The Cookery Collection at Special Collections in the Brotherton Library began in 1939 when Blanche Legat Leigh, the Lady Mayoress of Leeds, donated her 1,500 printed books and some manuscript volumes to the Library. The majority of these books were British, French and Italian cookery books dating from the early 16th century to 1930. An item of note from Leigh's collection is a first edition of Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management with a letter inserted in it written to Leigh from Mrs Beeton’s son, Sir Mayson Beeton. Leigh’s donation included her correspondence with book owners held in Special Collections’ archives.
