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 541 items.
Page 1 of 55
CARE Package
- Description
- This cardboard CARE package, contains seven smaller boxes and bags of macaroni, cornmeal, Carnation instant chocolate flavored drink mix, and nonfat dried milk. It has a paper insert reading "August 6, 1962. Greetings from the men of the U.S.S. Lake Champlain." The macaroni boxes are marked "Packed for CARE USA by A.Zerega's Sons, Inc." CARE is the acronym for "Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe." CARE Package is the registered trademark of the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc. It began its emergency food relief at the end of World War II.
- Originally, CARE packages contained surplus foodstuffs from the military, but after the Army rations ran out in early 1947, CARE assembled its own packages, typically containing several tinned meats, eight ounces of powdered eggs, a pound each of lard, apricot preserves, honey, and raisins, and two pounds each of margarine, sugar, powdered milk, and coffee. Food companies made donations of their products, but CARE bought most of these supplies and paid for their shipment. Individuals placed orders by mailing a $15 "remittance" (a check or money order) to CARE's headquarters in New York.
- Packages were assembled in Philadelphia, shipped overseas, and delivered locally by any means of conveyance. When a recipient received the gift, a signed receipt was returned to the sender within 120 days. As the famine threat subsided, CARE packages included books, blankets, tools, and knitting supplies. CARE even managed to send x-ray machines and iron lungs from its larger donors. The food package program ended in 1967, as CARE switched to other means of shipping commodities, though it renewed the classic CARE Package occasionally, most recently in the former Soviet republics and in Bosnia.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1962
- ID Number
- 1996.0067.01.1
- catalog number
- 1996.0067.01.1
- accession number
- 1996.0067
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Prototype "Servodyne" Klystron-powered Microwave Oven
- Description
- Roger F. French, Donald R. Lester, and John A. Gunnarson made this prototype microwave oven in 1961. Only two were produced. Instead of using a magnetron to generate the microwaves, this oven used a type of vacuum tube called a klystron. To see how the ovens would work in actual kitchens, Gunnarson used this one in his home and French used the other. Children of the inventors recall impressing their friends with the ease of cooking with microwaves, years before such ovens became commonplace.
- French had founded Servodyne Corporation in 1960 to produce and sell microwave ovens for the home. But they faced stiff competition. Other companies like Raytheon, which had produced a large "Radarange" for commercial use in 1954, were working on home ovens that used magnetrons. Servodyne failed to attract enough funding to bring the invention to market, and the company folded in 1968.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- ca 1961
- 1961
- user
- Gunnarson, John A.
- maker
- Gunnarson, John A.
- French, Roger F.
- Lester, Donald R.
- ID Number
- 2003.0107.01
- catalog number
- 2003.0107.01
- accession number
- 2003.0107
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Dolphin-shaped ice cream mold
- Description
- This dolphin is one of 14 pewter ice cream molds donated to the Museum in 1972 by Foremost-McKesson, Inc., of San Francisco, California. Other forms include a lion, a butterfly, an elephant, and patriotic symbols such as an eagle, Uncle Sam, the Liberty Bell, and George Washington in profile. Like the majority of the molds in the collection, the dolphin was manufactured by Eppelsheimer & Co. of New York.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Eppelsheimer & Co.
