Manuscript Location

Smith College, Mortimer Rare Book Room, Neilson Library

Place of Origin

United States

Date of Composition

ca. 1855-ca. 1870

Description

The library has identified the author of this book as Mrs. George W. Biddle. Circumstantial evidence suggests that she may have been either Maria Coxe McMurtrie Biddle (1818-1901), wife of George Washington Biddle (1818-1897), or Mary Hossack Rogers Biddle (1843-1886), wife of George Washington Biddle (1843-1886), who was the son of the former G. W. Biddle. Some of the recipes in the book are attributed to Mrs. Clement Biddle, and the senior G. W. Biddle was the son of Clement Cornell Biddle. Furthermore, both of the Biddles were prominent Philadelphia lawyers, and the book is written in a notebook identified as made and sold by William H. Maurice, a stationer located at 123 Chestnut Street, in Philadelphia. The book contains approximately 65 pages of culinary recipes, 11 pages of practical household recipes, and a 2-page partial index in the back. Other persons to whom recipes are attributed include S. MacGregor (Glasgow), Mrs. Talbot, Mrs. B. B., and Mrs. Kuhn.