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

Ink Shipping Crate

This is an end panel of a Sanford Ink Company shipping crate. The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857.
Description (Brief)
This is an end panel of a Sanford Ink Company shipping crate. The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857. The company relocated to Chicago in 1866 and became a large producer of ink and glue products in its early years before focusing on ink and being renamed the Sanford Ink Company in 1940. Sanford introduced the Sharpie marker in 1964, which went on to become one of its best selling products. Sanford was purchased by Newell Company in 1992.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Sanford Corporation
ID Number
1979.0441.294
catalog number
1979.0441.294
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 Denison’s Crest brand apple crate label was used by H.S.
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 Denison’s Crest brand apple crate label was used by H.S. Denison & Company of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label has a dark blue background with yellow text, and a crest that incorporates an apple, an oil lamp, and a thistle. There is a banner underneath that reads “Quality and Service.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
H. S. Denison & Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.064
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.064

Biscuit Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained biscuits manufactured by the American Biscuit & Manufacturing Company of New York, New York during the late 19th century. The crate label has the company’s trademark image of a colorful parrot on the left.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained biscuits manufactured by the American Biscuit & Manufacturing Company of New York, New York during the late 19th century. The crate label has the company’s trademark image of a colorful parrot on the left. Founded in 1890, the American Biscuit & Manufacturing Company merged with the New York Biscuit Company in 1898 to form the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) now one of the largest bakeries in the world.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
American Biscuit and Mfg. Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.338
catalog number
1979.0441.338
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 Delight brand apple crate label was used by the North Pacific Sale Company of Seattle, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label was produced by Stecher-Traung of San Francisco, California. The label features a rolling orchard underneath a large mountain, with a red and golden apple in the corner. Fruit crate labels often depicted landscapes like this to evoke a sense of fresh, natural produce.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
North Pacific Sales Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.063
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.063

Sardine Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side was used by Continental Seacoast Canning of Eastport, Maine during the early 20th century. The crate contained four dozen ten ounce tins of three quarter mustard sardines. The brand Continental is flanked by two skeleton keys.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side was used by Continental Seacoast Canning of Eastport, Maine during the early 20th century. The crate contained four dozen ten ounce tins of three quarter mustard sardines. The brand Continental is flanked by two skeleton keys.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Seacoast Canning Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.161
catalog number
1979.0441.161
accession number
1979.0441

Food Product's Shipping Crate

This shipping crate end panel is imprinted with the “Libby’s” script of the manufacturing firm Libby, McNeil, and Libby. Archibald McNeil and Charles and Arthur Libby founded the company in 1868.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate end panel is imprinted with the “Libby’s” script of the manufacturing firm Libby, McNeil, and Libby. Archibald McNeil and Charles and Arthur Libby founded the company in 1868. Libby’s became one of the country's biggest producers of canned meats in vegetables in the early 20th century. The company was purchased by Nestle in 1971.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Libby, McNeill & Libby
ID Number
1979.0441.359
catalog number
1979.0441.359
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 Chekola brand apple crate label was used by Congdon Orchards, Inc. of Yakima, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label was produced by Stecher-Traung of San Francisco California.The red label bears an inset image of an orchard under a large mountain. Fruit crate labels often depicted landscapes like this to evoke the idea of rich, natural produce.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Congdon Orchards, Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.016
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.016

Pork & Beans Shipping Crate

This is an end panel of a Snider’s Pork and Beans shipping crate. Thomas A. Snider started the T.A. Snider Preserve Company of Cincinnati in 1879.
Description (Brief)
This is an end panel of a Snider’s Pork and Beans shipping crate. Thomas A. Snider started the T.A. Snider Preserve Company of Cincinnati in 1879. 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
1979.0441.308
catalog number
1979.0441.308
accession number
1979.0441

Evaporated Milk Shipping Crate

This end panel of a Borden’s Evaporated Milk shipping crate bears the imprint of the company’s stylized Lady Liberty logo, who made her first appearance on Borden’s Peerless Brand Evaporated Milk in 1914. Gail Borden Jr.
Description (Brief)
This end panel of a Borden’s Evaporated Milk shipping crate bears the imprint of the company’s stylized Lady Liberty logo, who made her first appearance on Borden’s Peerless Brand Evaporated Milk in 1914. Gail Borden Jr. patented his method for producing condensed milk by vacuum in 1856 and established the New York Condensed Milk Company in 1857. The company changed its name to the Borden Condensed Milk Company in 1899, which was simplified to the Borden Company in 1919.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Borden Company
ID Number
1979.0441.163
catalog number
1979.0441.163
accession number
1979.0441

