NTDMG419 Guide to Carla Emery papers Emery (Carla) papers Finding aid prepared by Marilyn Sandmeyer; updated Emma Warner 2025 University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives March 2007
libspec@uidaho.edu
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-05-19. English Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives Carla Emery papers Emery, Carla, (1939-2005) MG 419 4.5 cubic feet 1957-2000 Carla Emery was a believer in self-sufficiency and the "back to the land" philosophy. Her papers include correspondence, manuscripts, videocassettes, various editions of her book Old Fashioned Recipe Book, and class schedules of the School of Country Living, which she opened in Kendrick, Idaho in 1976. English .

Carla (Carlotta Louise Harshbarger) Emery was born on January 19, 1939 in Los Angeles and died in Odessa, Texas, on October 11, 2005. Her family moved to a farm in Montana while she was still an infant. Carla became a firm believer in self-sufficiency and the "back to the land" philosophy. Throughout her life, she tried to live by a creed of organic gardening and old style homesteading skills.

In 1970, she began distributing segments of herself-published book, An Old Fashioned Recipe Book,, which went through several editions throughout the 1970s. Her notoriety took her on the road where she distributed copies of her book and was featured on "Good Morning America," "The Mike Douglas Show," and "The Tonight Show." Bantam Books eventually published her book in 1977, then in its 7th edition.

Carla Emery opened the "School for Country Living" with her first husband Mike on property purchased in Kendrick, Idaho in 1976. Within a two-year period, the school became victim of a devastating flood, washing out the property and most of the outbuildings. Her first marriage ended in divorce in 1985. Carla married Donald DeLong in 2000 and moved to Arizona. She remained active in spite of health concerns and toured the country speaking about gardening, raising livestock, and environmental issues. She continued to write profusely, producing manuscripts, publishing articles and another book in 1998, Secret, Don't Tell: The Encyclopedia of Hypnotism.

On her webpage, Carla wrote down how she would like to be remembered: "She was responsible. She loved a job. She loved being a wife, a mother, and a writer. She worked hard and did her best."

The records of Carla Emery span the years 1957 to 2000, with the bulk of the material covering the years 1971 to 1993.

Included in the records are correspondence, manuscripts, videocassettes, various editions of her Old Fashioned Recipe Book, and School of Country Living class schedules.

Carla Emery donated her papers to the University of Idaho Library between 1988 and 2000.

Series I: Correspondence; Series II: School of Country Living; Series III: Publications, Manuscripts, Film, and Audio tapes; Series IV: Personal/Legal

[Description of Item], Carla Emery papers, MG 419. Special Collections and Archives, University of Idaho Library, Moscow, Idaho.

Marilyn Sandmeyer processed the papers in March 2007.

Consult Head of Special Collections and Archives on permission for use.

