Food

Photo of McCall's Cheese

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

Date: 1930s

HOSTESS Sandwich Toaster

Electric sandwich toaster or grill. Ceramic (heavy porcelain) body, rectangular-block form, faceted top, yellow and black. Two flat cast aluminum grill-tops connected at back with iron coil and side brackets, clamshell style. Bottom pan has small spout on left.
Description
Electric sandwich toaster or grill. Ceramic (heavy porcelain) body, rectangular-block form, faceted top, yellow and black. Two flat cast aluminum grill-tops connected at back with iron coil and side brackets, clamshell style. Bottom pan has small spout on left. Long wooden cylindrical handle at front, vertical, black, with hammer-like flat metal lever which allows the pans to be locked in three positions with the rear brackets. Flared legs with arched base. Metal underside. Two prongs to attach power cord at side, inside body, cord missing. Overall abrasions and residue, rust spots, discoloration. Underside is dented, sides have small cracks in porcelain. Yellow enamel on underside. Paint worn on wooden handle. Front has glazed cartouche, white with gold writing, old English, cursive, sans serif: “HOSTESS/Sandwich Toaster/VOLTS 110 WATTS 400/ALL RITE CO. – RUSHVILLE, IND.”
The smaller version of this toaster was one of the first sandwich toasters to appear on the market, circa 1920-1922 (see 1992.0338.33 and .35).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1925-1935
ID Number
1992.0338.33
catalog number
1992.0338.33
accession number
1992.0338

Westinghouse TURNOVER TOASTER

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

Photograph of "McCall's Cheese"

Carbro color print, matted; Cheese and crackers with knife. Signed and dated on mat, pencil. Verso: handwritten "McCall's Cheese." This color photograph was used for the women's homemaking magazine, McCall's.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Carbro color print, matted; Cheese and crackers with knife. Signed and dated on mat, pencil. Verso: handwritten "McCall's Cheese." This color photograph was used for the women's homemaking magazine, McCall's.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1936
maker
Outerbridge, Jr., Paul
ID Number
PG.006063
catalog number
6063
accession number
223759
catalog number
6063

Teaspoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1923 or later
parent company
International Silver Company
ID Number
DL.380490F
catalog number
380490F
accession number
153231

Woman Preparing Cake Roll

A Nickolas Muray dye transfer photograph of the interior of a house and woman in blue dress preparing a cake roll. For McCall's Magazine Homemaking cover ca. 1938.Recto: Signed by artist in lower right (pencil). Verso: Muray label. Two Muray stamps.
Description (Brief)
A Nickolas Muray dye transfer photograph of the interior of a house and woman in blue dress preparing a cake roll. For McCall's Magazine Homemaking cover ca. 1938.
Recto: Signed by artist in lower right (pencil). Verso: Muray label. Two Muray stamps. "McCall Mag - Homemaking Cover" (black marker). "1938" (pencil).
Description
Nickolas Muray was born in Szeged, Hungary on February 15, 1892. Twelve years after his birth, Muray left his native town and enrolled in a graphic arts school in Budapest. Enrolling in art school was the first step on a road that would eventually lead him to study a photographic printing process called three-color carbro. In the course of his accomplished career, Muray would become an expert in this process and play a key role in bringing color photography to America.
While attending art school in Budapest, Muray studied lithography and photoengraving, earning an International Engraver's Certificate. Muray was also introduced to photography during this time period. His combined interest in photography and printmaking led him to Berlin, Germany to participate in a three-year color-photoengraving course. In Berlin, Muray learned how to make color filters, a first step in the craft that would one day become his trademark. Immediately after the completion of the course, Muray found a good job with a publishing company in Ullstein, Germany. However, the threat of war in Europe forced Muray to flee for America in 1913. Soon after his arrival in New York, Muray was working as a photoengraver for Condé Nast. His specialty was color separations and half-tone negatives.
By 1920, Muray had established a home for himself in the up-and-coming artists' haven of Greenwich Village. He opened a portrait studio out of his apartment and continued to work part time at his engraving job. Harper's Bazaar magazine gave Muray his first big assignment in 1921. The project was to photograph Broadway star Florence Reed. The magazine was so impressed with his photographs that they began to publish his work monthly. This allowed him to give up his part time job and work solely as a photographer. It did not take long for Muray to become one of the most renowned portrait photographers in Manhattan. Muray spent much of the early 1920s photographing the most famous and important personalities in New York at the time.
In his spare time Muray enjoyed fencing. In 1927, he won the National Sabre Championship and in 1928 and 1932, he was on the United States Olympic Team. During World War II, Muray was a flight lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1938
maker
Muray, Nickolas
ID Number
PG.69.247.16
catalog number
69.247.16
accession number
287542

