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 7 items.
Food Co-Op Bag
- Description
- This canvas, Food Co-op bag, and the experiences of its donor, recall an important era in American food history—the 1960s and ‘70s, when food became a tool of resistance, consciousness-raising, and self-expression. Activists, many of them students, embraced the motto “You are what you eat,” and rejected food that was mass-produced, distributed, and marketed by large, multi-national corporations. They raised questions about food safety, nutrition, and environmental impacts, while advocating new models for producing food locally and organically, and for sharing and buying it on a community-oriented scale.
- Judy C., the donor of this bag, was starting graduate school in 1978 at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio. She was thrilled to find the Cleveland Food Co-op near campus and her new apartment, which she shared with two other students. Over the course of several years, Judy had been changing aspects of her diet, primarily because of health-related concerns. Like others at the time, she wondered about the long-term effects of pesticides on produce, preservatives in meats, and chemicals used in processing of grains. By 1978 she was ready to give up red meat and fowl, a decision she announced to her family as they sat down to Thanksgiving dinner. Starting with that first meatless Thanksgiving, she adopted a diet of organically grown vegetables, grains, and dairy, with occasional servings of fish.
- The Cleveland Food Co-op was established in 1968 as a volunteer-based, natural foods store. Judy joined the co-op and felt she had found a place that offered the foods she wanted to consume, things like locally grown, organic vegetables that were not available in regular stores or expensive “health food” stores. She enjoyed re-using this canvas bag, remarking that the “Save a Tree” motto appealed to her environmental sensibilities as well. Judy said, “I liked the whole idea of recycling—it was something in the late ‘70s that not everybody did.”
- ID Number
- 2012.0086.01
- accession number
- 2012.0086
- catalog number
- 2012.0086.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
McDonald's Brown Bag
- Description
- This large brown paper bag with McDonald’s® golden arches advertising was copyrighted in 1995 by McDonald’s® Corporation. “Proud partner of [the Olympics]” appears on one side of the bag. The bag does not say “the Olympics” but rather has the 5 rings logo of the Olympics in its place. This bag was used to distribute McDonald’s® food products.
- The McDonald’s Corporation is one of the most recognizable hamburger restaurants in the United States. As of 2011, the McDonald’s Corporation and franchisees were operating in 119 countries with 1.9 million employees, making it the 4th largest employer in the world.
- In 1940, Richard (Dick) and Maurice (Mac) McDonald opened the first McDonald’s Bar-B-Q drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California. In 1948, the brothers redesigned their menu, centering on the 15 cent hamburger. In 1954, Ray Kroc, a Multimixer (milkshake machine) salesman, became interested in the McDonalds brothers’ high volume restaurant. He worked out a deal with the brothers to be their franchising agent and opened the first franchise location in Illinois the following year. Under Kroc’s direction, the company grew to become the giant we know today.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 2002-06-18
- ID Number
- 2012.3045.10
- catalog number
- 2012.3045.10
- accession number
- 2012.3045
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
McDonald's Brown Bag
- Description
- This small brown paper bag, labeled “B” for 4-6 items, contains Toy Story 2 and the McDonald’s® golden arches logo on one side. The reverse side announces the release date of November 26 for the six Toy Story 2 Happy Meal® premiums and refillable candy dispensers available with the purchase of a McDonald’s® Happy Meal®. On the bottom of the bag, two photographs have been printed explaining how to pack food items into the bag. In 1996, McDonald’s® and Disney signed a 10 year, exclusive partnership agreement where McDonald’s® was able to use Disney characters for Happy Meal® premiums and Disney would receive free promotion of upcoming movies through McDonald’s®. This partnership appeared like a natural fit for the two companies since they had an overlapping market base. From November 26, 1999 through December 23, 1999, McDonald’s® marketed the Toy Story 2 Happy Meal® premiums.
- The McDonald’s Corporation is one of the most recognizable hamburger restaurants in the United States. As of 2011, the McDonald’s Corporation and franchisees were operating in 119 countries with 1.9 million employees, making it the 4th largest employer in the world.
