Myrtle Creek, Oregon, Recipe Book, late 19th-early 20th century, Ms.2016.001

Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech

Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Business Number: 540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu

Anthony Wright de Hernandez, Librarian

Administrative Information

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from Myrtle Creek, Oregon, Recipe Book must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Myrtle Creek, Oregon, Recipe Book, Ms2016-001, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

Myrtle Creek, Oregon, Recipe Book was given to Special Collections in 2015.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Myrtle Creek, Oregon, Recipe Book was completed in January 2016.

Historical Note

Myrtle Creek, Oregon was founded in the mid-1800s. Settlers were first drawn to the area looking for gold but the Myrtle Creek area primarily beame a source of food and other supplies to the prospectors working on major gold finds to the south. Recent census figures show the population around 3,500. It is the birthplace of United States Senator Jeffrey Alan (Jeff) Merkley.

Scope and Content

The collection includes a book of recipes compiled from the Myrtle Creek, Oregon area sometime in the late 19th Century or Early 20th Century.

The book cover has a hand-drawn title on construction paper. The inside of the cover is inscribed "Mrs. I. S. Weaver. Hotel Myrtle Myrtle Creek Oregon". This likely refers to one of the two wives of Isaac S. Weaver (1859-1940): Emily Cornelison Weaver (1855-1913) or Ida M. Froehlich Weaver (1866-1935). It is unclear whether Mrs. Weaver created or simply owned the recipe book.

The book contents consist of four pages with recipes typed in two columns and then folded over to form the book. The pages have headings for "HOME RECIPES for CAKES & Cookies," "HOME RECIPES for Pies & Puddings," and "HOME RECIPES for cookies." Most recipes list a name after the recipe which may be the name of the person who supplied the recipe. At least 16 people appear to have supplied recipes for the book. The page titles "HOME RECIPES for cookies" includes some handwritten recipes on both the front and back of the page.