Elvira Henry’s Cookbook. 1830–1870. Collection of the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation.

About the Book

This leather-bound cookbook contains the personal recipes of Elvira McClelland Henry (1808–1875). Elvira was the daughter-in-law of Patrick Henry. She lived with her husband, John, Patrick Henry’s youngest son, at Red Hill after their marriage in 1826 until her death.

Elvira compiled and used the cookbook during these years at Red Hill. Handwritten cookbooks by women are rare and valuable artifacts that highlight the critical role that women played in the preparation of meals for their families in the 19th century. During her time at Red Hill, Elvira oversaw the construction of a greenhouse near her home, and she passed down her knowledge of gardening and cooking to her children.

Elvira’s daughter, Elvira McClelland Jr, later inherited this book and added her recipes. It was donated to Red Hill by Elvira Henry’s descendants.

 

The Recipes

Over 235 recipes, handwritten by Elvira Henry, appear in this book. These range from desserts to bread to puddings and pickles! Some recipes have been transcribed and are available for purchase in our Museum Shop. Click here to purchase Elvira’s recipes.

 

Conservation Work

After nearly 175 years, and with constant use in a hot, busy kitchen, this book has suffered the effects of time and love. Preserving and protecting this irreplaceable piece of Red Hill’s history is vital. Thanks to generous funds from the Virginia Association of Museums, conservators at the Northeast Document Conservation Center have successfully completed the following work:

  • Disbound by removing sewing and separate sections.
  • Surface cleaned pages to reduce surface dirt only as necessary to facilitate treatment.
  • Mended tears and guarded folds as necessary using Japanese paper and starch paste.
  • Reassembled text and pressed to consolidate.
  • Added linen hinges and sewed text block with linen thread.
  • Reinforceed binding using airplane linen and Japanese paper toned with acrylic pigment and reattached to text block.
  • Reinforceed board corners and re-adhered loose covering material.
  • Consolidated leather.
  • Constructed a custom-fitted archival box to dimensions of volume.

 

THANK YOU to all who voted for Elvira’s book and helped us preserve this piece of Virginia history!