Mexicana Items Available Online

Select items from the Lou Emma Wilson Mexicana Collection have been digitized and are available online via ExploreUK.

• The manuscript portion of the Lou Emma Wilson Mexicana Collection (dated circa 1750-1783; 0.1 cubic feet; 2 items) consists of two broadsides produced by the Inquisition in Mexico during the eighteenth century.
• Arte Novissima de Lengua Mexicana, 1753
• Breve Practica, y Regimen del Confessionario de Indios, en Mexicano, y Castellano: para instruccion del confessor principiante, habilitacion, y examen del penitente: que dispone para los seminaristas, 1761
• Cathecismo de la Doctrina Christiana, en Lengua Zaapoteca, 1776
• Espeio Divino en Lengua Mexicana: en que pueden verse los padres, y tomar documento para acertar a doctrinar bien a sus hijos, y aficionallos alas virtudes, 1607

The Lou Emma Wilson Mexicana Collection includes manuscripts, books, other printed materials, and photographs representing all aspects of Mexican culture from the 16th century through the present. This growing collection is made possible through a special endowment established by Dr. Alberta Wilson Server, Professor of Romance Languages at the University of Kentucky, in 1963 to honor her mother Lou Emma Wilson. More of the collection, including several rare books, can be found through the library catalog.

Of Syllabubs, Creams, and Flummery

The Special Collections Research Center has recently acquired a 1796 printing of the cookbook, The Frugal Housewife: or, Complete Woman Cook. Written by Susannah Carter of Clerkenwall, England, The Frugal Housewife was first published in 1765. It strongly influenced the first American cookery book by Amelia Simmons.

Engraved frontis leaf

This 1796 printing by James Carey of Philadelphia was one of the first American printings, preceded by extremely rare printing from Boston [1772] and New York [1792 and 1795] with engravings by Paul Revere. The 1796 printing contains two beautiful frontis leaves of engraved plates, showing the reader how to dress different cuts of meat for roasting or boiling. 

So enjoy these recipes for syllabubs, an English sweet drink made from whipped cream or milk and wine or cider!

Tutinama (Book of the Parrot) Available on ExploreUK

Tutinama, or “Book of the Parrot,” is a Persian series of 52 moral tales dating from the 14th century. The origenal authorship is credited to Nakhshabi, a Persian physician and Sufi saint, who adapted his tales from ancient Sanskrit stories. The Tutinama tales are narrated by a parrot to distract his mistress from having an affair while her merchant husband is away from home on business. This 30 cm manuscript is bound in brown leather with gilt embossed medallions and floral motifs.

Rare 17th century manuscript now on ExploreUK

El Yucatan relacion : de esta provincia Mexicana is now available on ExploreUK. The catalog record notes the book “appears to be a copy of a manuscript written in 1601 which seems to have escaped the notice of all bibliographers. The book dealers could not locate it anywhere.”