Food - Overview
Part of a nation's history lies in what people eat. Artifacts at the Museum document the history of food in the United States from farm machinery to diet fads.
More than 1,300 pieces of stoneware and earthenware show how Americans have stored, prepared, and served food for centuries. Ovens, cookie cutters, kettles, aprons, and ice-cream-making machines are part of the collections, along with home canning jars and winemaking equipment. More than 1,000 objects recently came to the Museum when author and cooking show host Julia Child donated her entire kitchen, from appliances to cookbooks.
Advertising and business records of several food companies—such as Hills Brothers Coffee, Pepsi Cola, and Campbell's Soup—represent the commercial side of the subject
"Food - Overview" showing 9 items.
Beef Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This shipping crate end is imprinted with the “Libby’s” script of the manufacturing firm Libby, McNeil, and Libby. Archibald McNeil and Charles and Arthur Libby founded the company in 1868. In 1875, Libby’s began to pack their meats into pyramidal shaped cans. These cans were extremely popular among consumers, and Libby’s became one of the country’s biggest producers of canned meats. The company was purchased by Nestle in 1971.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- Libby, McNeill & Libby
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.195
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.195
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Spinach Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This shipping crate end is imprinted with the “Libby’s” script of the manufacturing firm Libby, McNeil, and Libby. This crate contained Fancy California Spinach. Archibald McNeil and Charles and Arthur Libby founded the Chicago based company in 1868. Originally specializing in canned meats, Libby’s began to produce canned fruits and vegetables in the early 20th century. Libby, McNeil and Libby was purchased by Nestle in 1971.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- Libby, McNeill & Libby
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.214
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.214
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Raisins Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This shipping crate side originally contained Sunny-Vale brand Thompson seedless raisins that were packed by Libby, McNeil, & Libby in Sunnyvale, California in the early 20th century. Libby’s opened a cannery in Sunnyvale in 1907 which became the world’s largest cannery by 1922. The crate contained 8 4-pound bags.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- Libby, McNeill & Libby
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.250
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.250
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Apricots Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This shipping crate side originally was used for Golden-Glory brand apricots that were packed by Libby, McNeill, & Libby of Chicago, Illinois in the 1930s. The crate contained 25 pounds of choice Blenheim apricots. The crate side has a National Recovery Administration stamp that reads “We Do Our Part.” In an attempt to end the Great Depression, the National Industrial Recovery Act was passed and consumers were encouraged to only buy products from companies that adhered to the stipulations of the NRA, shown by the Blue Eagle stamp.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- Libby, McNeill & Libby
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.262
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.262
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Roast Beef Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This shipping crate end panel is imprinted with the “Libby’s” script of the manufacturing firm Libby, McNeil, and Libby. Archibald McNeil and Charles and Arthur Libby founded the company in 1868. In 1875, Libby’s began to pack their meats into pyramidal shaped cans. These cans were extremely popular among consumers, and Libby’s became one of the country’s biggest producers of canned meats. The company was purchased by Nestle in 1971.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- Libby, McNeill & Libby
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.342
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.342
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Corned Beef Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This shipping crate end panel is imprinted with the “Libby’s” script of the manufacturing firm Libby, McNeil, and Libby. Archibald McNeil and Charles and Arthur Libby founded the company in 1868. In 1875, Libby’s began to pack their meats into pyramidal shaped cans. These cans were extremely popular among consumers, and Libby’s became one of the country’s biggest producers of canned meats. The company was purchased by Nestle in 1971.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- Libby, McNeill & Libby
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.353
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.353
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Prunes Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This shipping crate end panel is imprinted with the “Libby’s” script of the manufacturing firm Libby, McNeil, and Libby. This crate contained Santa Clara, California Prunes. Archibald McNeil and Charles and Arthur Libby founded the Chicago based company in 1868. Originally specializing in canned meats, Libby’s began to produce canned fruits and vegetables in the early 20th century. The company was purchased by Nestle in 1971.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- Libby, McNeill & Libby
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.354
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.354
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Food Product's Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This shipping crate end panel is imprinted with the “Libby’s” script of the manufacturing firm Libby, McNeil, and Libby. Archibald McNeil and Charles and Arthur Libby founded the company in 1868. Libby’s became one of the country's biggest producers of canned meats in vegetables in the early 20th century. The company was purchased by Nestle in 1971.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- Libby, McNeill & Libby
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.359
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.359
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
- No Image Available
[Trade catalogs from Libby, McNeill & Libby]
- Date
- 1900s
- Company Name
- Libby, McNeill & Libby
- Record ID
- SILNMAHTL_26716
- Data source
- Smithsonian Institution Libraries