Finding aid for the Mabel C. Harris papers 7068
Madeline Goosen, Sue Luftschein, and Suzanne Noruschat
USC Libraries Special Collections
2018 December
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0189
specol@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Mabel C. Harris papers
creator:
Harris, Mabel C.
Identifier/Call Number: 7068
Physical Description:
4.7 Linear Feet
5 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1937-1989
Abstract: 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.
Biographical / Historical
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]
Content Description
Photographs, scrapbooks, correspondence, clippings, ephemera, and cookbooks relating to Mabel Harris's career in the Los Angeles
food and grocery industry from 1944 to 1970.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder no. or item name], Mabel C. Harris papers, Collection no. 7068, Regional History Collection, Special Collections,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Lanore Larson, August 7, 2018.
Organization
The Mabel C. Harris papers are organized into two series: 1. Professional, 2. Personal.
Processing Information
The Mabel C. Harris papers arrived at USC with some items grouped together in folders, but folder labels either were not provided
or did not coincide accurately with the folders' contents. Madeline Goosen therefore grouped like materials together, in
some cases physically, in others intellectually, in order to provide ease of access and discovery for researchers.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Grocery trade -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Home economics -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Economic conditions -- Archival resources
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Social conditions -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Clippings
Cookbooks
Correspondence
Ephemera
Photographs
Vons Grocery Company
Kerr Glass Manufacturing Corporation
Swift & Company
Harris, Mabel C. -- Archives
Professional
Scope and Contents
The Professional series consists of materials created and collected by Mabel C. Harris during the course of her work in the
food and grocery industries, principally her work in Los Angeles with companies Kerr Glass, Swift and Company, and Vons.
Box 1
Books
1947-1987
Scope and Contents
Books include KOA's National Recovery Act Cookbook (1987), The United States Regional Cook Book (1947), the California Mission
Cook Book (1957), Elena's Famous Mexican and Spanish Recipes (1950), The Young Woman in Business (1953), and How to Write
for Homemakers (1970).
Box 2, Folder 1, Box 3
Clippings
1940-1968
Scope and Contents
Includes newspaper and magazine clippings related to food-industry events, advertisements, and profiles of Mabel C. Harris.
Box 2, Folder 2
Correspondence
1937-1982
Scope and Contents
Correspondence includes written and typed letters primarily between Mabel Harris and food companies based in California such
as Kerr Glass and Swift & Company. There is also a telegram and notes between Mabel and her husband Bucky.
Box 2, Folder 3-4
Food and Cooking Pamphlets
1943-1978
Scope and Contents
Notable pamphlets include Wartime Suggestions, Luau cooking, and canning techniques. There is also one possibly written by
Mabel Harris under the name Martha Logan, which she used during her time at Swift & Company.
Box 2, Folder 5
1946-1954
Scope and Contents
Portraits and events during the period Harris worked for Kerr Glass and Swift and Company.
Box 2, Folder 6
Circa 1960s
Scope and Contents
Portaits and events during the period Harris worked for Vons.
Box 3
Swift and Company sales award banquet portrait
1953
Box 2, Folder 7-9
Professional biography
undated
Box 4
Scrapbook
1934
Scope and Contents
Labeled "B.G. Harris, Kerr Glass Manufacturing Corp, Los Angeles, CA".
Box 5
"Tricks or Treats", Corris Guy Show with Mabel Harris, KTLA
1957 July 25
Box 2, Folder 10
Miscellaneous Swift and Company materials
1946-1951
Box 2, Folder 11
Miscellaneous Vons Grocery Company materials
1964-1972
Personal
Scope and Contents
The Personal series includes materials relating to Mabel C. Harris's activities and interests largely outside her professional
roles, including memberships in organizations, and family and social life.
Box 2, Folder 14
Ephemera
undated
Scope and Contents
Includes a small collection of matchbook covers acquired from various restaurants and businesses, mostly in Southern California.
Box 2, Folder 15
Inspirational quotations
undated
Box 4
Scrapbook
circa 1945
Scope and Contents
Includes photographs, newspaper clippings, letters, telegrams, and other paper objects and ephemera.