 School for Country Living Emery, Carla. Old fashioned recipe book Home economics Recipes Hypnotism Cooking Biography Books Correspondence Lifestyles--Health aspects Hypnotism Hypnotism--Therapeutic use Gardening Idaho Series 1: Correspondence (1981-2006) Biography 1 items Accumulation of public information on Emery. 2007 1 1 Correspondence 1 63 items Handwritten letters between Carla and family members, including Mike Emery. 1981-1982 1 2 Correspondence 44 items Handwritten letters between Carla and family members, including Mike Emery. 1982 1 3 Correspondence 44 items Handwritten letters between Carla and family members, including Mike Emery. 1982 1 4 Correspondence 39 items Handwritten letters between Carla and family members, including Mike Emery. 1982-1990 1 5 Series 2: School of Country Living (1971-1977) School of Country Living 35 items Collection of information on Emery's School of Country living, including newsletters, updates, class documents, and exams. 1976-1977 1 6 Old Fashioned Recipe Book 29 items Documents related to the drafting of the Old Fashioned Recipe Book. 1971-1974 1 8 Burton Books 17 items Documents related to the publishing of the Old Fashioned Recipe Book. 1975-1987 1 9 Series 3: Publications and Manuscripts (1957-2000) The Right One 1 item The first five chapters of The Right One, a story about finding love after a divorce, which was later turning into the first chapter of The Lady in the Tower. Undated 1 10 In the End There's a Beginning 1 item A diary turned manuscript following Emery's life events after her husband left her. 1990 1 11 A Woman's Life Vol. 1: the Petals Open 1 item A manuscript about being a woman. 1990 1 12 The Lady in the Tower - copy 1 1 item A manuscript that originated as a diary about Emery's life after her divorce. A large theme is hypnotism. Appears to be a draft of a chapter in Darker Than You Think. 1990 1 13 Darker Than You Think - copy 1 Undated 1 14 Darker Than You Think Undated 1 15 Darker Than You Think Undated 1 16 Darker Than You Think - copy 2 1991 1 17 Darker Than You Think 1991 1 18 Darker Than You Think - copy 3 1 19 Darker Than You Think 1 20 The Address of Pi(e)? 1 item A manuscript that maps out Darker Than You Think. 1989 1 21 A Writer: the 3-in-1 Being 1 item 1 22 The Lady in the Tower- copy 2 1992 1 23 The Lady in the Tower 2 1992 1 24 Handwritten Texts 137 items A mix of handwritten documents on both lined and blank papers about seemingly personal issues. 1987 1 25 Handwritten Texts 155 items A mix of handwritten documents on both lined and blank papers about seemingly personal issues. 1987 1 26 Handwritten Texts 70 items A mix of handwritten documents on both lined and blank papers about seemingly personal issues. 1987 1 27 Handwritten Texts 194 items A mix of handwritten documents on both lined and blank papers about seemingly personal issues. 1987 2 28 List of Emery's Books 1 item Typed list of books written by Emery, both finished and unfinished works. Undated 2 29 Publications, Articles 4 items Collection of articles and stories written by Emery featured in magazines, including Home Sweet Home and Backwoods Home Magazine. 1989-1993 2 30 Series 4: Personal/Legal Photographs Copies 2 9 items A mix of photographs that are either photocopies and multiple copies of the same pictures. 1984 2 31 Tebbets 1 item Enrollment agreement with Charles Tebbetts Hypnotism Training Institute, Inc. 1990 2 32 Hypnotherapy 3 items Paperwork related to Emery's work as a Hypnotherapist. 1990 2 33 Psychology Class 4 items Essays written for Emery's Psych 120 class. Undated 2 34 Darker Than You Think - Copy 4 1 item A guide to trance, its uses and abuses, and brainwashing. 1991 2 35 Series 5: New Additions to the Collection Mother's Milk: Nursing Your Baby 1 item A book written by Emery detailing everything a new mother needs to know about breastfeeding. 1992 2 36 Film Negatives 24 item A collection of film negatives and slides. 1994 2 37 Photographs, originals 15 items Family photographs. 1993-1994 2 38 Business Relations 2 28 items Collection of finances, correspondence to arrange interviews, and transmittal fax cover sheets. 1993-1994 2 39 Old Fashioned Recipe Book promotionals. 4 items Flyers advertising events for Emery's cookbook and other business ventures. 1994 2 40 Correspondence 11 items 1994 2 41 Old Fashioned Recipe Book Tour 3 items Technical details for Emery's book tour in 1994. 1994 2 42 Handwritten Texts 2 44 items Collection of handwritten documents on both blank and lined paper about personal matters. 1987-1994 2 43 Publications, Articles 3 items Publications of Emery's from Backwood Home Magazines, where an article about chickens was published throughout the course of 3 editions. 