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 2024 items.
Page 4 of 203
McDonald's Clam Shell Container
- Description
- This polystyrene clam shell food container held one McDonald’s Big Mac. The container is pink over all with pink etched writing which says “Big Mac™” and the name “McDonald’s®” with the double arches logo. The Big Mac™, introduced in 1968 to the national market, consists of two regular beef patties with an extra bun slice separating them. The Big Mac™ was created as a way to compete with a similar sandwich offered at Big Boy®.
- 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
- Polystyrene was used by McDonald's between 1975 - 1990. Due to pressures from environmental groups, McDonald's started phasing out the use of polystyrene clam shell containers in favor of paper wrapping.
- 1975-1990
- ID Number
- 1998.0349.07
- accession number
- 1998.0349
- catalog number
- 1998.0349.07
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
McDonald's Clam Shell Container
- Description
- This gingham off-white and brown, polystyrene clam shell food container held McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets. On the lid of the container in brown lettering it says “Chicken McNuggets™,” “McDonald’s®” with the double arches logo. In the early 1980s, McDonald’s® Corporation tasked a small group of people to solve the technical problem of machine producing a chicken nugget that appeared to be cut by hand. In 1983, the Chicken McNugget® was introduced to the national market and was a huge success.
- 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
- Polystyrene was used by McDonald's between 1975 - 1990. Due to pressures from environmental groups, McDonald's started phasing out the use of polystyrene clam shell containers in favor of paper wrapping.
- 1975-1990
- ID Number
- 1998.0349.08
- accession number
- 1998.0349
- catalog number
- 1998.0349.08
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
McDonald's Clam Shell Container
- Description
- This polystyrene clam shell food container held one McDonald’s® Filet-O-Fish™. It is primarily light blue in color with darker blue writing, which says “Filet-O-Fish™” as well as the McDonald’s® double arches logo in the same darker blue writing. The Filet-O-Fish™ was developed and sold in markets during the early 1960s which had large Catholic populations who could not eat meat on Fridays. The sandwich ended up being so popular, McDonald’s® made it available in 1965 to the national market every day of the week.
- 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.
- Polystyrene was used by McDonald's between 1975 - 1990. Due to pressures from environmental groups, McDonald's started phasing out the use of polystyrene clam shell containers in favor of paper wrapping.
- 1975-1990
- ID Number
- 1998.0349.09
- accession number
- 1998.0349
- catalog number
- 1998.0349.09
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Y2K Millennium Meltdown R-U-Ready? Hot Sauce Bottle
- Description
- As the “Millennium Bug” gained media attention, some businesses used the hype to market special millennium foods. From cars to breakfast cereal, companies like the Figueroa Brothers, Inc., cashed in on the Y2K name. This bottle once contained Y2K Millennium Meltdown ¿R-U-Ready? hot sauce, a spicy concoction made with jalapeño peppers.
- The Guardian Life Insurance Company's Y2K Project Team spent over three years working to make their company Y2K compliant. This meant many late nights working and thus many visits to the local restaurants. This bottle of hot sauce was given to the team by the owner of the restaurant most frequented by the team.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1990-1999
- recipient
- Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
- maker
- Figueroa Brothers, Inc.
- ID Number
- 2004.3020.08
- nonaccession number
- 2004.3020
- catalog number
- 2004.3020.08
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Tastevin
- Description
- A shallow, silver tasting cup, or tastevin, was traditionally used by winemakers to sample wine. Created centuries ago by cellarmasters in Burgundy, the tastevin was essential for judging the maturity of wine in cellars lit only by candles. The tastevin's indentations, and its shiny, convex bottom, reflected even dim candle light throughout the cup and allowed the winemaker to examine the liquid's characteristics. The tastevin is typically attached to a ribbon or chain and worn around the neck
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2006.0157.04
- catalog number
- 2006.0157.04
- accession number
- 2006.0157
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
McDonald's Uniform Top
- Description
- This short sleeve, dark and light blue shirt is made of polyester fabric, embroidered with the double arches logo on the left front and has a light blue zipper. Maker's tag inscribed "Made expressly for McDonald's® personnel by Ottenheimer & Co., Career Apparel Division.” It is a women's medium and was worn by the donor in 1973 while working for McDonald's®. The donor’s primary position was cashier/clerk, but each employee was trained to be able to perform each task in the restaurant in the event someone called off and they had to fill in for the day. The location where the donor worked was located close to a college campus and the staff pool primarily consisted of college students.
- 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 1973
- ID Number
- 2011.0091.01
- catalog number
- 2011.0091.01
- accession number
- 2011.0091
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
McDonald's Employee Name Badge
- Description
- This black plastic badge is embossed with McDonald’s® and the double arches logo in gold on the front. It was worn by the donor in 1973 while working for McDonald’s®. The donor’s primary position was cashier/clerk, but each employee was trained to be able to perform each task in the restaurant in the event someone called off and they had to fill in for the day. The location where the donor worked was located close to a college campus and the staff pool primarily consisted of college students.
- 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
- ID Number
- 2011.0091.02
- catalog number
- 2011.0091.02
- accession number
- 2011.0091
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
McDonald's Paper Cup with Plastic Lid
- Description
- This small McDonald’s® paper cup with plastic lid is decorated with the McDonald’s® golden arches logo on one side and Ronald McDonald’s head on the reverse side. The Ronald McDonald character made its national debut in 1966 during a nationwide television commercial. In 1971, Ronald McDonald was joined by a cast of friends who all lived in McDonaldland in a new advertising campaign targeted at children.
- 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
- ID Number
- 2012.3045.02
- catalog number
- 2012.3045.02
- accession number
- 2012.3045
- 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
Stormer Viscosimeter
- Description
- This instrument was designed by E. J. Stormer, chief chemist of the Case Threshing Machine Co. in Racine, Wisconsin. In 1909 it was described as “distinctly new in design, and since it comes from a practical chemist who has found it superior to other forms in making a large number of determinations daily, it may be expected to appeal to other practical men.” And indeed it did. Stormer viscosimeters were soon being used for paint, clay slips, and pyroxylin solutions, as well as for corn, catsup, and cod liver oil.
- Stormer’s original viscosimeter consisted of a falling weight that caused something to rotate at constant speed through a viscous liquid held at a constant temperature. Viscosity would be expressed either in terms of the number of rotations in a given time, or the time needed to make a number of rotations. By 1914, Arthur H. Thomas was offering Stormers with a rotating cylinder, and this basic form remains available to this day.
- This example is marked “ARTHUR H. THOMAS CO. PHILADELPHIA, PA.” and “FISHER SCIENTIFIC CO. PITTSBURGH, PA. USA.” The Metal Products Division of Koppers Co., Inc., donated it to NMAH in 1976.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- distributor/retailer
- Arthur H. Thomas Company
- maker
- Fisher Scientific Company
- Arthur H. Thomas Company
- ID Number
- CH*336370
- accession number
- 1978.0078
- catalog number
- 336370
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center