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






