A vital part of the Mission Museum’s collection includes everyday objects donated by local  organizations and individuals.  

This virtual exhibit showcases food packaging artifacts that trace the evolution of  packaging and label design as new products appeared on Mission’s grocery store shelves  through the decades. 

Food packaging does more than protect, transport, and preserve—it shapes and reflects  our culture, revealing how we cook, eat, and live. Each label, logo, and design choice  mirrors our evolution as a society, from changing attitudes toward gender roles and race, to advances in food processing technology and growing concerns about sustainability and  wellness. 

Beyond cultural reflection, though, food packaging serves as the crucial connection  between manufacturers and consumers. It is the first point of contact, the silent  salesperson conveying a promise.

Turn of the 20th Century

Old Fashioned Slow Cooking Quaker Oats | circa mid 1980’s | donated by Rhona Jacobsen

Modernization and Societal Shifts

Rawleigh Brand Pure Ground Cinnamon | circa mid-1940’s to 1970’s | unknown donor

Health, Environmental Awareness and Design Innovation

Buy-low Fabric Shopping Bag | circa late 1980’s to mid-1990’s | donated by Mission Community Archives

BC Brands – Made in Mission

Blue Ribbon Dairy Milk Bottle | circa late 1930’s |  donated by Dorothy Brackley

BC Brands – Made in Mission

Purity Pure Red Raspberry Jam | circa mid-1930’s to early 1940’s | unknown donor