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 18 items.
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Wine Crate Label
- 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 red wine crate side was in use by the Italian Swiss Colony company of San Francisco, California during the early 20th century. The crate reads “Italian Swiss Colony, California Tipo Red, 12 quarts.” The crate bears a label by the Italian Swiss Colony that has a space for the shipping number, serial number, kind of wine, date made, quantity, and alcoholic content. The "Washington State Liquor Control Board" is the Cosignee. The crate also bears a stamp noting that the alcohol tax of 30 cents has been paid.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- Italian Swiss Colony
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.048
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.048
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Apple Crate Label
- 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 Wilko brand apple crate was used by the Wilbur-Ellis Company of Seattle, Washington during the early 20th century. The label has a yellow background with a green border, and a large red apple in the center.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- Wilbur-Ellis Company Distributors
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.062
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.062
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Apricots Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This shipping crate held Bakers Choice brand apricots, shipped by the California Packing Corporation of San Francisco, California around 1916-1950. The California Packing Corporation (Calpak) was formed in 1916 from the merger of five large canning companies (California Fruit Canners Association, Griffin & Skelley, Central California Canneries, the J.K. Armsby Company and the Alaska Packers Association).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- California Packing Corporation
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.155
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.155
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Sugar Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- The Sea Island brand shipping crate side was used by the Western Sugar Refinery of San Francisco, California during the early 20th century. The shipping crate contained 30 pounds of pure cane sugar demi-cubes. The crate side has the company’s flag logo in center.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- Western Sugar Refinery
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.158
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.158
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Tomato Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This shipping crate side contained Hunt’s brand tomatoes packed by the Hunt Brothers Packing Company of San Francisco, California during the early 20th century. The crate contained 24 tins of tomatoes. The Hunt Brothers tomato company was founded in 1888, and continues making tomato products to this day as a brand of Conagra Foods Inc.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- Hunt Bros. Company
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.208
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.208
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Dried Eggs Shipping Crate
- 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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Salt Lick Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This shipping crate side contained Morton brand salt licks that were produced by the Morton Salt Company of San Francisco, California during the early 20th century. The crate contained 20 five-pound salt licks that were used to supply cattle and livestock with important nutrients and minerals.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- Morton International, Inc.
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.242
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.242
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Chocolate Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This California Star brand chocolate shipping crate side was in use during the early 20th century in San Francisco, California. The crate label has an image of a five pointed star, and lists the company’s address as 617-619 Sansome Street, San Francisco, California.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- California Star Chocolate
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.243
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.243
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Pumpkin Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This is a side panel of a shipping crate for Del Monte canned pumpkin. Del Monte is the premium brand of the California Packing Corporation (Calpak). The Calpak cooperative heavily promoted Del Monte as its high quality, premium product through full-page color ads in national publications. In 1967, Calpak changed its name to the Del Monte Corporation to capitalize on the brand’s recognition.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- California Packing Corporation
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.253
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.253
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Canned Tomatoes Shipping Crate
- Description (Brief)
- This shipping crate side originally contained Banquet brand canned tomatoes that were packed and shipped by the California Packing Corporation of San Francisco, California during the early 20th century. The crate contained 24 28-ounce tins of canned tomatoes with puree from trimming.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced business
- California Packing Corporation
- ID Number
- 1979.0441.254
- catalog number
- 1979.0441.254
- accession number
- 1979.0441
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center