Leo Pearlstein papers, 1939-2011 LSC.2151
Finding aid prepared by Beth McDonald with assistance from Megan Hahn Fraser.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 2018 June 27.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Leo Pearlstein papers
Creator:
Pearlstein, Leo
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.2151
Physical Description:
8.8 Linear Feet
(14 document boxes and 1 shoebox)
Date (inclusive): 1939-2011
Abstract: Leo Pearlstein is an American public relations executive known as the "Culinary King of Public Relations" and one of the pioneers
of food consulting. The collection is comprised of recipes, photographs, press releases, magazine clippings, letters, memoranda,
emails, menus, leaflets, and brochures related to Pearlstein's public relations buisness with the food and beverage industry.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special Collections
for paging information.
Retrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the reference desk for
paging information.
Cookbooks in this collection have been individually cataloged in the UCLA Library online catalog. Records for these items
may be found by searching this keyword string, "Leo Pearlstein papers."
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are
retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where UCLA Library Special Collections does not
hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Leo Pearlstein Papers (Collection 2151). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Leo Pearlstein, 2012.
Biographical/Historical note
Leo Pearlstein is a retired American public relations executive. He is known as the "Culinary King of Public Relations" and
is considered one of the pioneers of food consulting and an expert on the food industry. In 1950 he founded a full -service
public relations and advertising firm, Lee & Associates, Inc. that included a food and beverage division, Western Research
Kitchens.
Named one of the top agencies in the country specializing in food and beverage, Pearlstein's clients included Mrs. Cubbison's
Stuffing, an account he held for 62 years. He was on the team that invented the "Pop-Up" turkey timer and handled promotions
for the California Turkey Advisory Board for more than 25 years.
The company pioneered ways to promote food products for many of California's agricultural commodities that included advisory
boards, trade associations and co-ops for almonds, apples, artichokes, asparagus, peaches, chives, figs, prunes, tomatoes,
fish and shrimp industries and more. Pearlstein was a forerunner of product placement on radio, television and movies to
garner publicity for his clients' products. His used celebrities, top chefs, home economists to develop recipes and ideas
for the home cook to promote the food products of his clients.
Specifically his experience in the food industry and his knowledge of how to use the media for nutrition education resulted
in a 1969 invitation to participate in the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health.
Pearlstein received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing at the University of Southern California, where he was honored with
the Paul G. Hoffman Award, which is presented to the most outstanding marketing graduate. He has guest-lectured at UCLA and
California State University, Long Beach, among others, on public relations and marketing in the food industry.
He has penned four books:
Celebrity Stew,
Recipes of the Stars,
Mrs. Cubbison's Best Stuffing Cookbook, and
Adventures in PR.
Scope and Content
The collection is comprised of recipes, photographs, press releases, magazine clippings, letters, memoranda, emails, menus,
leaflets, and brochures related to Leo Pearlstein's public relations business with the food and beverage industry. A significant
portion of the collection relates to the Mrs. Cubbison's Foods account, focusing on stuffing recipes. Other materials relate
to food-specific industries including apples, artichokes, asparagus, chives, eggs, figs, papayas, peaches, pineapples, plums,
prunes, seafood, and turkeys. Also included is a collection of Pearlstein's cookbooks.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection has been arranged in the following series:
- Series 1: Recipe Binders, 1957-1995
- Series 2: Mrs. Cubbison's Recipes, 1953-2011
- Series 3: Leaflets and Brochures, 1960s-1980s
- Series 4: Recipe Cards, 1952-1972
- Series 5: Cookbooks, 1939-2006
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Recipes
Public relations -- United States
Food industry and trade -- Advertising
Advertising -- Food
Mrs. Cubbison's Foods
Series 1: Recipe Binders
1957-1995
Scope and Contents
This series is comprised of recipes, press releases, clippings, letters, and memoranda on different types of food being publicized
by Lee & Associates, Inc. A number of the recipes were produced by Western Research Kitchens, the food and beverage division
of Lee & Associates, Inc., to promote a particular food.