Goldman's Folding Basket Carriage

To increase shoppers ability to purchase more groceries, Sylvan Goldman of Oklahoma City, developed a "combination of basket and carriage." He devised a folding frame with wheels and two shelves which held two stock wire baskets.
Description
To increase shoppers ability to purchase more groceries, Sylvan Goldman of Oklahoma City, developed a "combination of basket and carriage." He devised a folding frame with wheels and two shelves which held two stock wire baskets. He filed for patent on March 14, 1938 and recieved approved patent on April 9, 1940 for the Folding Basket Carriage for Self-Serivce Stores.
The carrier is original but repainted in 1972 in the same green as original finish.
Date made
ca 1937
maker
Folding Basket Carrier Co.
ID Number
CL.302377.01
accession number
302377
patent number
2196914
catalog number
302377.01

Bread Pan

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1930s
1940 - 1950
ID Number
1992.3069.02
catalog number
1992.3069.02
nonaccession number
1992.3069

Little Orphan Annie

This beetleware plastic mug with lid was a promotional item for the Little Orphan Annie radio show and it's sponsor, Ovaltine.Little Orphan Annie first aired in 1930 on Chicago's WGN, going national on NBC in 1931, where it aired for 11 years.
Description
This beetleware plastic mug with lid was a promotional item for the Little Orphan Annie radio show and it's sponsor, Ovaltine.
Little Orphan Annie first aired in 1930 on Chicago's WGN, going national on NBC in 1931, where it aired for 11 years. The program followed the serialized adventures of the titular orphan, a spunky red-haired moppet, and her dog Sandy. Based on Harold Gray's popular syndicated newspaper comic strip, the program was on of the first radio shows to focus on a juvenile audience.
In addition to the radio program, the character of Annie has been the focus of numerous film adaptations and a Broadway musical. The newspaper strip lasted in various forms until 2010.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1930s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
2003.0159.01
accession number
2003.0159
catalog number
2003.0159.01

"Toastmaster Hospitality" Toast Cutter

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935 - 1936
maker
McGraw Electric Co.
ID Number
1989.0308.02
catalog number
1989.0308.02
accession number
1989.0308

Toastmaker Electric Toaster

Side-loading electric single-slice toaster, partially chrome-plated sheet metal. Rectangular-shaped body, curved corners. Toast rack of wire and sheet metal swings down 90 degrees from one end, to load bread, black wooden knob handle. Open top.
Description
Side-loading electric single-slice toaster, partially chrome-plated sheet metal. Rectangular-shaped body, curved corners. Toast rack of wire and sheet metal swings down 90 degrees from one end, to load bread, black wooden knob handle. Open top. Indented satin panels on either side, with low-relief Art nouveau style geometric linear design. One end is vented, opposite end has similar design. Heavy rectangular base with canted sides and rounded corners. Each side of base has a handle mounted on top, metal arms with turned wooden grip, black. Temperature gauge on one side, black wooden knobs, with attached plate, printed: “AUTO-TOASTMAKER/MODEL No. 75/PATS. PEND. BERSTED MFG. CO. CHICAGO ILL.” Opposite end has attached fabric power cord, black and gold woven, with molded plastic two-pronged plug, black. Four wooden ball-shaped feet, black. Mica heating elements, wrapped in metal tape. Overall abrasion, scratches, handles are worn, underside is discolored, yellow enamel on underside.
Maker is the Bersted Manufacturing Company, founded in Chicago by Alfred Bersted in 1913. The company began as a small machine shop, eventually producing small appliances after World War I. In 1926 McGraw Electric purchased the growing company and made it into a division of McGraw. Alfred Bersted would later purchase the company back from McGraw in 1930, only to have it bought back from him by McGraw in 1948. McGraw Electric (and later as McGraw-Edison) produced appliances under several brands, including “Fostoria,” “Lady Winsted,” “Capitol,” and “General Mills,” to name a few.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1930-1932
ID Number
1992.0338.13
catalog number
1992.0338.13
accession number
1992.0338

