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Harris (Mabel C.) papers
7068  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
Mabel C. Harris, also professionally known as Virginia O'Neal and Martha Logan, was a trained home economist who, after working for Swift and Company and Kerr Glass Manufacturing Corp., was hired by Vons grocery stores in 1960 to be the first home economist hired by a supermarket chain. Her papers consist of photographs, scrapbooks, correspondence, clippings, ephemera, and cookbooks relating to her career in the Los Angeles food and grocery industry from the 1940s to the 1970s.
Background
Mabel C. Harris, also professionally known as Virginia O'Neal and Martha Logan, was a trained home economist who graduated from Montana State College in 1942. She moved to the Los Angeles area and worked in the food and grocery industry for companies like Kerr Glass and Swift and Company before being hired by Vons grocery stores in 1960. Vons publicized her as "the first graduate home economist to join a supermarket chain staff." Her duties were to "help the public with recipes, menus and buying information." Harris met with women's groups, spoke at schools and supermarket openings, wrote and tested recipes, provided tips and recipes on radio and television, and made other appearances to teach the public about food preparation. She pledged to "help women get more fun and less work out of good menus and meals." [adapted from the Los Angeles Times, obituary, November 11, 2002]
Extent
4.7 Linear Feet 5 boxes
Restrictions
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Availability
Advance notice required for access.