Publications, photographs, articles, audio and video recordings, and teaching materials relating to the rise of Macrobiotics in the United States, as popularized by Michio and Aveline Kushi. The bulk of the material was produced for the Kushi Foundation, Kushi Institute, and East West Foundation.
Scope and Contents:
This collection documents the work of Michio and Aveline Kushi as writers and teachers in popularizing macrobiotics in the United States. It consists largely of publications and recordings produced by three organizations created by the Kushis: the East West Foundation, the Kushi Foundation, and the Kushi Institute. The collection also includes publications and recordings created by others involved in macrobiotics and related areas. The materials in this collection span the years 1960 through 2006, but the bulk of the material is from the 1970s and 1980s.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into seven series.
Series 1: East West Foundation, 1966-1991; undated
Subseries 1.1: Publications, 1966-1991
Subseries 1.2: Foundation Information, 1974-1988; undated
Series 2: Kushi Foundation, 1968-1999; undated
Subseries 2.1: Background Information, 1987-1989
Subseries 2.2: Forms and Publications, 1968-1995; undated
Subseries 2.3: One Peaceful World Campaign Information, 1973-1999
Subseries 2.4: One Peaceful World Press Publications, 1991-1999
Subseries 6.3: Macrobiotic Organizations and Publications, 1969-2006; undated
Subseries 6.4, Miscellaneous Materials, undated
Series 7: Photographs, 1964-1971, 1994; undated
Biographical / Historical:
Macrobiotics is both a comprehensive vegetarian diet and a spiritual world view based on ancient Asian beliefs and practices. Founded by Sagen Ishizuka, macrobiotics began as a reaction to the introduction of western foods into Japan in the late nineteenth century. Ishizuka attempted to restate traditional Japanese beliefs in modern scientific terms in A Chemical Theory of Long Life, published in 1897, and A Method for Nourishing Life, published in 1898.
Ishizuka believed that the key to good health was the relationship between potassium and sodium. Health is maintained when these two elements are in good balance. If there is not a good balance, then one will become ill. Ishizuka believed the best way to maintain this balance was through a cereal based diet.
Ishizuka, along with his disciples, founded the Food Cure Society in 1908 to advance his ideas. After his death in 1910, society members, including Manabu Nishihata, a physician and social activist, carried on the work.
Yukikazu Sakurazawa, also known as George Ohsawa, joined the Food Cure Society in 1919. In 1923, after the destruction of his company in an earthquake, Ohsawa joined the staff of the society full time to disseminate its ideas. Mr. Ohsawa wrote many books for the society including a biography of Ishizuka. Ohsawa's most important contribution to the philosophy of macrobiotics was the incorporation of the concepts of Yin and Yang into macrobiotics.
In the 1930s Ohsawa traveled as a representative of the society across Europe to spread the philosophy of macrobiotics. After disagreements with the leadership of the society, Ohsawa left the organization in 1939 to start his own group.
Following his release from prison during World War II for his peace efforts, Ohsawa established macrobiotic teaching centers in Yokohama and Tokyo. It was at this point that Ohsawa met Michio Kushi.
Michio Kushi was born in Kokawa, Wakayama-Ken, Japan, on May 17, 1926. While a student at Tokyo University, he became involved with the World Federalist Movement (WFM), an American organization working for world peace. It was through the WFM that Kushi met George Ohsawa. Kushi studied under Ohsawa for one year and then moved to New York City in 1949 to study political science at Columbia University.
While living in New York, Kushi came to believe that by returning to a traditional diet of whole, natural foods, humanity would regain its physical and mental balance and become more peaceful. It was at this time that Kushi began to teach the macrobiotic way of life.
Aveline Kushi was born Tomoko Yokoyama in 1923 in Yokota, Japan. Before coming to the United States for higher education in 1951, she was a member of the World Government Association, run by George Ohsawa. She married Michio Kushi in 1954 and was an active partner in their macrobiotic efforts. She wrote cookbooks and an autobiography. Aveline Kushi died in 2001.
