I am interested in the history of turtle soup in London and New York City. My impression is that although the dish reached its height of popularity in New York in the late 19th century,  it had long been on menus and it would remain so until the early 1960s.

I am now looking for sources relating to turtles and turtle soup in New York City. In particular I am hoping to find information on the importation and sale in markets and shops of live turtles from the Caribbean, descriptions of official functions, restaurants and taverns where turtle soup was served, and material on the commercial production of the soup. It would also be wonderful to identify locations of pictures -- prints, paintings or photographs.

I was hoping that members of the list might have come across references to turtle soup in archives, memoirs, works of fiction or historical studies. If so, I would be most grateful if you could direct me to any such material. If you don't have any specific sources to suggest, general advice on archives to approach would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

Oliver Marshall
London, England