Virginia G. Gray Cookery Collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

Virginia G. Gray Cookery Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Summary

Extent:
0.75 Linear feet 1 full and half Hollinger box (legal-size)
Creator:
Gray, Virginia G.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Virginia G. Gray Cookery Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Background

Scope and content:

Box 1, folders 1-2 consists of manuscript recipes, mainly from the 19 century, and an indexed recipe manuscript volume "Mrs. Garrow family recipe book," 1830-1845. Included are recipes for relishes, jellies, puddings, and cakes; as well as recipes for soap and home remedies (with has several hand-drawn illustrations throughout the volume).

Box 1, folders 3-10 and box 2 are an addition to the original collection and include correspondence of Sally Gray (daughter of Virginia G. Gray), the article, "Holiday Hints,"edited by Virginia G. Gray, "Colonial Cookery," compiled by Virginia G. Gray and her manuscript, "An American Colonial Cookery, 1607-1800," as well as photocopies of pages from various cookbooks; original 19th and 20th century recipes, and typescripts of recipes.

Additionally, there are photocopies of 2 published books: Marie Kimball's "The Martha Washington Cookbook;" and Ann Marshall's "Martha Washington's Rules for cooking."

Biographical / historical:

Virginia G. Gray collected recipes, books and manuscripts on cookery.

Acquisition information:
Acc. 1972.18: 39 items, received March-April 1972, Gift of the estate of Virginia G. Gray; Acc. 1999.32: ca. 75 items, received 30 June 1999, Gift of Sally Gray.
Custodial history:

Acc. 1972.18 was formerly catalogued as Mss. Sm Coll Gray (Box 1, folders 1-2). The addition to the collection, was cataloged as Acc. 1999.32 (Box 2, folders 3-10 and Box 2).

Physical description:
circa 114 items.