Michio Kushi's work in New York grew steadily until 1965 when a pregnant woman died due to her decision to go on an austere form of the diet. After the death of this woman many medical authorities came out against macrobiotics. The close proximity in time of this incident and the death of George Ohsawa greatly damaged the movement. After these incidents Kushi decided to start over in Boston.
After the move to Boston, Kushi emerged as a prominent teacher and started to develop his own interpretation of macrobiotics. Kushi founded the East West Foundation and began to publish the magazine, The Order of the Universe. In 1970, East West Journal, intended for the general public, began publication. The scope of East West Journal was not limited to macrobiotics. It covered a variety of New Age topics and became the center of one of the first New Age networks. East West Journal provided contacts for people interested in eastern philosophies.
In 1975 Kushi began summer residence courses for serious students of macrobiotics and in 1977 he founded the Kushi Institute, now located in Becket, Massachusetts, in the Berkshire Mountains. The mission of the Kushi Institute is to train people in the ways of macrobiotics. The Institute offers a variety of classes around the themes of "health, healing, and well being." In the 1980s the Kushi Institute expanded its programs by creating the Kushi Foundation Prison Project and conducting research in the fight against AIDS. In 1986 the Kushi Foundation started the One Peaceful World campaign. This campaign's mission was to remind the public that peace begins with the individual, family, and community.
Sources: "Aveline Kushi 78, Leader in Health Food Movement," Associated Press, July 6, 2001
http://www.imss.macrobiotic.net/avelinekushi.html (consulted October 1, 2008)
"Aveline Kushi, 78, Advocate of Macrobiotic Diet for Health," New York Times, July 23, 2001
Separated Materials:
In addition to the archival materials, the Division of Science, Medicine, and Society (now Division of Medicine and Science) acquired sixty-six artifacts. See accession numbers 1997.3165 and 1999.3026.
Provenance:
The collection was donated to the Archives Center of the National Museum of American History by Michio and Aveline Kushi in August, 1997.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research use.
Series 3, Subseries 3.4: Patient Files and Subseries 3.8: Consultation Audio Tapes are restricted for seventy-five years (to 2066).
Physical Access: Researchers must handle unprotected photographs with gloves. Researchers must use reference copies of audio-visual materials. When no reference copy exists, the Archives Center staff will produce reference copies on an "as needed" basis, as resources allow.
Technical Access: Do not use original materials when available on reference video or audio tapes.
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.
Arlington Co. ; Electrochemicals Div. (or Dept.) ; Chlorine Products Div. ; Rubber Chemicals Div. ; R. & H. Chemicals Dept. ; Ceramic Products Div. ; Minerals Separation Div. ; Amonia Dept. ; Grasseli Chemicals Dept. ; Electroplating Div. ; Elastomers Div. ; Elastomer Chemicals Dept. ; Photo Products Dept. ; Defender Div. ; Du Pont Fibersilk Co.; Du Pont Film Mfg. Corp. ; Film Dept. - Sales Div., Industrial Sales Div., Building Materials Sales Div. ; Organic Chemicals Dept. (Div.) ; Fine Chemicals Div. ; Du Pont Viscoloid Co., Inc. ; Fabrikoid Div. ; Fabrics & Finishes Dept. ; Finishes Div. ; Organic Chemicals Dept. ; Dyestuffs Div. (Dept.) ; "Freon" Products Div. ; Semesan Section ; E. I. du Pont de Nemours Powder Co. ; DuPont Cellophane Co., Inc. ; "Cel-O-Seal" Div. ; Du Pont Co. PERMASEP Products, FASLOC sales, TYPAR Sales ; Du Pont Everdur Co. ; Patterson Screen Div. ; Acids and Heavy Chemicals Div. ; Petroleum Chemicals Div. ; Rayon Div. ; Industrial Products Div. ; Pigments Dept. ; Pyralin Dept. ; Agricultural Div. ; Plastics Dept. ; Polychemicals Dept. ; Biotechnology Systems Div. ; NEN Research Products ; Du Pont Radiopharmaceuticals ; Biomedical Products Dept. ; Explosives Dept. ; Agricultural Extension Section ; Military Sales Div. ; Qualicon ; Du Pont Style News Service (New York, NY) Search this
