Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Jane and Michael Stern Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1392
Creators:
Stern, Michael, 1946-
Stern, Jane
Dates:
1890-2008
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
17 Cubic feet
41 boxes
Repository:
Collection documents Jane and Michael Stern's travels across the United States collecting data for their books on American material culture subjects, with particular emphasis on food and dining.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Collection primarily consists of the raw materials amassed by Jane and Michael Stern as they traveled the United States, researching for their books on American material culture subjects, with particular emphasis on food and dining. These materials include writings and notes from their various stops while traveling; photographs and slides of places they visited; vintage postcards collected in their travels; paper ephemera such as take-out menus, placemats, etc.; large quantities of trade literature such as product cookbooks (some dating back to the 1920s), food packaging and brochures on food related subjects, under headings such as "Meat, Fish, Game", "Parties, Etiquette, How-To", "Baking" and numerous others; trade literature on other material culture subjects the Sterns wrote books about with headings which include Rodeo, Cowboys, Indians" and many others; correspondence; business records, articles, and clippings. The collection is arranged into five series: Series 1, Research Documentation and Writings, 1975-2015, undated; Series 2, Product Cookbooks, and Trade Literature, 1890-1993, undated; Series 3, Photographic Materials, 1947-2008, undated; Series 4, Subject Files, 1910-1995; and Series 5, Vintage Postcards, undated.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is arranged into five series:
Series 1, Research Documentation and Writings, 1975-2015, undated
Series 2, Product Cookbooks, and Trade Literature, 1890-1993, undated
Series 3, Photographic Materials, 1947-2008, undated
Subseries 3.1, Photographs, 1947-2002, undated
Subseries 3.2, Slides and Transparencies, 1965-2008, undated
Series 4, Subject Files, 1910-1995
Series 5, Vintage Postcards, undated

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Jane Grossman Stern (1946-) and Michael Stern (1946-) are American writers best known for their popular series of books titled Roadfood. These publications provided recommendations of restaurants, truck stops, diners, delis, bakeries, and other food-related establishments in the United States who served classic American regional specialties. The Sterns are also authors of books about American material culture subjects including truckers, cowboys, kitsch, and dog shows. They have been guests on public radio, contributors to magazine columns, and have won numerous awards for their work.

Administration

Author
Vanessa Broussard-Simmons
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection donated by Jane and Michael Stern, 2016.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Sarah Gediman, intern, 2019; Julia Gibson, intern, 2019; Savannah Hildre, intern, 2019; and Lauren Janik, intern, 2019; supervised by Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, Supervisory Archivist, 2019.

Digital Content

More …

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
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.
Preferred Citation
Jane and Michael Stern Collection, circa 1920-2015, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Ephemera -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ephemera -- 21st century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Automobile travel -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diners -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Trade literature Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bakeries -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Restaurants -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Truck stops -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cowboys -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Articles -- 21st century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Notes -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Menus -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cookbooks -- 21st century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Roads -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brochures -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence -- 21st century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brochures -- 21st century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Delicatessens -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dining Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dog shows -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cookbooks -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Slides (photographs) -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Truck drivers -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Writings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rodeos -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Business records -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Food -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Local foods -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kitsch -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Articles -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Material culture -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Postcards -- 20th century -- United States Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Menus -- 21st century Genre Form 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
archivescenter@si.edu