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

Place: United States

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

Coffeepot

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1890 - 1910
ID Number
DL.67.0366
catalog number
67.0366
accession number
263810

Glass Tumbler

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca.1960
Date made
1960s (?)
designer
Diamond, Freda
maker
Libbey Glass Company
designer
Diamond, Freda
ID Number
1997.0157.17D
accession number
1997.0157
catalog number
1997.0157.17D

Tugboat Ice Cream Mold

This tugboat-shaped mold is one of 14 pewter ice cream molds donated to the Museum in 1972 by the wholesale distribution company Foremost-McKesson, Inc., of San Francisco, California.
Description
This tugboat-shaped mold is one of 14 pewter ice cream molds donated to the Museum in 1972 by the wholesale distribution company Foremost-McKesson, Inc., of San Francisco, California. Other forms include a butterfly, a dolphin, a lion, and patriotic symbols such as an eagle, Uncle Sam, the Liberty Bell, and George Washington in profile.
Molded ice cream was a popular treat in the United States from the 1870s to 1950s, with a boom in ice cream consumption driving increases in mold manufacturing between 1921 and 1925. The Eighteenth Amendment, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 until it was repealed in 1933, sparked an increase in consumer demand for such things as soft drinks, ice cream, and confections. Indeed, ice cream consumption increased by over 100 million gallons between 1921 and 1929.
Like the majority of the molds in the collection, the boat was manufactured by Eppelsheimer & Co. of New York, one of the three largest American ice cream mold manufacturers at the time. These hinged molds, dating from the 1920s and 30s, while still functional, can no longer be used due to the lead content in the pewter.
The exterior of the mold is stamped with the company’s initials “E & Co” and its product number in the Eppelsheimer & Co. catalog, number “986.” While the mold’s exterior is otherwise nondescript, the interior, where the ice cream was poured and frozen, depicts the boat’s siding and port holes as well as the swirling waves of sea in fine detail. Once frozen, ice cream makers could embellish their confections by painting on a layer of food coloring. These individual molded ice creams would then be served on special occasions or holidays. As American holidays became more commercialized in the early twentieth century, the demand for variety in ice cream molds increased, as is apparent in the collection. However, technological advancements in ice cream manufacturing, the development of ice cream novelties such as the Eskimo Pie and the Popsicle, and the advent of packaged ice creams available in groceries, transformed ice cream in the eye of the American public from a seasonal or specialty dish into an everyday treat. As such, molded ice creams fell out of fashion by the 1950s.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Eppelsheimer & Co.
ID Number
AG.72A1.8
catalog number
72A1.8
accession number
298969

Axle Grease Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Mica Axle Grease, produced by the Standard Oil Company of California during the late 19th and early 20th century. The crate contained 12 5-pound lithographed tins of the axle grease.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Mica Axle Grease, produced by the Standard Oil Company of California during the late 19th and early 20th century. The crate contained 12 5-pound lithographed tins of the axle grease. The grease allowed wagon axles to rotate freely and without friction, extending the life of the wagon and easing the burden on the horse.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Standard Oil
ID Number
1979.0441.315
catalog number
1979.0441.315
accession number
1979.0441

Brush Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained one dozen Moose brand scrubs manufactured by the Royal Brush & Broom Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The wooden crate side has black text.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained one dozen Moose brand scrubs manufactured by the Royal Brush & Broom Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The wooden crate side has black text.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Royal Brush & Broom Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.237
catalog number
1979.0441.237
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 Blue Z brand apple crate label was used by the C.M.
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 Z brand apple crate label was used by the C.M. Holtzinger Fruit Company of Yakima, Washington during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by Stecher-Traung of San Francisco, California. The label has a blue background, with a pale circle in the center, with a cut-out Z in the center. The apples came from the Wenatchee Valley region of Washington that claimed to be the “Apple Capital of the World.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
C. M. Holtzinger Fruit Co. LLC
ID Number
1979.0441.099
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.099

U.S.A. Pan

Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
Nordic Ware manufactured this cake pan in 1976 to commemorate the Bicentennial of the United States. The designers failed to account for the fact that when the cake was removed from the pan, it would appear as a backwards U.S.A. The pan was then marketed as a serving dish before being discontinued.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1976
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.25
accession number
2007.0034
catalog number
2007.0034.25

Apple Shipping Crate

This apple crate label was for fancy DB brand apples that were shipped by Duckwall Brothers Inc. of Hood River, Oregon during the early 20th century. The red and yellow label has an illustration of a colorful duck in the center.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This apple crate label was for fancy DB brand apples that were shipped by Duckwall Brothers Inc. of Hood River, Oregon during the early 20th century. The red and yellow label has an illustration of a colorful duck in the center.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Duckwall Bros. Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.374
catalog number
1979.0441.374
accession number
1979.0441