Organization and Arrangement
Documents have been removed from original binders, but their original organization has been maintained. Binders labeled "Miscellaneous"
contain recipes for more than one kind of food.
box 1, folder 1-2
Seafood Recipes
1961-1993
box 1, folder 3
Lobster Recipes
1984-1987
box 1, folder 4
Seafood Recipes
1957-1994
box 2, folder 2
Fig Recipes: Jewish Holiday recipes
1970-1994
box 2, folder 3-4
Westcoast Seafood Institute Manual
1975-1990
box 2, folder 5, box 3, folder 1
Fish: Salmon Recipes
1977-1992
box 3, folder 5
Egg School Lunchbox Point-of-Sale Color Transparency
undated
box 3, folder 6
LASCCO Color Transparencies (Deli News)
undated
box 3, folder 7
Magazine Articles
1965-1974
box 4, folder 1
Miscellaneous Recipes: Prunes, Cheese, Peaches
undated
box 4, folder 2
Miscellaneous Recipes: Chives, Pork
undated
box 4, folder 5
Miscellaneous Recipes: Artichokes, Asparagus
1977-1993
box 4, folder 6
Miscellaneous Recipes: Papaya, Pineapple, Grapes, Plums
1977-1993
box 5, folder 1
Miscellaneous Recipes: Apples, Prunes
1966-1975
box 5, folder 2
Miscellaneous Recipes: Chives, Eggs, Prunes, Artichokes
1964-1982
Series 2: Mrs. Cubbison's Recipes
1953-2011
Scope and Contents
This series is comprised of recipes, photos, press releases, menus, and website information about Mrs. Cubbison's Foods, one
of the major clients for Lee & Associates, Inc. Mrs. Cubbison's Foods specializes in stuffing mixes, though they also produce
croutons, meatloaf mixes, and other bread products. All of the recipes have been created or modified to use Mrs. Cubbison's
products as ingredients.
Organization and Arrangement
The first four folders, though labeled "Miscellaneous" are a collection of recipes regarding stuffing, Thanksgiving meals,
and Thanksgiving leftovers. All other materials are grouped by primary ingredient, topic, or individual.
box 5, folder 3
Miscellaneous Stuffing Recipes
1999-2008
box 5, folder 4
Miscellaneous Recipes
1988-1998
box 5, folder 5
Dressing Recipes
1953-2011
box 6, folder 1
Miscellaneous Recipes
1953-1999
box 6, folder 4
Trade Tech Recipes
circa 1999
box 6, folder 5
Helen Feingold Recipes
undated
box 6, folder 6
Miscellaneous Salad or Other
undated
box 6, folder 9
Italian Sausage
1976-2002
box 6, folder 12
Stuffing for Lamb
1969-2003
box 6, folder 20-23
Casserole Recipes
undated
box 6, folder 24-26
Artichoke Recipes
undated
box 6, folder 29-36
Stuffing with Chicken
undated
box 6, folder 37
Cubbison's - Dairy
undated
box 7, folder 1
Stuffing with Duck
undated
box 7, folder 2
Stuffing with Goose
undated
box 7, folder 8-12
Stuffing with Pork
undated
box 7, folder 13-18
Stuffing with Game Hens
undated
box 7, folder 19-26
Stuffing with Fish
undated
box 7, folder 27
Mrs. Cubbison's Saucepan Stuffing
undated
box 7, folder 28
Mrs. Cubbison's Photos/Releases
1962-1983
box 7, folder 48-66
Stuffing with Turkey
undated
box 7, folder 71
Old Holiday Menus
undated
box 8, folder 1-2
Spanish Language Recipes
undated
Series 3: Leaflets and Brochures
1960s-1980s
Scope and Contents
This series is comprised of leaflets, brochures, menus, and magazine inserts with recipes and cooking tips for various foods
and ingredients.
box 8, folder 8-9
Various leaflets
1960s-1980s
Series 4: Recipe Cards
1952-1972
Scope and Contents
This series is comprised of several sets of recipe card collections. Included are three discrete card collections: one from
the Naval Recipe Service, one from the Culinary Institute of America, and one from the USDA's Agricultural Research Service.
The rest of the cards include branded recipes from food companies and groups such as Tabasco, Dole, Idaho Potatoes, Armanino
Chive Farms, the Cling Peach Advisory Board, and the California Prune Advisory Board, as well as a number of non-branded or
labeled printed cards.
box 9
Culinary Institute of America, USDA Agricultural Research Service, and commercial recipe cards
ca. 1962-1972
box 10
United States Naval Recipe Service
1952
box 11-15
Series 5: Cookbooks
1939-2006
Scope and Contents
This series is comprised of four boxes of cookbooks which are individually cataloged in the UCLA Library online catalog.
