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Postum Company School Lunch Educational Booklet

 Item — Folder: 1
Identifier: RH-A-4401

Scope and Contents

The printed title reads “THE SCHOOL LUNCH,” with information about the distributor below. Through various sections, the booklet talks about nutrition, what lunches should include, how they should be operated, and even table manners. Illustrations often accompany the printed text, in black, white, and a specific shade of blue. The information on the back inside cover reveals that the booklet was copyrighted in 1928.

Dates

  • Copyright: 1928

Biographical / Historical

The Postum Company, which started in Battle Creek, MI, in 1895, has long been known for advertising itself as a healthy coffee that promotes physical wellbeing and heartiness. As such, the booklet may be considered a ploy to advertise the company’s attention to health, especially for children, although it does also advertise its products in the informational booklet itself as suggestions for parts of healthy meals for children. A list of Postum products has also made its way into the booklet, like Grape Nuts and Post-Bran's Chocolate alongside coffee and cocoa mixtures.

Extent

1 Volumes ; Folded, the booklet measures 5.5 inches by 8 inches, while unfolded it measures 11 inches by 8 inches.

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection is composed of one booklet distributed by the Postum Company Educational Department in Battle Creek, Michigan about school lunches, copyright 1928.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The booklet was part of Western State Normal's Department of Rural Education library.

Physical Description

Folded, the booklet measures 5 ½” by 8”, while unfolded it measures 11” by 8”. The front cover features a printed picture of a child eating from a bowl while perched on a globe, surrounded by clouds. The printed title reads “THE SCHOOL LUNCH,” with information about the distributor below.

The booklet is in good condition. All the pages are intact, and the printed writing is clear and legible. At some point, a stamp was added to the front of the booklet in pink ink, above a little scribble of pencil. Neither obscures any writing or image, although the stamp itself is not fully legible, as the top half of a couple words are either not fully printed or worn away. This stamp is also repeated on the first page, more legible than the one on the front, but still spotty. There are a couple marks on a few pages, like page sixteen, and page nine, but they are small, out of the way, and not particularly obtrusive. There are also a few marks in what looks like pencil. The yarn acting as the binding agent for the spine holds up well and isn’t frayed.

Title
Postum Company School Lunch Educational Booklet Finding Aid
Status
Completed
Author
Meena Jacobs, Mallory Heslinger
Date
2023-10-04
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Western Michigan University Archives & Regional History Collections Repository

Contact:
Charles C. and Lynn L. Zhang Legacy Collections Center
1650 Oakland Drive
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5307 US
(269) 387-8490