Maple Sugar House Mold

Maple sugar is produced by boiling sap to evaporate the water until past the point of syrup production. It then can be placed into wooden or metal molds to harden into cakes to be used later.
Description
Maple sugar is produced by boiling sap to evaporate the water until past the point of syrup production. It then can be placed into wooden or metal molds to harden into cakes to be used later. Early settlers in New England had greater access to maple sugar, while early abolitionists often promoted the use of maple sugar versus cane sugar due to the slave labor used in cane sugar production. While maple sugar production could never compete with cane sugar in terms of scale, it was often easier and cheaper for those on the northeaster frontier to produce.
Maple syrup production is one of the few agricultural processes in North America that was not a European import but learned from Native Americans. Sap is typically collected from the Sugar, Red or Black maple, though it can be collected from other tree types. Northeastern North America is the most common area for maple syrup production, with Vermont, New York and Maine leading production in the U.S. Once the sap is collected, it must be boiled down to reduce the water content. It can require anywhere from 20-50 liters of sap to make one liter of syrup, depending on the sugar content of the sap. Each tree is capable of producing 35-50 liters of sap.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
19th Century (?)
ID Number
CL.64.264
catalog number
64.204A
64.0204A
accession number
249244
catalog number
64.264

Easter Egg Chocolate Mold

This two piece, metal chocolate mold was designed to produce one Easter egg.Molds began appearing in the late 1840s to early 1850s in Europe. In the late 1880s, U.S. companies began manufacturing chocolate molds, but Germany remained the largest supplier to the U.S.
Description (Brief)
This two piece, metal chocolate mold was designed to produce one Easter egg.
Description
Molds began appearing in the late 1840s to early 1850s in Europe. In the late 1880s, U.S. companies began manufacturing chocolate molds, but Germany remained the largest supplier to the U.S. until the early 1900s. During the First World War, U.S. firms began to gain more ground against their European counterparts.
The design of molds often followed the trends of the time. The “classic period” of 1880-1910 consisted of very realistic pieces made to resemble an object as closely as possible. Chocolatiers would often set up small vignettes depicting a complicated scene. These were time consuming and painstakingly complicated. From 1910-1930, molds were redesigned to be simpler and rounder in appearance. Fantasy began replacing realism. The mechanical design of the molds also began to change to accommodate changes in technology, such as new rotary machines that were developed to spin multiple molds at the same time to evenly distribute the chocolate.
Eppelsheimer was formed in 1880 in New York City. In 1910 the company was acquired by William H. Warren, and in the 1940s the name was changed to Eppelsheimer & Co., Warren Bros. The American Chocolate Mould Co., formed in 1916 in New York City, took over Eppelsheimer in 1947, and by 1972, the company stopped producing metal molds and focused on plastic products and a few novelty molds.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Eppelsheimer & Co.
ID Number
AG.76-FT-04.0015A
catalog number
76-FT-04.0015A
accession number
315132

Butter Dish

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1890 - 1910
ID Number
DL.67.0364
catalog number
67.0364
accession number
263810

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 Nuchief brand apple crate label was in use from 1900-1950.
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 Nuchief brand apple crate label was in use from 1900-1950. The lithographed label was produced by the Schmidt L. Company of Seattle, Washington. The label has an image of a young Native American boy wearing a headdress and carrying an apple and a hatchet. There is a Smith’s Treat brand label insert on the label. These apples were grown by Smith Orchards of Pateros, Washington and distributed by Nuchief Sales, Inc. Growers, packers, and distributors in the Northwest banded together in co-operatives to secure the best price for their produce and compete with growers in other regions.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Nuchief Sales Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.077
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.077

Hershey's Tropical Chocolate Bar

Physical DescriptionPaper candy wrapper over candy bar.General HistoryIn 1943, the procurement division of the army inquired about the possibility of obtaining a heat-resistant chocolate bar with an improved flavor.
Description
Physical Description
Paper candy wrapper over candy bar.
General History
In 1943, the procurement division of the army inquired about the possibility of obtaining a heat-resistant chocolate bar with an improved flavor. After a short period of experimentation, Hershey's Tropical Chocolate Bar in both one- and two-ounce sizes was added to the list of war production items. This bar was destined to exceed all other items in the tonnage produced. The Army-Navy "E" Production Award was given to Hershey Chocolate Corporation on August 22, 1942, in recognition of its outstanding war effort. The corporation received a flag to fly above the chocolate plant and a lapel pin for every employee. The award was presented for exceeding all production expectations in the manufacturing of an Emergency Field Ration. The “E” production award was not easily won nor lightly bestowed. The award recognized companies that consistently met high standards of quality and quantity in light of available resources. Major General Edmund Gregory said of Hershey, "The men and women of Hershey Chocolate Corporation have every reason to be proud of their great work in backing up our soldiers on the fighting fronts." In all, the Hershey Chocolate Corporation received five Army-Navy "E" awards.
date made
1943
maker
Hershey Chocolate Corporation
ID Number
1977.0865.07
catalog number
1977.0865.07
accession number
1977.0865
catalog number
80015M

