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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Sources: Lori A. Goetsch, 785-532-7454, lgoetsch@k-state.edu;
and Roger Adams, 785-532-7455, rcadams@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Donna Ekart, 785-532-7452, dfe@k-state.edu

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008

K-STATE LIBRARIES RECEIVES TWO MILLIONTH VOLUME

MANHATTAN -- A rare cookbook has become the 2 millionth volume acquired by the Kansas State University Libraries.

"The Frugal Housewife or Complete Woman Cook" was written in London in 1765 by Susannah Carter. K-State Libraries acquired one of only two known copies of a 1795 North American printing of the book with funds donated by the Friends of the K-State Libraries.

The book was presented to the library at the annual Friends of the K-State Libraries gala, Aug. 29, at Hale Library's Great Room, with K-State Provost M. Duane Nellis providing remarks.

The book is now the oldest American cookbook in the K-State Libraries' world-class cookery collection, according to Roger Adams, associate professor and rare books librarian.

"After examining our copy, I found it to be identical to a 1792 printing except for the title page. The printers simply cut away the old title page and tipped in a new one. I believe the 1795 printing consisted of unsold copies of the 1792 printing," said Adams, who curates K-State's cookery collection.

The cookery collection, the preeminent special collection in the K-State Libraries, was built in large measure through the generosity of K-State alumni and friends. Over the years, their substantial donations of books and bequests of personal libraries, along with judicious purchases, have produced a collection containing more than 15,000 cookbooks and related volumes, ranked among the foremost in the nation, Adams said. With works dating from 1487 to the present and reflecting several languages and cultures, the collection holds many works considered rare, including some which are not available anywhere else in the world.

More information about K-State Libraries' 2 millionth volume and on other items from the cookery collection is available by calling Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse department of special collections at 785-532-7455 or by contacting Adams at rcadams@k-state.edu