History Resources

Inside the Vault: Food Purity, Prohibition, and the 1884 Election

On March 2, 2023, our curators were joined by Lisa M. F. Andersen, Director of Academic Strategy at the Gilder Lehrman Institute, to discuss an 1884 pamphlet accusing presidential candidate Grover Cleveland of favoring “adulterated” food. Andersen illuminated the issues, party politics, and political style that characterized the Gilded Age and the Progressive era.

Click here to download the slides from the presentation.

FEATURED DOCUMENT

USE THE TIMESTAMPS BELOW TO JUMP TO THE TOPIC YOU WANT TO VIEW

  • 1:05–1:40: Today’s Document
  • 1:41–3:22: Henry Adams Quote
  • 3:23–6:21: First Impressions of the Pamphlet
  • 6:22–9:59: 1880 Party Tickets
  • 10:00–15:45: Food Production in the 1880s
  • 15:46–18:11: Adulterated Alcohol
  • 18:12–25:08: Scientific Temperance
  • 25:09–27:55: Adulterated Candy
  • 34:30–38:17: “Pure” Food
  • 38:18–44:05: “I Want My Pa!”
  • 44:06–48:31: 1884 Presidential Election
  • 48:32–51:02: Compensation for Cartoons
  • 54:19–1:00:41: “Cold Water Comfort”

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