Bevo Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained the beverage Bevo manufactured by Anheuser Busch of St. Louis, Missourri from 1916-1929.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained the beverage Bevo manufactured by Anheuser Busch of St. Louis, Missourri from 1916-1929. Bevo was one of the many “near beer” beverages created by breweries during Prohibition to maintain sales and repurpose their factories.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.348
catalog number
1979.0441.348
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 Hi Buy All brand apple crate label was used by the Butler Trading Company, Inc. of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed yellow label features an image of two large red apples on the branch. These apples came from Wenatchee, Washington which claimed to be the “Apple Capital of the World.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Fruit Growers Service Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.027
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.027

Taster Porringer

Diminutive, spun bellied-bowl porringer with vertical rim and bossed bottom; four-hearts-and-crescent handle (repaired) with triangular bracket cast separately from bowl and soldered in place. No touchmarks.
Description
Diminutive, spun bellied-bowl porringer with vertical rim and bossed bottom; four-hearts-and-crescent handle (repaired) with triangular bracket cast separately from bowl and soldered in place. No touchmarks. Turning marks visible overall on exterior and interior of bowl and rim.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1900 - 1925
ID Number
DL.388323
catalog number
388323
accession number
182022

Loganberry 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 Riverside brand loganberry crate label was used by the McClintock-Trunkey Company of Spokane, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label has a red background, with an inset image of a factory by a waterfall. The loganberry was hybridized by James Harvey Logan, and is a cross between a blackberry and a red raspberry.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
McClintock-Trunkey Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.100
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.100

Cigar Box Label

This cigar box label was made by Hummell and Company of Binghamton, New York.
Description (Brief)
This cigar box label was made by Hummell and Company of Binghamton, New York. The label has a red background with an image of a large black bear with the text “’Bear’ in Mind.” Binghamton was a large producer of cigars from 1890-1950, before the popularity of the cigarette caused a downturn in cigar production.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Hummell and Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.341
catalog number
1979.0441.341
accession number
1979.0441

Hinges Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Stanley steel butt hinges manufactured by Stanley Works of New Britain, Connecticut during the early 20th century. The crate side bears the Stanley Works trademarks of the initials S.W. inside a heart.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Stanley steel butt hinges manufactured by Stanley Works of New Britain, Connecticut during the early 20th century. The crate side bears the Stanley Works trademarks of the initials S.W. inside a heart. Stanley was founded in 1843, and merged with Black & Decker in 2010 to form the corporation Stanley, Black & Decker.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Stanley Works
ID Number
1979.0441.357
catalog number
1979.0441.357
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 See! See!
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 See! See! Brand apple crate label was used by Washington Sales, Inc., of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label was produced by the Schmidt L. Company of Seattle, Washington. The label features an illustration of a boy with oversized head holding an oversized apple on a beach. This label promoted the health benefits of eating apples, showing that eating apples led to healthy, ruddy children.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Washington Sales, Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.018
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.018

Cleanser Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Old Dutch Cleanser that was originally produced by the Cudahy Packing Company of California during the first half of the 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Old Dutch Cleanser that was originally produced by the Cudahy Packing Company of California during the first half of the 20th century. The Old Dutch brand had a memorable logo of a Dutch maid chasing away dirt with a stick, and the crate bears the logo “makes everything spick and span.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Cudahy Soap Works, U.S.A.
ID Number
1979.0441.324
catalog number
1979.0441.324
accession number
1979.0441

Basket for 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 (Brief)
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.
Date made
ca 1937
maker
Folding Basket Carrier Co.
ID Number
CL.302377.03
accession number
302377
patent number
2196914
catalog number
302377.03

Evaporated Milk Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Meadow brand evaporated milk produced by the Meadowbrook Condensed Milk Company of Seattle, Washington during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Meadow brand evaporated milk produced by the Meadowbrook Condensed Milk Company of Seattle, Washington during the early 20th century. Before refrigeration allowed fresh milk to easily be kept on hand, cans of evaporated or condensed milk were a staple of household pantries.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Meadowbrook Condensed Milk Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.213
catalog number
1979.0441.213
accession number
1979.0441

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