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The Cookery Manuscript Project
Click here to learn how you can Submit your recipes and cookery descriptions and stories.
What is the Cookery Manuscript Project?
The Culinary Historians of Northern Illinois (CHNI) was founded to collect manuscripts of recipes originating in Northern Illinois and then expand to eventually collect recipes from the entire state of Illinois and then the Midwest region of the United States. This initiative is part of a larger national project that originated during a conference held at New York University’s Fales Library in May, 2016.
The CHNI will create an organized digitized collection of historic cookery manuscripts. The collection will be made available to scholars and researchers as well as the general public.
How will the information be used?
Having a collection of recipes and comments will be an important research tool for those working on new perspectives on cultural, political, and social history topics.
Why is Cookery Manuscript and Historical Recipe research important?
"Regional and Ethnic Identity Through Cooking Practices and Manuscripts" includes the archiving of handwritten recipes, 50 years or older. Many manuscript recipes exist outside of the confines of the traditional cookbook form, notably recipe and household books and recipe cards. Digital initiatives to collate, transcribe, and organize recipes are broadening access to manuscript recipes. Consequently, recipe research is increasingly innovative, contributing new perspectives on cultural, political, and social history topics”
How can I submit my recipes and cookery manuscripts?
The Culinary Historians of Northern Illinois is sending out a call for cookery manuscripts, more specifically, historical, heirloom, and old family recipes, at least 50 years old. We invite you to participate.
Where can I view my recipe and other recipes?
The recipes along with your memories will be archived at the Special Collections Archives, Northern Illinois University, Founders Memorial Library. The collection is currently being digitized by the university.
Click here to learn how you can submit your recipes and cookery descriptions and stories.