- In 1940, Richard (Dick) and Maurice (Mac) McDonald opened the first McDonald’s Bar-B-Q drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California. In 1948, the brothers redesigned their menu, centering on the 15 cent hamburger. In 1954, Ray Kroc, a Multimixer (milkshake machine) salesman, became interested in the McDonalds brothers’ high volume restaurant. He worked out a deal with the brothers to be their franchising agent and opened the first franchise location in Illinois the following year. Under Kroc’s direction, the company grew to become the giant we know today.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1999-10-04
- ID Number
- 2012.3045.04
- catalog number
- 2012.3045.04
- accession number
- 2012.3045
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
McDonald's Toy Story 2 Premium Bag
- Description
- This clear plastic McDonald’s® premium toy bag was used to distribute toy #9, “Bo Peep.” These bags were used to package McDonald’s® toys inside the Happy Meal® box. The premium bag has Ronald McDonald and the golden arches logo printed on one side and pertinent toy information printed inside a gray box. On the reverse, warning information regarding the toys has been printed for consumers. The Happy Meal® was released in 1979 as a way to package a meal together in a fun, collectible container that appealed to children. Happy Meals® have since become progressively more elaborate in the type of food offered (with various healthier options) and the premiums available with the meal. In 1996, McDonald’s® and Disney signed a 10 year, exclusive partnership agreement where McDonald’s® was able to use Disney characters for Happy Meal® premiums and Disney would receive free promotion of upcoming movies through McDonald’s®. This partnership appeared like a natural fit for the two companies since they had an overlapping market base. From November 26, 1999 through December 23, 1999, McDonald’s® marketed the Toy Story 2 Happy Meal® premiums.
- The McDonald’s Corporation is one of the most recognizable hamburger restaurants in the United States. As of 2011, the McDonald’s Corporation and franchisees were operating in 119 countries with 1.9 million employees, making it the 4th largest employer in the world.
- In 1940, Richard (Dick) and Maurice (Mac) McDonald opened the first McDonald’s Bar-B-Q drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California. In 1948, the brothers redesigned their menu, centering on the 15 cent hamburger. In 1954, Ray Kroc, a Multimixer (milkshake machine) salesman, became interested in the McDonalds brothers’ high volume restaurant. He worked out a deal with the brothers to be their franchising agent and opened the first franchise location in Illinois the following year. Under Kroc’s direction, the company grew to become the giant we know today.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1999
- ID Number
- 2012.3045.05
- catalog number
- 2012.3045.05
- accession number
- 2012.3045
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
McDonald's Toy Story 2 Premium Bag
- Description
- This clear plastic McDonald’s® premium toy bag was used to distribute toy #2, “Mr. Potato Head and Mrs. Potato Head.” The bags were used to package McDonald’s® toys inside the Happy Meal® box. The premium bag has Ronald McDonald and the golden arches logo printed on one side and pertinent toy information printed inside a blue box. On the reverse, warning information regarding the toys has been printed for consumers. The Happy Meal® was released in 1979 as a way to package a meal together in a fun, collectible container that appealed to children. Happy Meals® have since become progressively more elaborate in the type of food offered (with various healthier options) and the premiums available with the meal. In 1996, McDonald’s® and Disney signed a 10 year, exclusive partnership agreement where McDonald’s® was able to use Disney characters for Happy Meal® premiums and Disney would receive free promotion of upcoming movies through McDonald’s®. This partnership appeared like a natural fit for the two companies since they had an overlapping market base. From November 26, 1999 through December 23, 1999, McDonald’s® marketed the Toy Story 2 Happy Meal® premiums.
- The McDonald’s Corporation is one of the most recognizable hamburger restaurants in the United States. As of 2011, the McDonald’s Corporation and franchisees were operating in 119 countries with 1.9 million employees, making it the 4th largest employer in the world.