Oranges Shipping Crate

This shipping crate label is for Exceptional brand Valencia oranges that were grown and packed by the Mupu Citrus Association of Santa Paula, California during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate label is for Exceptional brand Valencia oranges that were grown and packed by the Mupu Citrus Association of Santa Paula, California during the early 20th century. The label has the Sunkist orange logo on it, a designation given to high quality oranges grown by the California Fruit Growers Exchange. Mupu was the name of a Chumash Native American village in what is now the town of Santa Paula, in Ventura County, California.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
MUPU Citrus Assn.
ID Number
1979.0441.377
catalog number
1979.0441.377
accession number
1979.0441

Refugee Beans Shipping Crate

This shipping crate contained American Club brand refugee beans that was distributed by the Burt Olney Canning Company of New York around 1900-1950. The wooden crate side bears black text in a stencil font.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate contained American Club brand refugee beans that was distributed by the Burt Olney Canning Company of New York around 1900-1950. The wooden crate side bears black text in a stencil font.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Burt Olney Canning Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.154
catalog number
1979.0441.154
accession number
1979.0441

Borden's Evaporated Milk Crate Label

This end panel of a Borden’s Evaporated Milk shipping crate bears the imprint of an eagle. Gail Borden Jr. patented his method for producing condensed milk by vacuum in 1856 and established the New York Condensed Milk Company in 1857.
Description (Brief)
This end panel of a Borden’s Evaporated Milk shipping crate bears the imprint of an eagle. Gail Borden Jr. patented his method for producing condensed milk by vacuum in 1856 and established the New York Condensed Milk Company in 1857. The company changed its name to the Borden Condensed Milk Company in 1899, which was simplified to the Borden Company in 1919.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Borden Western Company
ID Number
1979.0441.330
catalog number
1979.0441.330
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 Blewett Pass 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 an illustration of a small road winding through a forest-covered mountain range. The Blewett Pass was a real road through the Wenatchee region of the Cascades. Fruit crate labels often depicted landscapes like this to evoke the idea of rich, natural produce and show the Wenatchee Valley region where these apples were grown.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Cashmere Pioneer Growers
ID Number
1979.0441.122
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.122

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 Blue Mountain brand apple crate label was used by Mojonnier and Sons Inc. of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The label has an illustration of rolling fields of crops that are different colors among pine trees with mountains rising up in the orange sky in the background, with a golden apple and a red apple in the foreground. These apples are from Wenatchee, Washington, which claimed to be the “Apple Capital of the World.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Mojonnier & Sons Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.136
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.136

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 Hesperian brand apple crate label was used by Myron Foster during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by the Schmidt Lithograph Company of Seattle, Washington. The label has an orange background with the image of a blue woman holding a golden apple. In Greek mythology, Hesperides were three nymphs, daughters of Hesperus (the Evening Star), who guarded Hera’s garden and its immortality-granting golden apples. Hesperian also means “relating to the West,” a very apt brand name for these Wenatchee, Washington apples.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Myron Foster's Hesperian Orchards
ID Number
1979.0441.137
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.137

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 Range Rider brand apple crate label was used by Brewster Cooperative Growers of Brewster, Washington during the first half of the 20th century. The lithographed label was produced by the Schmidt L. Company of Seattle, Washington. The label has three apples with stems and leaves, and an illustration of a comical doll cowboy riding a cartoonish horse swinging a lasso around the word “Range.” The label reads “For goodness sake- Store at 31 degrees and always serve cold."
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Brewster Cooperative Growers
ID Number
1979.0441.084
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.084

Tomatoes Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained Madrona brand tomatoes packed by the Schwabacher Brothers Company of Seattle, Washington during the first half of the 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Madrona brand tomatoes packed by the Schwabacher Brothers Company of Seattle, Washington during the first half of the 20th century. The Schwabacher Brothers Company was founded in 1860, and became well known in the Pacific Northwest for its department stores.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Schwabacher Bros. & Co. Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.215
catalog number
1979.0441.215
accession number
1979.0441

