Food in the United States, 1890-1945 (Food in American History)

by Megan J Elias

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Book cover for Food in the United States, 1890-1945

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No American history or food collection is complete without this lively insight into the radical changes in daily life from the Gilded Age to World War II, as reflected in foodways.

From the Gilded Age to the end of World War II, what, where, when, and how Americans ate all changed radically. Migration to urban areas took people away from their personal connection to food sources. Immigration, primarily from Europe, and political influence of the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Pacific brought us new ingredients, cuisines, and foodways. Technological breakthroughs engendered the widespread availability of refrigeration, as well as faster cooking times. The invention of the automobile augured the introduction of “road food,” and the growth of commercial transportation meant that a wider assortment of foods was available year round. Major food crises occurred during the Depression and two world wars.

Food in the United States, 1890-1945 documents these changes, taking students and general readers through the period to explain what our foodways say about our society. This intriguing narrative is enlivened with numerous period anecdotes that bring America history alive through food history.


  • 25 period photos complement the text
  • Recipes allow students to sample dishes no longer common on American tables
  • A timeline makes clear the changes and new technologies that occurred during the period
  • A selected bibliography facilitates further research
  • ISBN10 0313354103
  • ISBN13 9780313354106
  • Publish Date 1 June 2009
  • Publish Status Active
  • Publish Country US
  • Imprint Greenwood Press
  • Format Hardcover
  • Pages 157
  • Language English