Girl eating hot dog and drinking beer

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1939
maker
Keppler, Victor
ID Number
PG.006263.S
catalog number
6263S
accession number
238737

Oh You Bootlegger novelty

A novelty bag made of cream celluloid. Text printed on the bag is "Oh you Bootlegger." The item dates from the Prohibition era. It originally contained a small bottle of whiskey, but the bottle is missing.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
A novelty bag made of cream celluloid. Text printed on the bag is "Oh you Bootlegger." The item dates from the Prohibition era. It originally contained a small bottle of whiskey, but the bottle is missing.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1920-1933
ID Number
2006.0098.1693
catalog number
2006.0098.1693
accession number
2006.0098

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Box

Physical DescriptionPrinted on cardboard.General HistoryHershey's Milk Chocolate box that held candy bars.
Description
Physical Description
Printed on cardboard.
General History
Hershey's Milk Chocolate box that held candy bars.
date made
1943
associated dates
1941-1945
maker
Hershey Chocolate Corporation
ID Number
1992.3112.01
catalog number
1992.3112.01
nonaccession number
1992.3112

Serving Oven (Bun Warmer)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1939
1939 - 1942
patent date
1939-07-18
1939-08-29
1942-10-27
date donors married (received item as wedding gift)
1948-09-02
ID Number
1985.0747.01
catalog number
1985.0747.01
accession number
1985.0747
patent number
2170904

Raspberry Shortcake

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930s
maker
Keppler, Victor
ID Number
PG.006261.S
accession number
238737
catalog number
6261S

Oyster Tin, Heyser’s Oysters

This gallon tin once contained fresh oyster meats packed by the Wm. Heyser Company. Established in 1871 between Pratt, Grant, and Ellicott Streets in Baltimore, the block became known as the “Heyser block” as the company grew.In 1906 the U.S.
Description
This gallon tin once contained fresh oyster meats packed by the Wm. Heyser Company. Established in 1871 between Pratt, Grant, and Ellicott Streets in Baltimore, the block became known as the “Heyser block” as the company grew.
In 1906 the U.S. Congress passed several pure food laws in response to outbreaks of typhoid fever and gastrointestinal ailments linked to poor sanitation. Several new regulations were imposed on the oyster industry after contaminated oysters were blamed for serious illnesses. The laws required inspections of oyster beds and packing houses, as well as the identification of shellfish sources and standardized labeling.
This tin probably dates to the period 1920-30, when colorful lithographed tins became popular. Heyser’s distinctive red tins featured a stylized H resting on an open oyster with the sun’s rays shining on a waterfront city certainly meant to be Baltimore. It includes the old-style bail handle, a feature that was phased out around this time in an effort to reduce manufacturing costs.
Like many Baltimore oyster packers, Wm. Heyser explicitly addressed consumers’ fears about sanitation by emphasizing the clean conditions under which the oysters were handled and citing its compliance with the law. The reverse of the tin contains this message:
“GUARANTEE / OYSTERS CONTAINED IN THIS CAN WERE PACKED IN THE MOST ADVANCED SANITARY MANNER TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PURE FOODS REGULATIONS
Shucked Fresh From The Beds—CAUTION—Fresh oysters are perishable. This can must be kept in refrigerator or in contact with ice until contents are used.”
date made
1920-1930
maker
Wm Heyser Co.
ID Number
2007.0087.01
catalog number
2007.0087.01
accession number
2007.0087

Oyster Tin, Foote's Best Oysters

This gallon tin once contained fresh oyster meats packed by the D. E. Foote & Co., Inc. Established in 1870 on West and Jackson Streets in Baltimore, D. E.
Description
This gallon tin once contained fresh oyster meats packed by the D. E. Foote & Co., Inc. Established in 1870 on West and Jackson Streets in Baltimore, D. E. Foote was one of a hundred oyster packing firms in the city that year, reflecting the enormous volume of trade in oysters from the Chesapeake Bay.
In 1906 the U.S. Congress passed several pure food laws in response to outbreaks of typhoid fever and gastrointestinal ailments linked to poor sanitation. Several new regulations were imposed on the oyster industry after contaminated oysters were blamed for serious illnesses. The laws required inspections of oyster beds and packing houses, as well as the identification of shellfish sources and standardized labeling.
This tin probably dates to the period 1920-30, when colorful lithographed tins became popular. It includes the old-style bail handle, a feature that was phased out around this time in an effort to reduce manufacturing costs. Like many Baltimore oyster packers, the Foote Company addressed consumers’ fears about sanitation by emphasizing the clean conditions under which the oysters were handled and citing its compliance with the law. The message to consumers on the reverse of the can reads: “THIS CAN CONTAINS STRICTLY FRESH SHUCKED SALT WATER OYSTERS PACKED UNDER PERSONAL SUPERVISION IN THE MOST SANITARY MANNER IN CONFORMITY WITH THE NATIONAL PURE FOOD LAW. KEEP ON ICE UNTIL USED.”
date made
1920-1930
maker
D. E. Foote & Co., Inc
ID Number
2007.0062.01
catalog number
2007.0062.01
accession number
2007.0062

Teaspoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1900 - 1935
ID Number
DL.252318.0046
catalog number
252318.0046
accession number
252318

Ceramic bowl

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date designed
1939
date produced
1940
designer
Kogan, Belle
maker
Red Wing Potteries, Inc.
ID Number
1993.0234.02
catalog number
1993.0234.02
accession number
1993.0234

Hotpoint Electric Toaster

The quest for the perfect slice of toast led to many innovations in toaster engineering and design.
Description
The quest for the perfect slice of toast led to many innovations in toaster engineering and design. A September 1930 Ladies’ Home Journal advertisement proclaimed this Hotpoint single-slice electric toaster produced “Golden brown slices of scientifically caramelized goodness” as well as being “the most beautifully designed toaster in over twenty-six years of electric appliance leadership.” Hotpoint was a British appliance company founded in 1911. In the 1920s, through a joint venture with General Electric, the two companies began to make electric toasters for homes in both England and the United States.
Electric toasters, which did not gain real popularity until the late 1920s, were often a symbol of modernism. The toaster’s “Art Deco” styling was a combination of many different art movements of the time. It used geometric shapes and unusual, modern materials to create a new, “modern” aesthetic that became increasingly popular until the great depression.
date made
ca 1932
patent date
1925-08-25
maker
Hotpoint Edison General Electric Appliance Company, Inc.
ID Number
1992.0338.16
catalog number
1992.0338.16
accession number
1992.0338
catalog number
1992.338.16

MODEL-Z Electric Toaster

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
ID Number
1992.0338.07
catalog number
1992.0338.07
accession number
1992.0338

Oyster Tin, Pride of the Chesapeake Brand

This gallon tin once contained fresh oyster meats packed by the J. D. Groves & Co., located at 117 S. Calvert St. and 116 Cheapside, in Baltimore, Maryland. J. D.
Description
This gallon tin once contained fresh oyster meats packed by the J. D. Groves & Co., located at 117 S. Calvert St. and 116 Cheapside, in Baltimore, Maryland. J. D. Groves also packed fish, fruits, and produce at this address, and was a delegate at the first annual meeting of the Oyster Growers and Dealers Association of North America, held in Baltimore May 18-19, 1909.
In 1906 the U.S. Congress passed several pure food laws in response to outbreaks of typhoid fever and gastrointestinal ailments linked to poor sanitation. Several new regulations were imposed on the oyster industry after contaminated oysters were blamed for serious illnesses. The laws required inspections of oyster beds and packing houses, as well as the identification of shellfish sources and standardized labeling.
This tin probably dates to the period 1920-30, when colorful lithographed tins became popular. The distinctive orange tin features a porthole design with a sailing schooner inside. Like many Baltimore oyster packers, the J. D. Groves Company included a message to consumers concerning the sanitary conditions under which the oysters were packed. The reverse of the can reads:
“WE GUARANTEE THIS CAN TO CONTAIN STRICTLY FRESH SHUCKED OYSTERS / FREE FROM PRESERVATIVES OF ANY KIND / QUALITY AND QUANTITY GUARANTEED.”
date made
1920s
1920-1930
maker
J. D. Groves & Co.
ID Number
2007.0054.01
catalog number
2007.0054.01
accession number
2007.0054

Ceramic Relish Dish

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1951
date designed
c.1939
date made
c.1950
ca. 1939
date produced
1947
date designed
c. 1939
designer
Kogan, Belle
maker
Red Wing Potteries, Inc.
ID Number
1993.0234.03
catalog number
1993.0234.03
accession number
1993.0234

Sugar Bowl

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

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