Apple Crate Label

This Skookum brand apple crate was in use by the Northwestern Fruit Growers Association of Seattle, Washington, in the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This Skookum brand apple crate was in use by the Northwestern Fruit Growers Association of Seattle, Washington, in the early 20th century. Skookum was a Chinook word denoting “excellence.” Native American imagery was frequently depicted on the crate labels of various fruit distributors to evoke the idea of rich, natural produce. The Lake Chelan label insert on this crate was a way for growers to maintain their product identity while benefiting from being in a large cooperative.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Skookum Packers Association
ID Number
1979.0441.087
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.087

Evaporated Milk Shipping Crate

This is an end panel of a Borden’s Evaporated Milk shipping crate. Gail Borden Jr. patented his method for producing condensed milk by vacuum in 1856 and established the New York Condensed Milk Company in 1857.
Description (Brief)
This is an end panel of a Borden’s Evaporated Milk shipping crate. Gail Borden Jr. patented his method for producing condensed milk by vacuum in 1856 and established the New York Condensed Milk Company in 1857. The company changed its name to the Borden Condensed Milk Company in 1899, which was simplified to the Borden Company in 1919.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Borden Company
ID Number
1979.0441.287
catalog number
1979.0441.287
accession number
1979.0441

Baking Powder Shipping Crate

This shipping crate end is imprinted with “Calument Baking Powder” text and Native American head trademark. William Wright formulated Calumet Baking Powder in Chicago, Illinois in 1889. The powder was named after Calumet City, a town near Chicago.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate end is imprinted with “Calument Baking Powder” text and Native American head trademark. William Wright formulated Calumet Baking Powder in Chicago, Illinois in 1889. The powder was named after Calumet City, a town near Chicago. Calumet was also the Native American term for peace pipe, and Calumet used the profile of a Native American in a headdress as its trademark. Calumet was bought by General Foods bought in 1929.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Calumet Baking Powder Company
ID Number
1979.0441.172
catalog number
1979.0441.172
accession number
1979.0441

Medicine Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side was used by Barker, Moore & Mein Medicine Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the early 20th century. The crate contained a half dozen bottles, sold for 84 cents.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side was used by Barker, Moore & Mein Medicine Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the early 20th century. The crate contained a half dozen bottles, sold for 84 cents. The Barker, Moore & Mein Medicine Company sold a variety of powders and liniments for medicinal purposes, and were well-known for their “Komic” picture souvenirs that depicted a variety of mishaps that could be solved by the company’s products.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Barker, Moore & Mein Medicine Company
ID Number
1979.0441.146
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.146

Sea Clams Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Pioneer Brand Minced Sea Clams packed by the Pioneer Packing Company of Aberdeen, Washington during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Pioneer Brand Minced Sea Clams packed by the Pioneer Packing Company of Aberdeen, Washington during the early 20th century. The crate side has the companies motto “Don’t be a clam…but eat them!” at the top along with two starfish on the bottom corners. The crate contained 48 11-ounce tins.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Pioneer Packing Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.276
catalog number
1979.0441.276
accession number
1979.0441

Bird Food Shipping Crate

This end panel of a Crescent Manufacturing Company bird food shipping crate is imprinted with the company’s crescent moon trademark. The company was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1883 as a supplier of vanilla extract to the Pacific Northwest.
Description (Brief)
This end panel of a Crescent Manufacturing Company bird food shipping crate is imprinted with the company’s crescent moon trademark. The company was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1883 as a supplier of vanilla extract to the Pacific Northwest. Later becoming Crescent Foods Inc., the company made its mark on the consumer landscape in 1905 with its Mapleine imitation maple flavoring. Mapleine is still sold today by McCormick, which bought Crescent in 1989.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Crescent Mfg. Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.196
catalog number
1979.0441.196
accession number
1979.0441

Dried Eggs Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Keith’s brand dried eggs that were shipped by the Bianchi Poultry and Produce Company of San Francisco, California during the first half of the 20th century.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Keith’s brand dried eggs that were shipped by the Bianchi Poultry and Produce Company of San Francisco, California during the first half of the 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Bianchi Poultry & Produce Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.210
catalog number
1979.0441.210
accession number
1979.0441

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