- ID Number
- AG*72A1.5
- catalog number
- 72A1.5
- accession number
- 298969
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Fruit jar for home canning
- Description
- The Ball jar is emblematic of American home-canning history. This quart-sized, molded, "Ball blue" glass jar was manufactured by the Ball Brothers Company of Muncie, Indiana. It has a glass lid with a wire bail closure. The phrase "PAT'D July 14, 1908" is stamped on the jar, indicating the patent date for the particular fastening location of the jar's wire locking lever. The "Ideal" design was discontinued in 1962. The Ball brothers began manufacturing fruit jars in 1884; in 1993, Ball Corporation sold its home canning business to Alltrista (now Jarden) Corporation.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Ball Brothers
- ID Number
- AG*76-FT-01.1419
- accession number
- 322793
- catalog number
- 76-FT-01.1419
- collector/donor number
- 4656
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Lobster-shaped chocolate mold
- Description
- This chocolate mold was manufactured between 1952 and 1972 by Randle & Smith, a company founded in Birmingham, England at the end of World War II. The owners of Randle & Smith sought out workers from the leading chocolate mold company, Anton Reiche, of Dresden, Germany, who had been displaced by World War II bombings. Reiche was well known for its quality and intricate designs.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Randle & Smith
- ID Number
- AG*76-FT-04.0018
- catalog number
- 76-FT-04.0018
- accession number
- 315132
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ice Cream Mold
- Description
- This quart-sized, metal mold is part of a collection of ice cream-related artifacts that were donated to the Museum in 1977. The collection of 145 objects was amassed by Albert Hendler, of the Baltimore, Maryland, ice cream manufacturing family. This mold was probably used between 1900 and 1920.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Hendler Ice Cream Company
- ID Number
- AG*77-FT-13.0060
- catalog number
- 77-FT-13.0060
- accession number
- 1977.0689
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ronald McDonald Doll
- Description
- This object is a Ronald McDonald stuffed doll dressed as a clown figure. The doll is made of two pieces of fabric, sewn together in one long seam. Various colors have been screened onto the fabric to look like a yellow jumpsuit with red zipper, red boots and a red and white striped shirt and socks. The doll has red hair, with a red nose and lips and white face. On the back side McDonald’s® is written in black letter with the golden arches logo. Ronald McDonald made his national debut for McDonald’s in 1966 during a nationwide television commercial. He was later provided several friends and nemeses who lived in McDonaldland, which was all part of an advertising campaign created to appeal to 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
- trademark holder
- McDonald's Corporation
- ID Number
- 1983.0366.01
- accession number
- 1983.0366
- catalog number
- 1983.0366.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Mayor McCheese Doll
- Description
- This object is a Mayor McCheese stuffed doll dressed in purple pants, pink jacket and a yellow shirt sporting a purple sash that says “Mayor” but the “M” is a golden arches logo. The doll is made of two pieces of fabric, sewn together in a single seam. The “clothing” has been screened directly onto the fabric. He has a cheeseburger head and is wearing a purple and yellow hat with the double arches logo on it. On his back, “Mayor McCheese” is written in yellow lettering. Mayor McCheese joined the McDonaldland crew in 1971 as part of McDonald’s® advertising campaign aimed 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
- trademark holder
- McDonald's Corporation
- ID Number
- 1983.0366.02
- accession number
- 1983.0366
- catalog number
- 1983.0366.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Officer Big Mac Doll
- Description
- This object is an Officer Big Mac stuffed doll dressed in the blue uniform of a police officer with a Big Mac for a head. The object is made of two pieces of fabric sewn together in a single seam. All clothing and accessories have been screened directly onto the fabric. He is wearing a belt with a double golden arches logo for a buckle and a whistle. He has a large gold star on his chest. On the back the words “Big Mac®” appear in gold lettering. Officer Big Mac joined the McDonaldland crew in 1971 as part of McDonald’s® advertising campaign aimed 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
- trademark holder
- McDonald's Corporation
- ID Number
- 1983.0366.03
- accession number
- 1983.0366
- catalog number
- 1983.0366.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Bread Box
- Description
- This box was used to transport loaves of bread by wagon or train from Meinburg's Bakery of Washington DC to establishments in the city and outlying counties. Delivering goods by rail meant a larger customer base for businesses like this bakery. After reaching its destination and unloaded, the grocery would return the box to the bakery where it was reloaded for another shipment.
- The box is constructed of wood with rope handles and could be carried by one person. The box is numbered so agents could track the shipment.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1890-1900
- ID Number
- 1985.0709.01
- accession number
- 1985.0709
- catalog number
- 1985.0709.01
- 85.0709.01
- accession number
- 1985.0709
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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