Originally a candle and soap maker, Procter and Gamble (P&G) unintentionally stumbled upon a new business in 1907. With the assistance of chemist E. C. Kayser, P&G created the science of hydrogenation, which transformed liquid cottonseed oil into a solid mass. Capitalizing on the growth of the packaged food industry, they decided to sell their discovery as a fat substitute. In 1911, the brand Crisco was introduced by P&G who fashioned a successful advertising scheme, turning Crisco into a household name. The Story of Crisco was offered to consumers when they purchased the product. This cookbook is filled with tested recipes, each containing Crisco, which was advertised as healthier and more cost-effective than butter and other fats.

In Exhibit Case

Marion Neil Harris. Story of Crisco: 250 Tested Recipes. Hamilton, ON: Procter & Gamble Distributing Co. of Canada, Ltd., 1915. Archival & Special Collections, University of Guelph Library.