Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to Archives Center Cookbook Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0510
Creators:
Broussard-Simmons, Vanessa
Kraft General Foods, Inc.
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Dates:
undated
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3 Cubic feet
9 boxes
Repository:
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

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

Arrangement
Collection is arranged into two series.
Series 1, Bound Materials, 1920-2004, undated
Series 2, Unbound Materials, 1938-2003, undated

Biographical / Historical

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.

Administration

Author
Anne Jones
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
Found in collections, gifts from Museum staff and unsolicited gifts from the public.
Processing Information
Processed by Anne Jones (volunteer), April 2010; supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist.
Custodial History
The collection was assembled by the Archives Center in 2002.
Accruals
The Archives Center continues to add materials to this collection as they are acquired. Addenda were received from Shirley Cherkasky in 2016.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Archives Center Cookbook Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
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.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.

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

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
advertising Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Food industry and trade Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cookery, American Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu