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Tag: reading room

Oct 11 2021

Art to Eat By: Cookbooks as Record and Expression

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Elizabeth Riordan

The following Top 10 List is written by graduate student worker Diane Ray, with introduction by Curator Eric Ensley. Images, unless otherwise noted, are also from Diane. Eric and Diane co-curated the exhibit “Art to Eat By: Cookbooks as Record and Expression” which is on display in the Special Collections & Archives reading room September 2021. 

 

If one takes art to mean a creative application of human skill, food and dining have long been canvases for the expression of art. Ancient frescoes and mosaics from Greece and Rome allow glimpses of tables laden with decorative plates and glasses alongside dishes that are celebrated for their beauty. Though the details and dishes may have changed, food and dining have continued to be a space for artistic output. From medieval coronation banquets with elaborate sugar sculptures known as subtleties to the technicolor party food of the 1960s, food as art has long been tied to the enjoyable and meaningful experience of dining.

Food and its ties to art are not, however, without tensions. This exhibit focuses on one of the central tensions of displays of food in cookbooks and adjacent publications: the sometimes-blurry lines between public and private space and experience. Through materials taken primarily from the Szathmary Culinary Collection donated by Chef Louis Szathmary, we show that books about food have often attempted to navigate the personal, familial, and domestic spaces of dining while displaying a public-facing image of those experiences. At question in these images is who or what should be on public display. A repeated focus of the items on display is how visible women should be and how their role should be presented in public-facing images of food and dining. Further, alongside issues of gender, these items trace the contours of the art of food and its political, artistic, and communal impact.

It was hard to choose, but here are 10 favorite things from this exhibit, in no particular order! There are many more to see if you visit us on the Third Floor of the Man Library.

 

Woodblock image of medieval dressed people
Woodblock image at the start of the book

1. Le Quadragesimal Spirituel (BX2170.L4 Q33 1521)

Printed in Paris around 1521, this book is unusual and fascinating on many levels. The description from the seller sums this book up as “an illustrated work of cookery, mnemonics and mysticism for women.” It goes over different food, along with that food’s spiritual meaning to guide meditation during lent. It also discusses expectations for pilgrims, with instructions about buying different religious print from street venders. 

The woodblock prints are also quite unusual, including the one included here, showing the Devil offering meat to seated nobles. One could imagine the blank scrolls as speech bubbles. But probably most intriguing about this book is that it was printed by a woman under her own name. A printers widow, Jeanne Trepperel was only active under her own name for nine months– 29 September 1520 to early June 1521. While female printers were not unheard of, they were rarely named on the text.

 

Two Alice B. Toklas Cookbooks
1954 and 1960 copies of Alice B. Toklas Cookbooks

2. Alice Toklas Cook Book (TX719 .T6 1960 , TX719 .T6 1954)

We have two copies of this cook book by Alice B. Toklas (writer, artist, partner to Gertrude Stein). This book as both a recipe book and a sort of autobiography, as it tells of her time in France during World War I, such as the hardships getting certain foods, or the different cooks and housekeepers that worked for them. The most well known aspect of this book is the famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) ‘Haschich Fudge’ recipe. The archives has two copies of this item- the recipe is only included in the 1960 UK version.

 

 

 

 

Images of Betty Crocker through time
Accordion-style artists’ book featuring Betty Crocker

3. Crocked, or, will the real Betty Crocker please stand up?  Written by Maryann Riker (N7433.4.R556 C76 2011)

The image of the perfectly put-together, white-middle class woman, effortlessly providing for her family was presented in many cookbooks for sale back in the day, a stereotype that many artists push against now. Some, like Crocked, or, Will the real Betty Crocker please stand up? focus directly on deconstructing the personalities promoted by brands. Crocked folds up to form a house structure, and includes commentary on the history of the Betty Crocker charter, along with images of her many depictions over the years.