Notes content:
OVERSIZE. Metal degreasing with chlorinated solvents ; sodium hydride descaling process ; "Cadalyte" cadmium plating salts ; "Zin-O-Lyte" zinc plating salts ; peroxide bleaching systems ; molten salt baths for heat treatment and case hardening of steel ; "Perclene" and "Ovalclene" dry cleaning fluid / detergent ; formaldehyde fungicide, germicide, and deodorant for the farm and home ; "Neoprene" chloroprene rubber. Minerals separation process for cleaning coal and concentrating minerals ; polyvinyl alcohol ; methyl chloride, a refrigerant ; glassware decoration ; gold and silver plating with precious metal cyanides. "Propionates" mold and rope inhibitors for bread ; "Uramon" ammonia liquors ; copperized wood preserver ; japenese beetle repellent ; electrotinning, the sodium stannate-sodium acetate process ; "Cadalyte," the complete salt for cadmium plating ; electroplating. "Hytrel" polyester elastomer ; urethane foam ; "Hypalon" synthetic rubber ; elastomers. Mylar polyester film ; Kapton polyimide film ; Tedlar PVF film ; professional motion picture films ; Cronaflex ; Mylar ; Tedlar. Dyes ; aromatics ; synthetics for perfumes. Lucite, Pyralin, Arlton boudoir accessories. "Ventube" mine ventilation ; apron cloth. Sealants ; industrial fabrics ; "Corfam" poromeric material and reinforced substrate. "Duco" and "Dulux" color finishes ; paint for cars ; dyes for paper. Freon solvents ; "Semesan" seed disinfectants, turf fungicides ; road construction and maintenance ; cellophane ; merchandise packaging ; PERMASEP products ; FASLOC resin anchored bolt systems ; TYPAR textile material for the construction industry ; "EVERDUR" metal ; lactic acid in leather tanning ; rayon ; moisture analyzers ; photometric analyzers ; paint ; "Pyralin" toiletware ; plastics ; Lucite. Sorvall centrifuges ; protein biochemistry products ; NEN nucleotides ; molecular biology products ; chromotography products ; magnetic products (incl. videotape) ; "Corfam" poromeric material for shoemaking ; The Story of... Neoprene, Farm Chemicals, Safety, Duco Finishes, Cellophane, Research, "Coal, Air and Water" ; explosives for farmers, quarry blasting, blasting ditches, field clearing, seismic prospectors ; blasting accessories ; munitions ; blasting rivets ; trapshooting supplies ; etc. "Leonard A. Yerkes: Fibersilk to Fiber 'A'". Genetic fingerprinting ; pathogen detection. Mass Spectrometer ; Data System. "The Super Show/97 Official Show Directory and Sports Product Guide" (February 1997) ; "Du Pont Rayon Reaches New Peak in Fashion Fabrics" (Fall 1937) with fabric samples
Includes:
Trade catalog, price lists, manual, samples and histories
Notes consists primarily of numbered notebooks/diaries that briefly annotate Packard's daily activities and meetings, thoughts, medications, and food consumption. There are also address lists, minutes of meetings for the Artists Equity Association, membership lists and newsletters for the Graphic Arts Workshop, and notes on various political/social matters, Mexico, and miscellaneous topics. Included in this series are 3 folders of notes on family history, including notes on Elizabeth Ware Packard and Walter Packard, Emmy Lou's father, as well as biographical accounts of Packard's grandparents Samuel and Clara Packard, and a photograph of Packard's great-grandparents Theophilus and Elizabeth Ware Packard. Also found is a file of notes relating to therapy sessions with Dr. Arthur Bazell.
