A recent grant awarded to the MSU Libraries will make it possible to view part of life from the early 19th century online.
The $249,783 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services will be used to fund “Feeding America: The Historic American Cookbooks Project” - a plan to make 75 pre-1923 cookbooks digitally available online.
MSU Libraries has more than 6,000 such cookbooks in its Cookery Collection in the Special Collections department.
“We are pleased in a number of ways,” said Michael Seadle, the digital service and copyright librarian. “This is national recognition for programs going on at the university and validation that the library has been doing things of national interest.”
Seadle said the collection provides insight into 16th through 19th century life, especially that of women. Placing the books online will make them available to a wider audience, he said.
Peter Berg, an MSU librarian and head of Special Collections, said the online archive provides historical analysis about the books, pictures and a glossary of cookery items.
“I think we were awarded not only because of our cookbook collection, but also because of our technical expertise making them electronically available and providing a scholarly commentary on each,” Berg said.
The cookbooks from the “Feeding America: The Historic American Cookbooks Project” can be viewed at http://digital.lib.msu.edu/cookbooks.
Elizabeth Fields, development director of the libraries, said the banquet includes a four-course meal with wine and is one of the best events the library sponsors.
Gary Hoppenstand, president of the Popular Culture Association, will speak about the collection at the banquet.
The banquet is open to all interested. The cost is $75 per person, of which $25 will be donated to the Pop Culture Collection in the MSU Library. For more information, contact Elizabeth Fields at (517)432-2076.
