Jan Weimer Papers, 1974-2004 (MSS 721)

Access: Original media formats are restricted. Viewing/listening copies may be available for researchers.

Extent: 6.6 Linear feet (13 archives boxes, 2 card file boxes, 5 oversize folders)

Papers of Jan Weimer, former executive food editor of Bon Appétit, author, food writer, and consultant. The collection dates from 1974 to 2004, and contains letters, drafts of articles, clippings, tear sheets, awards, ephemera, and photographs, as well as video and audio recordings.

Jan Weimer, a graduate of the Paris Cordon Bleu, was a prolific food writer and well-known food consultant whose expertise ranged from recipe and menu construction to kitchen layout and design. Weimer held the position of executive food editor for Bon Appétit from 1981 to 1989, as well as the positions of assistant food editor for the San Francisco Chronicle; chief culinary officer of Chefstore.com; and consultant to Princess Cruises, Trefethen Winery, and numerous restaurants and individuals. Throughout her career she worked with many prominent culinary figures including Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Craig Claiborne.

In addition to writing hundreds of articles published in dozens of publications and co-authoring several books, Weimer authored a definitive guide to home kitchen remodeling: Kitchen Redos, Revamps, Remodels and Replacements: Without Murder, Madness, Suicide or Divorce, published in 1997. Weimer also chaired numerous panels and conferences and was instrumental in starting the Los Angeles chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF). She received awards and recognitions for her writing and work in the culinary world, among them the International Journalism Contest "Maria Luigia Duchessa di Parma" Prize and best paper at the 1999 Appliance Manufacturer Conference and Expo, a rare achievement for a woman and non-engineer.

Weimer died April 13, 2007.

The Jan Weimer Papers comprise materials documenting her career as a writer, consultant, and leader in the food industry. The collection includes personal and professional correspondence, typed drafts and published copies of Weimer's writings, and video and audiocassettes of media appearances and interviews.

Arranged in six series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) WRITINGS AND RESEARCH, 3) PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES, 4) BIOGRAPHICAL, 5) RESTAURANT MENUS, and 6) AUDIOVISUAL MATERIAL.

Container List

CORRESPONDENCE

Scope and Content of Series

Series 1) CORRESPONDENCE: Letters from Julia Child, Simone Beck, M.F.K. Fisher, and Craig Claiborne, among other prominent culinary figures. Arranged alphabetically.

Box 1 Folder 1
Beck, Simone, 1975-1978

Bon Appétit

Box 1 Folder 2
1982-1986
Box 1 Folder 3
1987-1989
Box 1 Folder 4
Child, Julia, 1974-1999
Box 1 Folder 5
Chroman, Nathan L., 1987
Box 1 Folder 6
Claiborne, Craig, 1977-1989
Box 1 Folder 7
Fisher, M.F.K., 1982
Box 1 Folder 8
Finigan, Robert, 1974
Box 1 Folder 9
Lang, George, 1976
Box 1 Folder 10
Levy, Faye, 1987
Box 1 Folder 11
Sax, Richard, 1986
Box 1 Folder 12
Troisgros, Jean, 1977-1978
Box 1 Folder 13
Willan, Anne, undated

Various correspondents

Box 1 Folder 14
1977-1979
Box 1 Folder 15
1980-1981
Box 1 Folder 16
1983-1989
Box 1 Folder 17
1990-2006
Box 1 Folder 18
Undated
Box 1 Folder 19
Regarding San Francisco Chronicle articles, 1976-1977
Box 1 Folder 20
Invitations, 1977-1994

WRITINGS AND RESEARCH

Scope and Content of Series

Series 2) WRITINGS AND RESEARCH. Arranged in three subseries: A) Articles and Recipes, B) Books, and C) Notes.

A) Articles and Recipes: Includes both clippings and typescripts of Weimer's articles that appeared in publications including Bon Appétit, Cuisine, Food and Wine, and the San Francisco Chronicle.

B) Books: Correspondence, reviews, and clippings relating to both Kitchen Redos, Revamps, Remodels, and Replacements and Michael Richard's Home Cooking with a French Accent, which she co-authored. There are also publicity photos, contact sheets, and negatives from Kitchen Redos.

C) Notes: Includes a notebook with Weimer's handwritten notes and a scrapbook, maintained in original order, of annotated research materials and handwritten notes.