Arrangement note:
Materials are arranged by document type.
Collection Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Researchers interested in accessing audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References Services for more information.
Collection Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Collection Citation:
Emmy Lou Packard papers, 1900-1990. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the digitization of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.
Aeronautical Div.; B.F. Goodrich Chemical Co.; B. F. Goodrich General Products Co.; B. F. Goodrich Tire Co.; Engineered Systems Div.; Environmental Products; Industrial Products Div.; Mechanical Div.; Miller Rubber Industrial Products Div.; National Accounts Div.; U.S. Army Training School. ; B. F. Goodrich Rubber Co. Search this
Notes content:
one envelope OVERSIZE. Geon polyvinyl materials: resins, plastic compounds, lattices, latex, polyblends. Hycar rubber products: dry rubber, lattices, cements, vinyl blends, hard rubber, phenolic blends, latex. Good-rite placticizer. Industrial rubber clothing; rubber transmission, conveyor belting; air, water, steam, suction, oil, gasoline, hydraulic hoses and couplings; tubing; packing; mats and matting; rubber springs; sponge products; anode rubber covering molded goods; rubber cement; vibro insulators; sheet rubber; electronic rip detection system for belting. PVC conveyor and elevator belting; protective clothing; power transmission belting; trolley guard; sheet rubber; abrasive resistant rubber linings; fire hoses; matting. Tires: zero pressure tires for tractors, graders, mowers; rubber tired wheels for industrial trucks; farm tires; industrial tires; wireless truck tires; off-road tires. Data books; maintenance manuals. Airplane de-icers; tires and accessories; brakes. Cutlass bearings; Koroseal flexible plastics; Rivnut rivets and bolts; rubber footware; Flexseal pit and pond liners; vinyl cores for wastewater treatment. ; bicycle tires ; motor trucks ; Palmer tires ; rubber printing plates National Accounts Div. bulletins on client companies: Aetna Life Insurance Co; Aetna Casualty & Surety Co.; Automobile Insurance Co.; Standard Fire Insurance Co.; American Bakeries Co.; American Can Co.; American New Co., Inc.; Armour & Co.; Beatrice Creamery Co.; Borden Co.; Carnation Milk; Coca-Cola; Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Co.; Continental Automobile Co.; Continental Oil Co. (CONOCO); Crane Co.; Cudahy Packing Co.; Dairymen’s League; John Deere; E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.; Fleishmann’s Yeast; Foremost Dairy Products Co.; Galion Iron Works & Mfg. Co.; General Foods, Inc.; General Mills Corp.; General Motors Corp.; Golden State Co., Ltd.; H. J. Heinz Co.; Samuel Insull; Kingan & Co.; Kraft-Phenix Cheese Corp.; Libby, McNeill & Libby; P. Lorillard Co.; Mid-Continent Petroleum Corp.; Morton Salt Co.; National Biscuit Co.; National Dairy Products Corp.; National Refining Co.; NuGrape Co. of America; Pacific Lighting Corp.; Pillsbury Flour Mills; Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co.; Procter & Gamble Co.; Pure Oil Co.; Quaker Oats Co.; Railway Express Agency, Inc.; Reo Motor Co.; R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.; W. A. Riddell Co.; Standard Sanitary Mfg. Co.; Stone & Webster, Inc.; Swift & Co.; Texas Corp. (Texaco); United States Dairy Products Corp.; United States Steel Corp.; Western Dairy Products Co.; Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co.; Wilson & Co. Promotional and historical documents on “the wonder of rubber” and B.F. Goodrich Co. Books of advertisements run between 1939-1945. “The manufacture of rubber goods: Notes from mimeographed book prepared by Dr. J. W. Schade”
Includes:
Trade catalog, price lists, manual, samples and histories
Black and white images
Color images
Types of samples:
Tire rubber; vinyl.
