LibGuides: Food History at the Rubenstein Library: John Hope Franklin Research Center

Featured Collections and Papers Related to Food

The John Hope Franklin Research Center’s diverse holding touch upon food culture in equally diverse ways. Prominent themes include religious observance, tenant farming in the United States, and Africa-based humanitarian projects related to World Food Day.

Nation of Islam Muhammad's Temple Records, 1972-2003 and undated
Records contain information packets for new members on religious observation including the dietary restrictions associated with the Muslim faith, thus shedding light on the complex relationship between religious observation and consumption.
Sherard Plantation Tenant Farmer Appreciation Ceremony Scrapbook, 1937-1950
The volume serves as a scrapbook, and holds 35 black-and-white and 3 color photographs and photocopies that are reproductions of photographs, often with captions; letters; newspaper and magazine articles; reminiscences; and songs that document the history of the Sherard plantation, the celebratory event, and the national press coverage it received.
Leroy T. Walker Africa News Service Archive, 1952-1998 and undated, bulk 1952-1994
Collection contains records featuring the food industry of Africa, generally, as well as corporations who have dealings with or are based in Africa. There are documents related to food security laws like the Horn of Africa Food and Security Act and food security groups such as Food for the Hungry, Food for Peace, and Food First. There is also documentation of the food-related initiatives of World Food Day. Of record are organizations tackling hunger in Africa not only through outreach programming, but also through research efforts like the International Food Policy Research Institute.
John Hope Franklin Papers, 1898-2009 and undated
Franklin's papers contain articles and clippings related to his personal interests, one of which was cooking.
Behind the Veil: Documenting African-American Life in the Jim Crow South, 1940-1997 and undated, bulk 1993-1997
Many of the subjects who contributed oral histories to the Behind the Veil project were agricultural laborers during Jim Crow and in interviews shared experiences about lecturing at agricultural schools or working in the fields. Other interviewees shared memories of fields, markets, stores, kitchens, and dining room tables.

The Book of Household Management, 1901

The Book of Household Management by Isabella Beeton is a fascinating source not only for its large number of recipes, but also for its color advertisements for products such as Bird's Custard Powder and Milkmaid Milk. Also of note are large, richly colored cookery plates featuring dishes and table settings.