Articles and Recipes

Box 1 Folder 21
Partial bibliography, 1974-1977
Box 1 Folder 22-23
Bon Appétit , 1979-1989
Box 2 Folder 1
Bon Appétit Basics , 1980-1981
Box 2 Folder 2
"The Book Review" - Column in The Sausalito Revue , 1978-1981
Box 2 Folder 3
California Critic , 1978
Box 2 Folder 4
Cuisine , 1979-1981
Box 2 Folder 5
Food and Wine , 1992-1997
Box 2 Folder 6
Metropolitan Home , 1994-1998
Box 2 Folder 7-9
San Francisco Chronicle , 1974-1977
Box 2 Folder 10
Sunset , 1975-1980

Miscellaneous articles

Box 2 Folder 11
1974 - 1979
Box 3 Folder 1-3
1980 - 2004
Box 3 Folder 4-6
Undated
Box 4 Folder 1
Recipes

Books

Kitchen Redos, Revamps, Remodels, and Replacements

Box 4 Folder 2
Correspondence
Box 4 Folder 3
Research
Box 4 Folder 4-5
Reviews and clippings
Box 4 Folder 6
Speaking engagements
Box 5 Folder 1
Publicity photos and contact sheets
Box 5 Folder 2
Negatives
Box 5 Folder 3-4
Michael Richard's Home Cooking with a French Accent , 1991-1994

Notes

Box 5 Folder 5
Notebooks, undated
Box 5 Folder 6-8
Scrapbook (on meat)
Box 10 Folder 5-7
Scrapbooks 1 and 2, ca. 1983-2001
Box 5 Folder 9
Miscellaneous notes, undated

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Scope and Content of Series

Series 3) PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES. Arranged in four subseries: A) Consulting, B) Events and Conferences, C) Speeches, and D) Media Appearances.

A) Consulting: Writings and correspondence relating to her consulting work for companies including Princess Cruises, Trefethen Vineyards, and the Cook'Stop project.

B) Events and Conferences: Arranged chronologically by event date; documents Weimer's involvement in conferences like the AIWF Annual Conference, Celebrities Cook for the UCSD Cancer Center, and the International Food Media Conference.

C) Speeches: Arranged chronologically, and includes typed and handwritten speech notes.

D) Media Appearances: Includes correspondence and transcripts from Weimer's guest appearances on television and radio news, food, and lifestyle shows.

Consulting

Box 6 Folder 1
Trefethen Vineyards, 1988-1991
Box 6 Folder 2
Fear of Frying, 1993
Box 6 Folder 3
Cook'Stop, 1994
Box 6 Folder 4
Princess Cruises, 1995-1996
Box 6 Folder 5
ChefStore.com, Inc., 1999
Box 6 Folder 6
Crustacean Restaurant, 2001
Box 6 Folder 7
Cocolat newsletters, undated
Box 6 Folder 8
Miscellaneous consulting, 1991-1996

Events and Conferences

Box 6 Folder 9
1974 - 1986
Box 6 Folder 10 Oversize FB-494-01
1985
Box 7 Folder 1-3
1987 - 1989
Box 7 Folder 4-5
1990 - 1999

Speeches

Box 7 Folder 6
1980 - 1984
Box 7 Folder 7
1985 - 1987
Box 8 Folder 1
1988 - 1989
Box 8 Folder 2
1990 - 1999
Box 8 Folder 3-4
Undated
Box 8 Folder 5
Notes

Media Appearances

Box 8 Folder 6
The Food Show, 1989
Box 8 Folder 7
Miscellaneous media, 1984-1999

BIOGRAPHICAL

Scope and Content of Series

Series 4) BIOGRAPHICAL: Includes newspaper clippings, awards won by Weimer, portrait prints, negatives and contact sheets, and Weimer's well-used, autographed copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child.

Box 8 Folder 8
Awards
Box 8 Folder 9-10
Newspaper clippings, 1977-1989
Box 9 Folder 1
Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child - Jan Weimer's personal copy
Box 9 Folder 2
Portrait prints, negatives and contact sheets

RESTAURANT MENUS

Scope and Content of Series

Series 5) RESTAURANT MENUS: Six folders of menus and one flat box of oversized menus from restaurants all over the world. Some have Weimer's handwritten notes on them.

Box 9 Folder 3-5
Menus
Box 10 Folder 1-3
Menus
Box 10 Folder 4 Oversize FB-494- 02-05
Menus - Oversize

AUDIOVISUAL MATERIAL

Scope and Content of Series

Series 6) AUDIOVISUAL MATERIAL. Arranged in two subseries: A) Videos (arranged according to format, VHS and U-Matic, featuring Weimer's appearances on television and lifestyle shows), and B) Audiocassettes (43 recordings of Weimer's radio show appearances, conference panels, and interviews).

Videos

VHS

Box 13 Folder 1-2
1985 - 1997
Box 11 Folder 1
1998 - 1999
Box 11 Folder 2-4
Undated
Box 12 Folder 1
Undated

U-Matic

Box 12 Folder 2-3
1979 - 1985
Box 13 Folder 2
1986
Box 13 Folder 3
Undated

Audiocassettes

General

Box 14 Folder 1-20
1980-1994
Box 15 Folder 1-2
1997-1998
Box 15 Folder 3-8
Undated
Box 15 Folder 9-23
Paul Wallach Show, 1984-1988