Physical description:
285 pieces; 8 boxes
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
Akron, Ohio, United States
Date:
1900s
Topic (Romaine term):
Architectural designs and building materials Search this
Automobiles and automotive equipment (including trucks and buses) Search this
One item OVERSIZE ; goldsmiths, silversmiths and bronze founders ; unique covers ; 1908 ; silverplate ; pewter ware ; communion ware ; chests and cases ; lavatory sets ; trophies ; loving cups ; plaques ; hotel silver ; church goods ; silver plated bread baskets, bowls and compotiers ; tea ware ; serving trays ; after dinner coffee sets ; water pitchers ; sandwich plates ; silver plated flatware ; unique photos of period style flatware, bowls ; see also: "Standard of Living," by Marina Moskowitz (2004); this book has an entire chapter on silverplate flatware and deals extensively with Reed & Barton
Howard Johnson's Ice Cream Shops and Restaurants Search this
Notes content:
"From Maine to Florida with Howard Johnson's" (1939) booklet ; ice cream ; roadside shops ; roadside restaurants ; listing of Howard Johnson's Ice Cream Shops and Restaurants with nearby scenic and historical sites
Includes:
Trade catalog and histories
Black and white images
Color images
Physical description:
1 piece; 1 box
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
United States
Date:
1900s
Topic (Romaine term):
Foods and beverage products and processing equipment (including brewing; distilleries; beer; wine; etc.) Search this
Hot Shoppe ; Bob's Big Boy Restaurants of America ; Roy Rogers Family Restaurants ; Gino's Inc. (Philadelphia, PA) ; Host International, Inc. Search this
Notes content:
lodging, food service, and entertainment ; group of hotels, resorts, and franchised inns ; airline catering and food service management ; restaurants (fast food, coffee shops, specialty restaurants) ; airport terminal restaurants and shops ; "Great America" theme parks ; "Sun Line" cruise ships ; "Hot Shoppes" ; "Roy Rogers" restaurants ; "Bob's Big Boy" coffee shops and restaurants
permanent summer camps in Yellowstone National Park offering lodging, food, entertainment, and guide services ; includes maps showing routes to Yellowstone National Park and and locations of camps in Yellowstone National Park
Includes:
Trade catalog and price lists
Black and white images
Physical description:
1 piece; 1 box
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
Livingston, Montana, United States
Date:
1900s
Topic (Romaine term):
Automobiles and automotive equipment (including trucks and buses) Search this
Brewery equipment : filters, filter pumps and tanks, fermentation gas compressors, beer coolers, control valves, CO2 volume meter, beer cooling and drawing system, testing instruments. Air tester ; volume meter aspirator pump ; piercing devices ; sample bottle ; air determinator ; crown piercing bottle holder ; CO2 gas purity tester ; volume meter gauge tester ; pilot plant...this comprises the uncataloged portion.
Includes:
Trade catalog and manual
Black and white images
Physical description:
1 piece; 1 box
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
Buffalo, New York, United States
Date:
1900s
Topic (Romaine term):
Foods and beverage products and processing equipment (including brewing; distilleries; beer; wine; etc.) Search this
Measuring; calculating and testing devices Search this
Niki de Saint Phalle in the 1960s Jill Dawsey, Michelle White ; with essays by Amelia Jones, Ariana Reines, and Alena J. Williams ; and contributions by Molly Everett and Kyla McDonald
Food products ; "The Heinz Book of Meat Cookery" (1937, includes numerous recipes) ; "The Story of Food Preservation" by Edith Elliott Swank (1943) ; Heinz 57 1939 New York World's Fair catalog ; materials related to the "Heinz Baby Food" branch, including letters to consumers explaining the terms of a joint savings program with "Sears Baby Shops", coupons for Heinz products, and two pamphlets titled "Bright Start: A Guide to Infant Feeding" and "The Building Blocks of Infant Feeding"
