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

Topic: Crate Labels

Wax Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained Parowax, made by the Standard Oil Company of New York during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Parowax, made by the Standard Oil Company of New York during the early 20th century. Parowax was Standard Oil’s proprietary name for paraffin wax that could be “used for sealing Jelly Glasses, Fruit Jars, Bottles, etc.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Standard Oil Company of New York
ID Number
1979.0441.305
catalog number
1979.0441.305
accession number
1979.0441

Chemical Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained embalming fluid manufactured by the Dodge Chemical Company of Boston, Massachusetts during the early 20th century. The Dodge Chemical Company was founded in 1893 by A.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained embalming fluid manufactured by the Dodge Chemical Company of Boston, Massachusetts during the early 20th century. The Dodge Chemical Company was founded in 1893 by A. Johnson Dodge, who also established a permanent embalming school called the New England Institute of Anatomy, Sanitary Science, and Embalming. The Dodge Chemical Company continues to this day as a manufacturer of embalming fluids.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Dodge Chemical Company
ID Number
1979.0441.361
catalog number
1979.0441.361
accession number
1979.0441

Apple Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Kershaw brand apple crate label was used by the Kershaw Fruit and Cold Storage Company of Yakima, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label was produced by Stecher-Traung of San Francisco, California. The label has a blue background with a central representation of an apple.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Kershaw Fruit and Cold Storage Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.086
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.086

Apple Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This apple crate label was used by Spark’s Orchards during the beginning of the 20th century. Spark’s Orchards was based in Wenatchee, Washington, a region that was well known for its apple production, especially in the early 1900s.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Sparks Orchards
ID Number
1979.0441.010
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.010

Pineapple Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Hawaiian Chief brand sliced pineapple that was packed by the Pearl City Fruit Company Ltd., of Honolulu, Hawaii during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Hawaiian Chief brand sliced pineapple that was packed by the Pearl City Fruit Company Ltd., of Honolulu, Hawaii during the early 20th century. George Lycurgus founded the Pearl City Fruit Company in 1892, and competed with the Hawaiian Fruit and Packing company for packing and shipping pineapples. This crate contained four dozen 11-ounce tins.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Pearl City Fruit Co. Ltd.
ID Number
1979.0441.263
catalog number
1979.0441.263
accession number
1979.0441

Wine Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Tipo red wine produced by the Italian Swiss Colony of San Francisco, California during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Tipo red wine produced by the Italian Swiss Colony of San Francisco, California during the early 20th century. There is an illustration of the wine’s distinctive bottle, wide at the bottom, and wrapped in a twine jacked similar to Italian Chianti bottles. Originally called Tipo Chianti, the Italian-Swiss colony eventually adopted Tipo as their wine’s brand name.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Italian Swiss Colony
ID Number
1979.0441.309
catalog number
1979.0441.309
accession number
1979.0441

Catsup Shipping Crate

This is a Snider’s Catsup shipping crate end. Thomas A. Snider started the T.A. Snider Preserve Company of Cincinnati in 1879, and was renowned for his “catsup” recipe made from fresh tomatoes without preservatives.
Description (Brief)
This is a Snider’s Catsup shipping crate end. Thomas A. Snider started the T.A. Snider Preserve Company of Cincinnati in 1879, and was renowned for his “catsup” recipe made from fresh tomatoes without preservatives. Snider was one of the largest ketchup makers at the turn of the 20th century and produced a variety of tomato related products and canned goods such as relish, tomato soup, oyster sauce, and pork and beans.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
T. A. Snider Preserve Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.314
catalog number
1979.0441.314
accession number
1979.0441

Shoes Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Berkeley F brand men’s shoes manufactured by the United States Rubber Company and Associated Companies. This shipping crate contained 24 pairs of shoes, sizes 6-10.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Berkeley F brand men’s shoes manufactured by the United States Rubber Company and Associated Companies. This shipping crate contained 24 pairs of shoes, sizes 6-10.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
United States Rubber Company
ID Number
1979.0441.311
catalog number
1979.0441.311
accession number
1979.0441

