Alumna donates historic cookbooks to Acadia


The Quiet Reading Room in the Vaughan Memorial Library at Acadia University was anything but quiet on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. In fact, it was packed to overflowing as members of the Acadia and surrounding community came together to celebrate Clara Nowlan Jefferson (’48) and her gift of 250 historic cookbooks to the University.

Born and raised in Wolfville, Clara’s father, mother, three brothers, four nieces and two nephews are all Acadia alumni. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from Acadia, Clara earned a Master of Science in Foods and Education from Cornell University before returning to Acadia and spending 11 years as a faculty member in the School of Home Economics. She subsequently served two consecutive terms on Acadia’s Board of Governors, was an Associated Alumni of Acadia University Board member, an AAAU Exceptional Volunteer Award winner, and received an Honorary Doctorate from Acadia in 2010.

Her gift encompasses cookbooks from the late 19th Century right up to the current day and all of them will be housed in the Special Collections section of the Kirkconnell Room in the library in the Clara Jefferson Collection. Friends, family, School of Nutrition and Dietetics students, alumni and many others from the local community gathered to wish Clara well and applaud her generous gift. Jennifer Richard, Liaison Librarian, Nutrition and Dietetics, emceed the event and received a jaunty Royal wave from Clara to the delight of the crowd when Clara was described as ‘the queen of Wolfville’. Other speakers included University Archivist Pat Townsend, fourth-year Nutrition student Carlie Cormier and professor Barb Anderson (’77), Director of the School of Nutrition and Dietetics, who offered closing remarks. All thanked Clara and expressed gratitude for the donation and Clara responded in kind, thanking organizers and guests for putting together a wonderful, memorable event.

For more, view our photo gallery.

Pictured (from left to right): Fourth-year Nutrition and Dietetics student Carlie Cormier; Professor Barb Anderson (’77), Director of the School of Nutrition and Dietetics; Clara Jefferson (’48); University Archivist Pat Townsend; and Liaison Librarian, Nutrition and Dietetics, Jennifer Richard.

(Photo: Fred Sgambati)


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