Manuscript Location

University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Kislak Center for Special Collections - Manuscripts

Place of Origin

United States

Date of Composition

ca. 1835-1855

Description

This book of 22 leaves was written by a single individual, perhaps copied from an earlier collection of recipes compiled by the writer's father, identified on the front cover as a chemist who made his own family medicines. The book likely originated in New England or the Mid-Atlantic, judging from the publications from which many of the medical and veterinary recipes were copied, which include the Boston Traveller, New England Farmer, American Farmer, Mechanics Register, Boston Medical Intelligencer, and the Washington Federalist. One item copied from a published source is dated 1820. While mostly given over to household, medical, and veterinary recipes, this book contains a few culinary recipes for curing and preserving meats, butter, potatoes, and fruit, vegetable wines, and beer. The volume concludes with a "beautiful chemical experiment" demonstrating the action of alkali and acid, which can be performed as entertainment for a tea party.

The book includes a section of recipes (10 leaves) sewn in the front on different paper from that of the remainder of the volume (with the watermark C BURBANK).