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Culinary Pamphlet Collection

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2011-002

Scope and Content

The Culinary Pamphlet Collection is an artificial collection created in January 2011. The collection includes small publications and pamphlets created and distributed by culinary, appliance, and other food-related companies from about the 1870s to the 1990s. Most pamphlets contain advertisements, recipes, product information, testimonials, or some combination of all four.

The collection represents a diverse set of companies and products. Examples include items from the World War II era with recipes and tips for rationing and substituting for "Victory," publications featuring recipes using a specific kitchen appliance, weight loss hints from the National Dairy Council, and recipe books produced by heating and air conditioning vendors as advertising. The majority of titles in the collection relate to specific food products, especially flour, baking powder, baking soda, and various gelatines like Knox and Jell-O.

Dates

  • Creation: c.1870s-1990s

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from Culinary Pamphlet Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Full Extent

8.6 Cubic Feet (6 boxes; 1 oversize folder)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection includes small publications and pamphlets created and distributed by culinary, appliance, and food-related companies from about the 1870s to the 1990s. Most pamphlets contain advertisements, recipes, product information, testimonials, or some combination of all four.

Arrangement

Publications and pamphlets are sorted by the name of the parent companies. Companies are arranged in alphabetical order. Since many companies changed names over time, an effort has been made to provide as many company names as possible. The earliest known company is listed first with subsequent names in parentheses.

Within each parent company, pamphlets are in chronological order. Each folder includes a bibliography of pamphlet and publication titles, dates, and authors, where known. Cross-references to other companies are listed at the folder level, if applicable.

Acquisition Information

The initial materials in this collection were part of two separate donations given to Special Collections in 2010. Additional accruals are expected in the future.

Alternate Form Available

Selected items from this collection have been digitized and are available online: http://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/Ms2011-002_CulinaryPamphletColl. Additional items will be added to the digital collection as they are scanned.

Related Materials

The History of Food and Drink Collection at Special Collections includes more than 75 manuscript collections relating to culinary history, including from handwritten receipt books, advertising ephemera, and items documenting the history of cocktails, food technology and production, and children's nutrition. A list of collections is available online through Virginia Heritage. You can search within this list, too.

The collection also contains more than 4,600 books and publications in the library catalog, Addison. The easiest way to search for culinary materials in Addison is to check out the advanced search: http://addison.vt.edu/#form8. To pull up a list of all the items in the collection, located both in Special Collections and throughout Newman Library, you’ll want to search note fields for “Culinary collection.” You can also search for keywords based on specific topics within food history.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the initial donations comprising the Culinary Pamphlet Collection was completed in January 2011. Additional description is expected as materials are added to the collection.

Title
A Guide to the Culinary Pamphlet Collection, c.1870s-1990s
Status
Completed
Author
Kira A. Dietz, Archivist
Date
© 2011 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. All rights reserved.
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308