Special Collections at University Libraries possesses some amazing treasures including items from the American Civil War collection, the Appalachian Collection, the International Archive of Women in Architecture, and many more wonderful collections. My favorite part of Special Collections, though, is the Culinary History Collection. This collection includes nearly two centuries of historical information about the domestic sciences, including customs, eating behaviors, food choices and habits, social and economic history, and scientific and technological progress. We have digitized quite a few books and images related to these topics, and, every once in awhile, I'll be highlighting one of those here!
For the first highlight, I am showing off our 1731 Book for Receipts.
The "Book for Receipts" is a recipe book written in England in 1731. At least two owners added to this work (the names of owners remain unknown) because the handwriting changes in the last third of text. Some recipe contributors are named, such as: Lady Westmorland, Mrs. Catherine Sanderson, Mrs. Allston, Mrs. Gilbert, and Sr. Orlando Gees. Recipes focus largely on delicacies-not on staple meals-and home remedies. Categories of recipes include: pickles and preserves, cakes, biscuits, jellies, creams, and beverages (wines). One noteworthy example of a home remedy entitled "The famous American Receipt for the Rheumatism" appears in the volume and, according to the author, "is very famous in America; a Hundred Pounds have been given for the Receipt." Recipes also indicate the availability of foodstuff in the eighteenth century-as seen through the use of several pounds of good "Jamaican Sugar."
You can visit Special Collections, on the first floor of Newman Library, to look at this item in person, if you'd like. The call number is: Ms2008-024 Folder 1. In fact, we invite you to do so!
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