1991 2 44 Misc. Personal Items 6 items A collection of miscellaneous items, including an address book and drawings. 1993 2 45 Legal & Official Documents 11 items Collection of legal and other official documents from Emery's life, including drafts of her will and school reports. Some documents are under Carlotta Louise Harshbarger, Emery's birth name. 1963-1992 2 46 Hypnosis Research 6 items Accumulation of newspaper clippings about hypnosis that was presumably used for Emery's research. 1988-1989 2 47 Publications on Emery 12 items Collection of newspaper articles written about Emery and events in her life. 1974-1994 2 48 Old Fashioned Recipe Book: an Encyclopedia of Country Living with illustrations by Cindy Davis 1 item Published copy of Old Fashioned Recipe Book as a loose-leaf book. 1993 3 49 Old Fashioned Recipe Book: an Encyclopedia of Country Living with illustrations by Cindy Davis 1 item Published copy of Old Fashioned Recipe Book as a paper back book distributed by Bantom Books. 1981 3 50 Secret, Don't Tell: the Encyclopedia of Hypnotism with illustrations by Corey Smigliani 1 item Published copy of Secret, Don't Tell 1st edition. 1998 3 51 Cindy Davis illustration 1 item Oversized print of an illustration by Cindy Davis to advertise Emery's cookbook with a letter addressing the xerox company about final printing. Undated 3 52 VHS Copy of Carla Emery's Old Fashioned Recipe Book - Part One 1 item VHS Tape 1 of 2 Undated 2 53 VHS Copy of Carla Emery's Old Fashioned Recipe Book - Part Two 1 item VHS Tape 2 of 2 Undated 2 54 VHS Copy of Carla Emery Reopening Celebration 1 item The only copy of Carla Emery's Reopening Celebration. 1994 3 55 Cassette Tapes of Therapy Aspects of Criminal Hypnosis. 1 item Part V-B of Secret, Don't Tell written and performed by Carla Emery. Undated 3 56 Tape of the Pit Battle 1 item A 7 inch reel. Undated 3 57 Collection of Microcassettes 5 items Microcassette tapes with various male names written on them. Undated 3 58 Audio Wave 4 1 item 2000 3 59 Audio Wave 5 1 item 2000 3 60 Audio Wave 6 1 item 2000 3 61 Audio Wave 7 1 item 2000 3 62 Audio Wave 8 1 item 2000 3 63 Audio Wave 2/3 1 item 2000 3 64 Audio Wave 1/2 Video #1 1 item 2000 3 65 Backwoods Home Radio Show 1 item Presumably a cassette tape of an interview with Backwoods Home Radio Show. 1993 3 66 Anecdotes & Essays I 1 item 1994 3 67 A Write's Time A Writer's Life 1 item 1994 3 68 Mostly Money Matters 1 item 1994 3 69 Carla Emery at Ethel & Carroll 1 item Collection of various events from Carla Emery's life. 1994 3 70 Carla Emery with Imogene Kepsford 1 item Collection of various events from Carla Emery's life. 1994 3 71 Old Fashioned Recipe Book with illustrations by V Boegli 1 item Loose leaf publication of Old Fashioned Recipe Book, presumably one of the earliest publications. 1971 3 72 Dark Blue Scrapbook 1 item Collection of items from Emery's childhood, including grade school assignments and family pictures. Items are labeled with her birth name, Carlotta Louise Harshbarger. Undated 4 73 Black Scrapbook 1 item Collection of items from Emery's childhood, including newspaper clippings, junior high assignments, and arts and crafts. 1948-1949 4 74 Green Scrapbook with a floral image on the front. 1 item Collection of items from Emery's career, most notably newspaper publications on Emery. 1974-1977 5 75 Oversized Drawings 1 item Oversized drawings by Cindy Davis for the Old Fashioned Recipe Book. 1974-1974 5 76 Series 6: Recordings and Audio Tapes VHS Copy of Master Writing Workshop 1 item VHS Tape 1 of 2 Undated 2 77 VHS Copy of Master Writing Workshop 1 item VHS Tape 2 of 2 Undated 2 78 VHS Copy of How to Grow the Greatest Garden of Your Life 1 item VHS Tape Undated 2 79 VHS Copy of How to Grow the Greatest Garden of Your Life - copy 2 1 item VHS Tape Undated 2 80 VHS Copy of The Stories of My Life I 1 item VHS Tape Undated 2 81 VHS Copy of Trends in the Nations Food Supply 1 item VHS Tape Undated 2 82 VHS Copy of Carla Emery's Old Fashioned Recipe Book: The Encyclopedia of Country Living - Master Copy 1 item VHS Tape Undated 2 83 Cassette Tape of The Writing Workshop 1 item Cassette Tape 1 of 3 Undated 2 84 Cassette Tape of The Writing Workshop 1 item Cassette Tape 2 of 3 Undated 2 85 Cassette Tape of The Writing Workshop 1 item Cassette Tape 3 of 3 Undated 2 86 Cassette Tape of How to Prepare for the Year 2000 1 item Cassette Tape 1 of 2 Undated 2 87 Cassette Tape of How to Prepare for the Year 2000 1 item Cassette Tape 2 of 2 Undated 2 88 Cassette of Tape of The Stories of My Life - vol. 1 1 item Cassette Tape Undated 2 89 Cassette Tape of Trends in the Nations Food Supply - copy 2 1 item Cassette Tape Undated 2 90 Cassette Tape of How to Grow the Greatest Garden of Your Life - copy 2 1 item Cassette Tape Undated 2 91