Call Number:

Ms. Codex 2411

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

2 volume(s)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Alice Shotwell Dell Shivers cookbooks, 1898, circa 1920s, Ms. Codex 2411, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1898, circa 1920s (inclusive)

Creator:

Shivers, Alice Shotwell Dell, 1876-1933

Form:

Cookbooks and Codices (bound manuscripts)

Abstract:

These cookbooks were written and compiled by Alice Shotwell Dell Shivers (1876-1933) in Gloucester County, New Jersey. Volume 1 was compiled in 1898 and includes around 100 recipes. Volume 2 was compiled at a later date, possibly the 1920s, and includes copies of many of the recipes found in volume 1. Many of the recipes are attributed to members of the Dell and Shivers families.

Alice Shotwell Dell Shivers was born to Edgar F. Dell (1852-1912) and Sarah Scott Dell (1853-1933) in Gloucester County, New Jersey on August 14th of 1876 or 1877. She married Charles Walter Shivers (1871-1940), a brigadier general in the New Jersey National Guard, on August 2, 1898. Together they had a son, Gilbert Shivers. She was an active member of the Woodbury chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Woman's Club. She died in Woodbury, New Jersey on May 20, 1933.

These volumes contain recipes attributed to the following family members:

Catherine M. Clute Dell (1833-1905), referred to in these volumes as Mrs. C.M. Dell and Grandma Dell, was Alice Shivers' paternal grandmother.

Ida W. Gardiner Dell (1858-1936), referred to in these volumes as Aunt Ida and Mrs. F. Dell, was Alice Shivers' aunt, married to her father's brother, Frank P. Dell (1856-1936).

Helen D. Shivers (1867-1936), referred to in these volumes as Helen D. Shivers and Nellie Shivers, was Alice Shivers' sister-in-law.

These cookbooks were written and compiled by Alice Shotwell Dell Shivers in Gloucester County, New Jersey. Volume 1 was compiled in 1898 and includes around 100 recipes. Volume 2 was compiled at a later date, possibly the 1920s, and includes copies of many of the recipes found in volume 1. Many of the recipes are attributed to members of the Dell and Shivers families.

Volume 1 is bound in cloth and has significant damage to the binding. Volume 2 is bound in black leather and has had several pages cut out. A significant portion of volume 2 is blank (p. 22-31, 42-47, 50-110). Volume 1 is directly attributed to Alice Shotwell Dell Shivers. Based on the family relationships noted, she appears to have compiled volume 2 as well.

Examples of recipes in volume 1 include Mrs. Bean's chop suey (p. 3), terrapin dressing Mrs. C.M. Dell (p. 6), John's Delight pudding Mrs. F. Dell (p. 18), pumpkin pies (p. 31), steamed huckleberry pudding Aunt Ida (p. 45), egg foo fong (p. 70), Nellie Shivers' cream pie (p. 92), Helen D. Shivers' ice box rolls (p. 95), Mrs. Prentiss Ross deviled crabs (p. 99), Mrs. Bean's India relish (p. 113), and chow chow (p. 140). The volume also includes accounts (p. 143-156).

Volume 2 contains a few unique recipes, but most appear to be copies of those from volume 1, including John's delight pudding (p. 18), Grandma Dell's terrapin dressing (p. 35), and Helen D. Shiver icebox rolls (p. 41). The front and back pastedown and last flyleaf include arithmetic problems and there is a list of family members' names on the front pastedown.