Apple Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.This Revelation brand apple crate label was used by the John A.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Revelation brand apple crate label was used by the John A. Eck Company of Chicago, Illinois during the beginning of the 20th century. The lithographed blue label has an illustration of two red apples still on the branch.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
John A. Eck Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.012
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.012

Kerosene Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained Pearl Oil kerosene produced by the Standard Oil Company of California during the first half of the 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Pearl Oil kerosene produced by the Standard Oil Company of California during the first half of the 20th century. The crate side says that the oil is for “Family Use” “High Test, Non-Explosive, and Absolutely Safe.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Standard Oil
ID Number
1979.0441.312
catalog number
1979.0441.312
accession number
1979.0441

Apple Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Empire Builder brand apple crate label was used by the Cashmere Pioneer Growers of Cashmere, Washington during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by the Schmidt Lithograph Company of Seattle, Washington. The label has a background image of an orchard with a train depot in the center, and mountains rising up in the background. In 1892 the Great Northern railroad entered the Wenatchee Valley, opening new markets to Washington apples, boosting sales during the early 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Cashmere Pioneer Growers
ID Number
1979.0441.111
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.111

Apple Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Wenoka apple crate label was used by the packing company Captain Robert J. Graham of Cashmere, Washington during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by the Ridgway Lithograph Company of Seattle, Washington. The crate label has a large central image of an arrowhead, with a profile image of a Native American in the arrow’s center. There is an inset image of a Clipper Ship on the left. The apples were likely grown by the co-operative behind the Clipper Ship brand, and then packed and distributed using the Wenoka brand.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Robert J. Graham
ID Number
1979.0441.104
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.104

Orange Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Happy Landing brand orange crate label was used by the Golden West Citrus Association of Tustin, California during the 1930s. The lithographed label was produced by the Western Lithography Company of Los Angeles, California. The blue label has a diagonal color illustration of a yellow propeller plane landing on a dirt runway at a small airport. The image was copyrighted in 1934 by the G.C. Association.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Goldenwest Citrus Assn.
ID Number
1979.0441.019
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.019

Apple Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Trout brand apple crate label from Chelan, Washington was in use around 1900-1940. The label features a lithographed image of a leaping trout, meant to evoke a sense of nature popular among fruit crate labels during this period. Washington was one of the largest producers of apples during the early 20th century, and Wenoka Apples is the growers cooperative that marketed their fruits collectively.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Lake Chelan Fruit Growers
ID Number
1979.0441.001
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.001

Abrasives Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained abrasive cloth manufactured by the Carborundum Company of Niagara Falls, New York. The Carborundum Company was founded in 1891 after Edward Goodrich Acheson synthetically produced silicon carbide (carborundum) in an attempt to create diamonds.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained abrasive cloth manufactured by the Carborundum Company of Niagara Falls, New York. The Carborundum Company was founded in 1891 after Edward Goodrich Acheson synthetically produced silicon carbide (carborundum) in an attempt to create diamonds. Silicon carbide was originally used as an abrasive in products like sandpaper, but is found in a variety of other implementations like bulletproof vests and car brakes.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Carborundum Company
ID Number
1979.0441.275
catalog number
1979.0441.275
accession number
1979.0441

Cheese Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained Tillamook whole milk cheddar cheese that was made by the Tillamook County Creamery Association of Tillamook, Oregon during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Tillamook whole milk cheddar cheese that was made by the Tillamook County Creamery Association of Tillamook, Oregon during the early 20th century. The Tillamook County Creamery Association was founded in 1909 as a co-operative between the smaller cheese makers in the county.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Tillamook County Creamery Association
ID Number
1979.0441.332
catalog number
1979.0441.332
accession number
1979.0441

