Betty Carey Cookery Collection

Collection

Identifier: M357

Staff Only

Restrictions apply to this resource. Contact Special Collections and Archives for more information.

Abstract

Collection contains papers, recipes, food publications, and ephemera belonging to University of Denver Library Association member Betty Carey.

Materials in this collection include Betty Carey's personal papers such as correspondence, papers and invitations about social events, papers from her trips to Hawaii, handwritten recipes, and materials for her family businesses (Town and Country Fine Foods and The Larimer Restaurant and Oyster Bar). Also included in this collection are the recipe cards that were stored in recipe card boxes and binders. There are also food publications and clippings that were collected and organized by Betty Carey. Lastly, this collection contains ephemera such as manuals, calendars, a map, and personalized stickers.

Dates

between 1960-2000

Creator

Carey, Betty, 1925-2017 (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Betty Lou Greiner Carey was born on July 11, 1925 in Houston, Texas to Otto and Eunice Greiner. As a young woman, Betty moved to Colorado where she took job at the YMCA in Estes Park, Colorado. There, she met her husband, the late Julius (Lou) Carey, to whom she was married for 40 years. Betty and Julius Carey had two sons, Brad and Grant Carey.

Betty Carey was a leader of the Women's Library Association. Carey served as WLA (now ULA) president from 1972 to 1975. In 1976, she initiated the creation of the WLA Endowment which today has a value of over $1 million and continues to be an important source of funding for faculty-selected materials in the library's collection. A convivial gourmet cook and creative event planner, Betty hosted many events for WLA members who contributed to the WLA Endowment via membership in the Penrose Society.

Additionally, her family established multiple businesses during her life. In 1986, her son, Grant, opened Town and Country Fine Foods in University Hills Denver. This high-end grocery store closed in the late 1980s. Their family also opened The Larimer Restaurant and Oyster Bar in the 1980s. This restaurant is no longer operating. Lastly, Betty Carey's husband, Lou Carey owned the Cave of the Winds (a tourist attraction in Manitou Springs), and their son, Grant, served as Manager. The date that they bought this establishment is unknown.

Extent

63 Linear Feet (This collection contains twelve (12) standard record boxes, two (2) letter document boxes, and one (1) half legal document box.)

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is organized into four series. Series 1 contains Betty Carey's personal papers. Series 2 contains the recipe cards and recipes that were within her recipe card boxes and binders. Series 3 contains all of the publications that Betty Carey had collected and organized, and most are related to food and cooking. Lastly, Series 4 contains the ephemera that was found throughout Betty Carey's collection.