In the University of Leicester Library’s Archives and Special Collections is a late 18th/early 19th century manuscript. Known as Rebecca Dixon’s recipe book or more formally as MS27, it was left to the then Leicester University College library in 1930 as part of a much larger bequest of books collected by the hosiery manufacturer and bibliophile Caleb Robjohns.
Little is known about this small, unassuming manuscript or how it came to be in Robjohns’ possession. Nor do we know for certain who Rebecca Dixon was or her possible relationship to the Robjohns family. Over the years, however, it has attracted much interest amongst visitors to the University library’s Special Collections.
As a result of this continuing popularity, a project was recently set up to produce a digital version of the manuscript with the aim of making it more publicly accessible. With the help of three volunteers from the Friends of the Centre for Regional and Local History work began on transcribing the recipe book late last year.
This exhibition contains the full transcript and page images from the manuscript, alongside research conducted by the project team.
Credits
Transcripts by Liz Coleman, Dave Lewis and Sadie McMullon. Introduction by Liz Coleman and Dave Lewis.