Tobacco Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained tobacco manufactured by the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained tobacco manufactured by the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company during the early 20th century. The crate bears a warning saying that the manufacturer has “complied with all requirements of law, and every person is cautioned under penalties of law not to use this package for tobacco again.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company
ID Number
1979.0441.271
catalog number
1979.0441.271
accession number
1979.0441

Tobacco Shipping Crate

This side portion of a Liggett and Myers Tobacco Company shipping crate is imprinted with the company’s Star trademark. Liggett and Myers incorporated in 1873 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Description (Brief)
This side portion of a Liggett and Myers Tobacco Company shipping crate is imprinted with the company’s Star trademark. Liggett and Myers incorporated in 1873 in St. Louis, Missouri. By 1885 Liggett and Myers was the largest manufacturer of plug tobacco, a molasses-sweetened form of chewing tobacco, which they sold under their “Star” brand. Liggett and Myers was a subsidiary of the American Tobacco Company (ATC) from 1899-1911, becoming an independent company after ATC’s 1911 breakup.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company
ID Number
1979.0441.265
catalog number
1979.0441.265
accession number
1979.0441

Corn Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained American Beauties brand corn that was packed by E.V. Stockham of Perryman, Maryland during the early 20th century.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained American Beauties brand corn that was packed by E.V. Stockham of Perryman, Maryland during the early 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
E. V. Stockham
ID Number
1979.0441.235
catalog number
1979.0441.235
accession number
1979.0441

Tuna Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Mission brand flaked tuna that was packed by the Van Camp Seafood Company of Los Angeles, California during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Mission brand flaked tuna that was packed by the Van Camp Seafood Company of Los Angeles, California during the early 20th century. The Van Camp Seafood Company changed its name to Chicken of the Sea after the exceedingly popular 1960s jingle: “Ask any mermaid you happen to see…what’s the best tuna? Chicken of the Sea!”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Van Camp Sea Food Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.207
catalog number
1979.0441.207
accession number
1979.0441

Catsup Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained red delicious apples grown and packed by Tiger Mountain Orchards of Tiger, Georgia during the early 20th century. The crate side features an illustration of an orchard in front of a mountain.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained red delicious apples grown and packed by Tiger Mountain Orchards of Tiger, Georgia during the early 20th century. The crate side features an illustration of an orchard in front of a mountain.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
National Grocery Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.187
catalog number
1979.0441.187
accession number
1979.0441

Fruit Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained products manufactured by the Starr Fruit Products Company of Portland, Oregon during the early 20th century. Starr Fruit Products was well known for their production of maraschino cherries.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained products manufactured by the Starr Fruit Products Company of Portland, Oregon during the early 20th century. Starr Fruit Products was well known for their production of maraschino cherries.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Starr Fruit Products Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.278
catalog number
1979.0441.278
accession number
1979.0441

Oranges Shipping Crate

This shipping crate label was used by Strathmore brand oranges grown and packed by the Strathmore Packing House Company of Strathmore, California during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate label was used by Strathmore brand oranges grown and packed by the Strathmore Packing House Company of Strathmore, California during the early 20th century. The lithographed label has a red and green tartan border, with a blue background and an image of a Scottish man wearing a kilt and playing a bagpipe. The label also has an illustration of the Scottish thistle on the left. The label has the Sunkist orange logo on it, a designation given to high quality oranges grown by members of the California Fruit Growers Exchange.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Strathmore Packing House Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.380
catalog number
1979.0441.380
accession number
1979.0441

Matches Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Birds-Eye brand matches that were produced by the Diamond Match Company of Akron, Ohio during the early 20th century. The crate contained 100 boxes of strike anywhere protected tip matches.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Birds-Eye brand matches that were produced by the Diamond Match Company of Akron, Ohio during the early 20th century. The crate contained 100 boxes of strike anywhere protected tip matches. In 1910, the Diamond Match Company patented the first nonpoisonous match (produced without phosphorous), before releasing the patent at the request of President McKinley in 1911 for the “good of mankind.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Diamond Match Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.270
catalog number
1979.0441.270
accession number
1979.0441

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