Henry A. Ellis and the doughnut: Ellis seated in front of a fireplace, dunking an oversized donut into oversized cup of coffee
Description:
From a series of images on Henry Ellis's claims about the history of the donut. Copy image. "Cape Cod attorney who contended the donut was invented after a Nauset Native American shot an arrow through a Pilgrim's fried dough cake. Among the many other donut invention stories is that of Captain Gregory Oversized novelty "donut postcard" sent to Ellis, a New England historian, by Pillsbury after they saw his tale in the Hyannis, Mass., Daily Times claiming the donut was invented accidentally when an arrow was shot through a normal donut cake. Part of Blackington's story on donuts around the time of the 1941 symposium in New York City sponsored by the American Donut Company to discern its origins (see also Hanson, Capt. Gregory Crockett). The postcard, which bears 20 one-cent postage stamps to account for the huge donut attached, reads as follows: "Dear Mr. Ellis: Mary Ellis Ames, Directory of Pillsbury Cooking Service, let us girls publish a newspaper, "The Do-Nut News," featuring your story about the invention of the doughnut by an Indian brave. We were skeptical, but when we tried it we found out it could have happened that way. Thought you'd want to see a copy, so here it is." Ellis is pictured holding, dunking, and eating the donut."
Requests to publish, redistribute, or replicate this material should be addressed to Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.
Contact host institution for more information.
