Manuscript Location

Winterthur Library, Quaker and Special Collections

Place of Origin

United States ➔ New York ➔ Waterville

Date of Composition

ca. 1858-ca. 1870

Description

Most of this cookbook was written by Laura A. Bigelow, who lived in Waterville, New York.  She may have been Laura Amelia Bigelow, who was born in 1840, the daughter of Julia Ann Porter and Horace Bigelow. In 1855, she graduated from Cazenovia Seminary. She married her cousin Charles C. Bigelow. Laura Bigelow probably began this 80-page book in 1858, a date written on the third page (along with her name), and then continued it for at least a decade, as subsequent recipes are dated 1861, 1864, and 1868. The recipes skew toward cakes, cookies, tarts, pies, puddings, and preserves but also include some savory preparations. Many include the name of their contributor. A few newspaper clippings are pasted in the volume. Several other individuals have inserted recipes in odd spaces, particularly toward the end of the book. A complete index of the recipes is available in a database at the library.

To view digital images of this book, click on the link in the library catalog under "Multimedia," and then click on "1800s."