Avis De Voto. Papers, 1929-1990
Title:
Avis De Voto Papers, 1929-1990
The Avis DeVoto papers consist of correspondence, draft manuscripts, recipes, etc., the bulk of which document her work as the editor of several cookbooks including Mastering the Art of French Cooking (volumes I and II), Simca's Cuisine, New Menus from Simca's Cuisine, and Season to Taste. Additional material received between 1988 and 2012 (accession numbers 88-M185, 89-M7, 90-M22, 90-M35, 2012-M210, 2012-M220, 2012-M237) was added to the collection in April 2015. These materials are housed in #41f+-92. Folders added in April 2015 are listed in intellectual, not sequential order. The papers have been arranged in three series.
Series I, Julia Child, 1952-1988 (#1-36, folio boxes 2af-2bf, 41f-47, 71-92), includes correspondence tracing the evolution of Volume I of Mastering the Art of French Cooking from its inception to its publication. A wide range of other topics is covered in these letters: McCarthyism, the problems of security clearance, pitfalls and successes of a career in the United States Foreign Service, the national temperament and character of the French, Germans, Norwegians, English. Newspaper and magazine clippings and photographs are also included. Correspondents include Julia Child, Paul Child, Elizabeth David, Avis DeVoto, Bernard DeVoto, Simone Beck, Alfred A. Knopf, William Koshland, Judith Jones, Louisette Bertholle, Dorothy de Santillana, Benjamin Fairbank, and Paul Brooks. The bulk of the correspondence in this series is from Julia Child to DeVoto, although letters from other correspondents (including publishers and co-authors) that are related to the publication of Child's cookbooks are also included. Most letters from Paul Child are of a personal nature and describe the Child's professional activities and their experiences during their times in various cities in Europe and the United States.
Series II, Elizabeth David, 1957-1986 (#37-39, 48), includes correspondence between Avis DeVoto, Judith Jones, Alfred A. Knopf, and Elizabeth David primarily about issues with editing David's Italian Cooking, originally published in England, for American readers. Letters discuss the many differences between British and American measurements, cooking terms, the differences between brown and white eggs, etc.
Series III, Avis DeVoto, Peggy Harvey, and others, 1929-1990 (#40, 49-70), includes a check register; correspondence, notes and clippings; recipes; photographs; etc., belonging to Avis DeVoto. Correspondence with Judith Jones, Alfred A. Knopf, and Susan Sheehan regards Volume II of Mastering the Art of French Cooking and other manuscripts under review by Knopf as well as a biography of Knopf being written by Sheehan. Correspondence between Avis DeVoto, Peggy Harvey, and William Koshland of Alfred A. Knopf, relates to the editing of Harvey's cookbook, Season to Taste (1958). Correspondence between DeVoto and Simone Beck regards work on her cookbooks Simca's Cuisine (1972) and New Menus from Simca's Cuisine (1979). Other correspondence documents DeVoto's work as an editor with other authors, publishers, etc.; DeVoto's work with the Breadloaf Writers' Conference; and personal relationships with a number of people including food writer M.F.K. Fisher and William Raney of Bobbs Merrill Publishers.
ArchivalResource:
4.75 linear feet ((6 file boxes, 2 half file boxes, 2 folio boxes) plus 1 folio+ folder, 2 photographs folders, 1 folio+ photograph folder.)
https://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/8/resources/7069 View
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