The first time I had these cookies, I was in rural Vermont, at a crafts festival. The craftsman served them in his shop as a refreshment to visitors, along with rhubarb punch. The cookies were very yummy, so I asked him for the recipe. He went upstairs, and returned with his wife's very old hand written cook book which was opened to the page with the schoolhouse cookies . He told me that the recipe was made up by one of the local schoolhouse's teachers as a nutritious snack for the younger children. I usually make them with a combination of chopped walnuts OR pecans and the sunflower seeds (about half and half of each) and sometimes substitute chopped dried apricots or dates for the raisins. They are a very chewy cookie, good with milk or coffee :) You could also add cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. to your preferences.