Title page of the earliest book in the collection, The Way to
Health, Long Life and Happiness, published in 1683
Front cover of Borax: The Magic Crystal, from the early
20th century
Front cover of a pamphlet published by the Royal Baking Powder Company
in 1926
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The Husted Culinary Collection
is one of the three largest cookery collections in the United States.
It contains over 9,000 books, magazines and pamphlets spanning almost
400 years. It was the pride of Margaret Husted of Alexandria, Virginia.
After her death, the collection was auctioned and was purchased by
the Boettcher Foundation, which donated it to the University of Denver
in 1985.
Strengths of the Collection
The Collection contains most of the standard American cookery texts
from the last 200 years, including the first edition of Fannie Farmer's
Boston Cooking-School Cook Book and Irma Rombauer's Joy
of Cooking. The Collection is particularly strong in American
regional cookery, and contains a large number of privately published
fund-raising cookbooks from churches and other community groups.
While the collection is primarily in English, it also includes volumes
on cooking from around the world. The breadth of the collection
provides a unique resource for researchers interested in the history
of American domestic and culinary practices, as well as the history
of women, children and ethnic minorities over the past few centuries.
Additional Culinary Resources
A number of significant additions have been made to the collection
over the years. Among these are:
- The Katie Stapleton Collection - Books and archival
papers of this well-known Denver philanthropist and radio cooking
show host
- The Helen Dollaghan Collection - Books from the former
food editor of the Denver Post
- The American Dietetic Association - Books from the
Association's library were acquired when it closed in 2003. Primarily
material published before 1923, emphasizing nutrition, health
and diet.
Accessing the Collection
The Collection may be accessed by University clientele and the
general public during regular business hours, Monday through Friday,
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The materials cannot be checked out, but
they may be viewed in the Special Collections Department Reading
Room. Please contact the Department to make an appointment to visit
the collection.
The Collection is cataloged and searchable in Peak,
the Library's online database. The Special Collections Department
can help you to refine or broaden your search to find the material
you need.
An early American cookbook, The Virginia House-wife, published
in 1828
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