Food

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

Tin cans were used to store a variety of different foods, and in this case, it was used to package maple syrup for either personal use or to sell commercially.
Description
Tin cans were used to store a variety of different foods, and in this case, it was used to package maple syrup for either personal use or to sell commercially. If the syrup was stored too long in the tin can, it would take on a slightly metallic flavor and therefore was not the best material to use for this purpose.
Maple syrup production is one of the few agricultural processes in North America that was not a European import but learned from the Native Americans in New England. Sap is typically collected from the Sugar, Red or Black maple, though it can be collected from other tree types. Northeastern North America is the most common area for maple syrup production, with Vermont, New York and Maine leading production in the U.S. Once the sap is collected, it must be boiled down to reduce the water content. It can require anywhere from 20-50 liters of sap to make one liter of syrup, depending on the sugar content of the sap. Each tree is capable of producing 35-50 liters of sap.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.76-FT-01.0949
accession number
322793
catalog number
76-FT-01.0949
collector/donor number
808
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1970
maker
Wear-Ever Aluminum
ID Number
1981.0948.07
accession number
1981.0948
catalog number
1981.0948.07
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.
ID Number
1992.0338.10
catalog number
1992.0338.10
accession number
1992.0338
This shipping crate side contained tobacco manufactured by the American Tobacco Company in Middletown, Ohio during the early 20th century. The P.J.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained tobacco manufactured by the American Tobacco Company in Middletown, Ohio during the early 20th century. The P.J. Sorg Tobacco Company was the dominant tobacco manufacturer in Middletown before it was bought by the American Tobacco Company around 1898. The crate has a label noting that taxes were paid, and the bottom of the crate cautions “under the penalties of law” against reusing the packaging for tobacco shipments.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
American Tobacco Company
ID Number
1979.0441.224
catalog number
1979.0441.224
accession number
1979.0441
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date designed
ca. 1955
date produced
1961
Date made
Line: 1961 Shape: Introduced 1955
designer
Diamond, Freda
maker
Libbey Glass Company
designer
Diamond, Freda
ID Number
1997.0157.16D
accession number
1997.0157
catalog number
1997.0157.16D
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
Introduced in 1957
date made
ca.1956
c.1956
designer
Diamond, Freda
maker
Libbey Glass Company
designer
Diamond, Freda
ID Number
1997.0157.01A
catalog number
1997.0157.01A
accession number
1997.0157
Circular skimmer, flat at center, attached on back with three rivets to a offset handle, rectangular in section, wider at top with bent-back hook; all rivets domed on front and back.
Description
Circular skimmer, flat at center, attached on back with three rivets to a offset handle, rectangular in section, wider at top with bent-back hook; all rivets domed on front and back. Bowl is perforated with small holes arranged into five concentric circles around one hole at center. Back of handle is stamped incuse "F.B.S.CANTON.O." and "PAT.JAN.26.86" in sans serif letters.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1886 or later
patent date
1886-01-26
ID Number
1978.0404.03
accession number
1978.0404
catalog number
1978.0404.03
Miniature or toy size, stove-top waffle iron consisting of a bail-handled collar or ring base that holds two, identical, wooden-handled, circular pans with gridded faces. Projecting from opposite edges of each pan are half a ball bearing and a handle shank with lug and hollow.
Description
Miniature or toy size, stove-top waffle iron consisting of a bail-handled collar or ring base that holds two, identical, wooden-handled, circular pans with gridded faces. Projecting from opposite edges of each pan are half a ball bearing and a handle shank with lug and hollow. When the pans are placed face-to-face, the ball bearing and interlocked handle fit in a corresponding socket and notch in the base. Backs of both pans have "”WAGNER” (arched) / PAT\D/.. / FEB 22 / 1910 / SIDNEY, O (curved)" cast in incuse sans serif letters; no marks on base.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1910 - 1920
patent date
1910-02-22
maker
Wagner Manufacturing Company
ID Number
DL.67.0369
catalog number
67.0369
accession number
263810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2004
date printed
2010
maker
Raab, Susana
ID Number
2018.0016.0002
accession number
2018.0016
catalog number
2018.0016.0002
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca. 1960s
ca. 1963
Date made
ca 1960s
designer
Diamond, Freda
maker
Libbey Glass Company
designer
Diamond, Freda
ID Number
1997.0157.04B
accession number
1997.0157
catalog number
1997.0157.04B
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1925
maker
Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1992.0338.29
catalog number
1992.0338.29
accession number
1992.0338
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date produced
c.1950
date made
c.1950s
designer
Kogan, Belle
maker
Hull
ID Number
1992.0257.13.ab
accession number
1992.0257
catalog number
1992.0257.13ab
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca. 1960
Date made
1960s (?)
designer
Diamond, Freda
maker
Libbey Glass Company
designer
Diamond, Freda
ID Number
1997.0157.17E
accession number
1997.0157
catalog number
1997.0157.17E
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date produced
1946
date designed
1941
associated dates
1992 06 02 / 1992 06 02
maker
Federal Glass Company
designer
Kogan, Belle
maker
Federal Glass Company
ID Number
1992.0257.02
catalog number
1992.0257.02
accession number
1992.0257
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca.1960
Date made
1960s (?)
designer
Diamond, Freda
maker
Libbey Glass Company
designer
Diamond, Freda
ID Number
1997.0157.17D
accession number
1997.0157
catalog number
1997.0157.17D
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1928 - 1939
ID Number
1992.0338.45
accession number
1992.0338
catalog number
1992.0338.45
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1928 - 1939
ID Number
1992.0338.40
catalog number
1992.0338.40
accession number
1992.0338
catalog number
1992.338.40
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1928 - 1939
ID Number
1992.0338.44
catalog number
1992.0338.44
accession number
1992.0338
catalog number
1992.338.44
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1928 - 1939
date patented
1924-8-12
ID Number
1992.0338.42
accession number
1992.0338
catalog number
1992.0338.42
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1940s
date produced
ca. 1940
maker
Kogan, Belle
ID Number
1992.0257.03
catalog number
1992.0257.03
accession number
1992.0257
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
Introduced 1957
c.1956
ca.1956
designer
Diamond, Freda
maker
Libbey Glass Company
designer
Diamond, Freda
ID Number
1997.0157.01D
accession number
1997.0157
catalog number
1997.0157.01D
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1970
maker
Wear-Ever Aluminum
ID Number
1981.0948.40
accession number
1981.0948
catalog number
1981.0948.40
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2004
date printed
2010
maker
Raab, Susana
ID Number
2018.0016.0004
accession number
2018.0016
catalog number
2018.0016.0004
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s (?)
date made
ca. 1960
designer
Diamond, Freda
maker
Libbey Glass Company
designer
Diamond, Freda
ID Number
1997.0157.17A
accession number
1997.0157
catalog number
1997.0157.17A

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