Archives Center, National Museum of American History Search this
Extent:
3 Cubic feet (9 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
undated
Summary:
Collection consists primarily of cookbooks and similar forms of literature containing recipes and - or information relating to food customs, created by producers and manufacturers of foods products, cooking utensils, kitchen appliances and equipment.
Scope and Contents note:
The collection was created by the Archives Center to form a body of material from producers and manufacturers of food products, cooking utensils, kitchen appliances and equipment. It consists primarily of cookbooks, recipe booklets, circulars, recipe cards, and clippings containing recipes or information relating to food customs. Most of these materials were published in the United States by producers and manufacturers of foods, seasonings, and condiments. Some of the materials were created by manufacturers of both small and large kitchen appliances and include operating instructions for these products. There are also materials created by electric and gas utility companies. Some of the materials relate to the canning and freezing processes. Materials created by manufacturers of alcoholic beverages also contain recipes for both food and drinks. All bound materials have soft covers with the exception of The Victory Binding of the American Woman's Cookbook, Wartime Edition, 1943.
The collection is arranged in two series. Series One consists of bound materials including cookbooks and recipe booklets. These materials are arranged in alphabetical order. Series two are unbound materials including recipe flyers, folders, recipe cards, cooking class recipe sheets, recipes clipped from publications, and hand written recipes. The materials are arranged first in alphabetical order by name of company and then in order by genre.
Arrangement:
Collection is arranged into two series.
Series 1, Bound Materials, 1920-2004, undated
Series 2, Unbound Materials, 1938-2003, undated
Biographical / Historical:
The food industry and manufacturers of cooking utensils and equipment create cookbooks or other forms of literature to assist the consumer with their products. These materials document food customs and provide very valuable information about the production of food; preparation and consumption; long term storage and preservation; new cooking techniques and instructions for using cooking utensils, appliances and equipment. Such materials are often included in the packaging, available upon request or with the purchase of a particular product.
Related Materials:
Materials in the Archives Center
Product Cookbooks Collection, circa 1874-1990
Frances S. Baker Product Cookbooks, circa 1900-1993
Nordic Ware Records, 1940-2006
Archives Center Business Americana Collection, circa 1900-present
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, circa 1724-1977
Pillsbury Bake-Off Collection, 1949-1999
NW Ayer Advertising Agency Records, 1849-2001
Food Preservation and Home Canning Literature Collection, 1883-1980
Provenance:
Found in collections, gifts from Museum staff and unsolicited gifts from the public.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