 

 

Bright yellow cover with a drawing of a man riding a pic
Izaak Walton League Cookbook cover

4.  Izaak Walton League Cook Book, Des Moines Iowa (TX715.2.M53 I93 1970)

Community cookbooks are always a joy to look through because there is such a creative variety to the local collections of recipes. This character that appears throughout a cook book from Des Moines caught my eye in particular. The Izaak Walton League, sometimes shortened to “Ike”, is a conservation organization that “takes a common-sense approach toward protecting our country’s natural heritage and improving outdoor recreation opportunities for all Americans”, according to their website. This includes responsible hunting and fishing, (similar to Ducks Unlimited) and providing recipes to that end. (desmoines-ikes.com)

 

 

 

 

Inside culinary manuscript with cursive handwriting
Inside look of East Hartford recipe book

5. Handwritten cookbook, East Hartford (Msc 0533 US 80)

Louis Szathmary collected several hundred handwritten or personal cookbooks that are included in the Szathmary Culinary Collection at Special Collections & Archives. Most of what is on exhibit comes from this collection, and this particular item from 1818 is one of my favorites. Not only does it show how recipe books can also be outlets for creative expression, it is also unfinished (notice that some titles are only outlined, and some capitals are missing, while others are fully filled in and beautifully embellished) which is a very relatable trait.

 

 

 

Manuscript with text "Mrs. Samuel Leeds" written on page
Inside cover to the manuscript

 

6. Mrs. Samuel Leeds Cookbook & Travel Journal (Msc 0533 US 33)

This book includes both recipes and a short travel journal, in which Mrs. Samuel Leeds took a ship to England from Brooklyn in 1856, and was quite unimpressed for much of the trip. Highly recommended for fans of reading zero star Yelp reviews. (images from the Iowa Digital Library)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spicy Corn and image of corn with flame
Broadside featuring Spicy corn

 

7. Funeral Food, written by Sandra Trugillo (unprocessed)

This collection of broadsides includes colorful images and text on one side, with the accompanying stories on the other. Each one talks about some aspect of food or funeral culture, in the US or Mexico. The artist describes it as “a marriage between traditional cookbooks and artists’ portfolios about material culture.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decorative page from cookbook in black and white for salads
Decorative page for salad recipes

 

8. Llyewelyn’s Pub, by Pat and Jack Brangle (Msc 0533, US 83)

This item is one of a collection of 7 cookbooks that were handwritten and illustrated by Pat Brangle who, along with her husband Jack, owned Llyewelyn’s Pub in St. Louis. The illustrations are very distinctive, with wonderful detail and colors.

 

 

 

 

 

Recipe for Strawberry ice
Broadside featuring woodcut and recipe for Strawberry Ice

9. Thirty Recipes Suitable for Framing, compiled by Alice Louise Waters, with illustrations by David L. Goines (FOLIO TX715 .W3315 1970)

Containing 30 different sized broadsides, each item features a beautiful colored illustration in a classic European woodblock style and a written recipe. Recipes range from orange chicken, to watercress salad, to even yogurt. But each one is tied together by the same style of illustration and calligraphy font.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bright orange and black box with a chocolate manual inside
Candy Manual from Iridor Business

 

10. The Iridor Complete Candy Making Course, written by Iris F. Leonard and Dorit K. Weigert. (TX791 .L38)

This collection of 6 books in a matching box from 1931 offers instructions and tips for making and selling candies. It is geared towards women looking for a job outside of being a homemaker. As the introduction says “Welcome into the nation-wide group of ambitious women who are following the Iridor Plan to win financial independence and happiness.”

Posted in Exhibitions, Top 10Tagged art, art to eat by, cooking history, Diane Ray, Eric Ensley, exhibit, reading room, szathmary culinary collection
Jun 22 2021

Coming July 1st: Walk-ins Welcome to the Reading Room!

Posted on June 22, 2021June 22, 2021 by Elizabeth Riordan

Starting July 1st, the Special Collections & Archives reading room will be returning to the walk-in access model. We will no longer require appointments to visit our space and use our materials.  This summer, we welcome you to visit noon – 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. While you will not need an appointment, please note that we will be operating at 50% capacity. Please note, however, that we will still require appointments until June 25th. Special Collections & Archives will be closed June 28th – 30th, and July 5th.

University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections & Archives - Happy Valentine's Day SpecCo | Facebook

It’s been a while, so here are some reminders to help you with the changes in our reading room.

–The Reading Room Visitor’s Guide is here to stay! This is your guide to stay up-to-date concerning accessing the Special Collections reading room. Contact information for other special collections reading rooms on campus, including the Iowa Women’s Archives, John Martin Rare Book Room, and Canter Rare Book Room, is also available on this page. Have a question, start here!

Access & Safety

-The Main Library has been open to the public since June 1st, 2021. University ID card swipe will no longer be required for entrance to the building.

