer
The New Settlement Cookbook
Good Housekeeping.