- In 1940, Richard (Dick) and Maurice (Mac) McDonald opened the first McDonald’s Bar-B-Q drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California. In 1948, the brothers redesigned their menu, centering on the 15 cent hamburger. In 1954, Ray Kroc, a Multimixer (milkshake machine) salesman, became interested in the McDonalds brothers’ high volume restaurant. He worked out a deal with the brothers to be their franchising agent and opened the first franchise location in Illinois the following year. Under Kroc’s direction, the company grew to become the giant we know today.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1999
- ID Number
- 2012.3045.06
- catalog number
- 2012.3045.06
- accession number
- 2012.3045
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
McDonald's Toy Story 2 Premium Bag
- Description
- This clear plastic McDonald’s® premium toy bag was used to distribute toy #17, “RC Car.” The bags were used to package McDonald’s toys inside the Happy Meal® box. The premium bag has Ronald McDonald and the golden arches logo printed on one side and pertinent toy information printed inside a blue box. On the reverse, warning information regarding the toys has been printed for consumers. The Happy Meal® was released in 1979 as a way to package a meal together in a fun, collectible container that appealed to children. Happy Meals® have since become progressively more elaborate in the type of food offered (with various healthier options) and the premiums available with the meal. In 1996, McDonald’s® and Disney signed a 10 year, exclusive partnership agreement where McDonald’s® was able to use Disney characters for Happy Meal® premiums and Disney would receive free promotion of upcoming movies through McDonald’s®. This partnership appeared like a natural fit for the two companies since they had an overlapping market base. From November 26, 1999 through December 23, 1999, McDonald’s® marketed the Toy Story 2 Happy Meal® premiums.
- The McDonald’s Corporation is one of the most recognizable hamburger restaurants in the United States. As of 2011, the McDonald’s Corporation and franchisees were operating in 119 countries with 1.9 million employees, making it the 4th largest employer in the world.
- In 1940, Richard (Dick) and Maurice (Mac) McDonald opened the first McDonald’s Bar-B-Q drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California. In 1948, the brothers redesigned their menu, centering on the 15 cent hamburger. In 1954, Ray Kroc, a Multimixer (milkshake machine) salesman, became interested in the McDonalds brothers’ high volume restaurant. He worked out a deal with the brothers to be their franchising agent and opened the first franchise location in Illinois the following year. Under Kroc’s direction, the company grew to become the giant we know today.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1999
- ID Number
- 2012.3045.07
- catalog number
- 2012.3045.07
- accession number
- 2012.3045
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
McDonald's Toy Story 2 Premium Bag
- Description
- This clear plastic McDonald’s® premium toy bag was used to distribute toy #8, “Disney & Pixar’s Jessie.” The bags were used to package McDonald’s toys inside the Happy Meal® box. The premium bag has Ronald McDonald and the golden arches logo printed on one side and pertinent toy information printed inside an orange box. On the reverse, warning information regarding the toys has been printed for consumers. The Happy Meal® was released in 1979 as a way to package a meal together in a fun, collectible container that appealed to children. Happy Meals® have since become progressively more elaborate in the type of food offered (with various healthier options) and the premiums available with the meal. In 1996, McDonald’s® and Disney signed a 10 year, exclusive partnership agreement where McDonald’s® was able to use Disney characters for Happy Meal® premiums and Disney would receive free promotion of upcoming movies through McDonald’s®. This partnership appeared like a natural fit for the two companies since they had an overlapping market base. From November 26, 1999 through December 23, 1999, McDonald’s® marketed the Toy Story 2 Happy Meal® premiums.
- The McDonald’s Corporation is one of the most recognizable hamburger restaurants in the United States. As of 2011, the McDonald’s Corporation and franchisees were operating in 119 countries with 1.9 million employees, making it the 4th largest employer in the world.
- In 1940, Richard (Dick) and Maurice (Mac) McDonald opened the first McDonald’s Bar-B-Q drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California. In 1948, the brothers redesigned their menu, centering on the 15 cent hamburger. In 1954, Ray Kroc, a Multimixer (milkshake machine) salesman, became interested in the McDonalds brothers’ high volume restaurant. He worked out a deal with the brothers to be their franchising agent and opened the first franchise location in Illinois the following year. Under Kroc’s direction, the company grew to become the giant we know today.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1999
- ID Number
- 2012.3045.08
- catalog number
- 2012.3045.08
- accession number
- 2012.3045
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center