-The University of Iowa has revised their face mask policy as of May 20th, 2021. If you are not fully vaccinated, you are strongly encouraged to continue wearing a mask and physically distancing on campus. If you are fully vaccinated, you should feel comfortable continuing to wear a mask if you choose, however it is not required.

-If you are feeling ill or experiencing symptoms of illness, please stay home. If you have materials on hold at the Special Collections, we will keep your materials on hold until you are able to return to the library to access them.

Notable Service Changes

-Patrons will again be able to request materials using their patron (Aeon) account. Please note that requests made within 24 business hours of your visit may not necessarily be pulled upon your arrival, and therefore we will page the materials for you on the spot. As always, patron accounts will be required to access Special Collections materials. Click here to create a patron account.

-To learn more about placing material requests, please use this guide. Not comfortable making an item request? No problem! We can help you on the spot, or staff can help you in advance of your visit. Please email us at lib-spec@uiowa.edu.

-We will be returning to our 6-item reading room limit. Please note that unlimited material requests may be placed in your patron (Aeon) account, and placed in your “user review” for easy submitting during your reading room visit. During your visit, once you finish with your first 6 items, we will promptly page your next 6 items and do our best to limit your waiting time in between requests.

-The scanner returns! We will be bringing back our overhead scanner, along with our two patron computers with flatbed scanners. But remember, these cannot be reserved.

-You will be able to access patron lockers again. Please remember that while using Special Collections materials, you will only be able to bring with you a laptop, phone, camera, and pencil into the reading room space. Bags, coats, notebooks, outside paper, pens, food, or drink is not allowed. We can provide pencils and special paper for your reading room visit if needed.

Preparing for the Fall Semester

-Beginning August 23rd, Special Collections will increase service hours to the following new schedule, again, walk-ins accepted.

  • Monday, Wednesday – Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
  • Tuesday: 9:00am – 6:00pm

-Want to bring your class to Special Collections for an in-person or virtual experience? Check out our Instruction Information page. 

  • Reserve your Fall class now by filling out the online form. Class times fill up quickly, so we encourage you to reserve your spot now.

Additional Resources

-Have a question about anything mentioned in this blog post? Contact Special Collections at lib-spec@uiowa.edu.

-Looking to view materials from the Iowa Women’s Archives? Starting July 6th, IWA will be open by appointment only, and can be contacted at lib-women@uiowa.edu.

  • Beginning August 23rd, they will be open 9:00am – 12:00pm, 1:00pm – 5:00pm, Tuesday through Friday.

–Click here to learn more about using The University of Iowa Libraries during this time

-To stay updated on Coronavirus (COVID-19) related information at The University of Iowa, please click here.

Posted in NewsTagged COVID-19, reading room
Jul 20 2018

Changes Coming to Special Collections this Fall

Posted on July 20, 2018January 14, 2019 by Elizabeth Riordan

This fall brings several big changes to Special Collections that we are excited to share with you!

We will soon be introducing Aeon, our new reading room management tool. This new system for patrons will be used in Special Collections, the John Martin Rare Book Room at Hardin Library, and the Cantor Rare Book Room at the Music Library.

Using Aeon, you can:

  • Set up an account in advance of your visit. This only needs to be done once, so there’s no more paperwork each time you use a new manuscript collection.
  • Request material before your visit to the reading room, making your visit more time efficient.
  • Record past visits, helping you keep track of material you have already viewed or wish to revisit.
  • Order scans or photocopies more easily, and retrieve scans more quickly.

While Aeon will change how some things are done, don’t worry! Staff will be on hand with resources to help you navigate this new system.

In tandem with the introduction of Aeon, Special Collections will be changing its reading room hours. Starting July 30th, Special Collections reading room will implement the following hours:

Monday: 10 am- 5pm

Tuesday: 10am- 7pm

Wednesday: 10am-5pm

Thursday: 10am-5pm

Friday: 10am-5pm

8 am to 10 am Monday-Friday remains available to patrons by advance appointment. Feel free to contact us to set up one of these appointments whether you are traveling across the country or across the campus!

Iowa Women’s Archives reading room hours will remain the same as they have been.  

If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment, reach out to us at lib-spec@uiowa.edu or call (319) 335-5921

Posted in NewsTagged Aeon, reading room

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