This 1922 advertisement for commercially baked bread says mothers endorse Atlas Bread. In the early twentieth century, branded, factory-produced white bread was marketed as healthier, cleaner, safer, and more convenient than home-made or bread produced in local bakeries.
This advertisement appeared in a community cookbook, a published collection of recipes provided by community or club members and sold to raise funds for a club, church, or reform effort.
Advertisement for Atlas Bread in The Shorewood Cook Book by the Ladies’ Aid society of the Luther Memorial Chapel, (Shorewood, Wisconsin, 1922,) 4. (Courtesy of Library of Congress and Internet Archive)
Image featured in Investigating Family, Food, and Housing Themes in Social Studies by Cynthia Resor
I find this advertisement very interesting because nowadays we find that white bread is not as healthy as whole wheat bread. I also think it is surprising that it says that the factory-produced made bread was healthier for you, in these days I would think the people of the factories would think that their work place would not be the best place for something “healthy” to come out of.
This primary source about buying bread is perfect for a lesson on nutrition in my 5th grade classroom. For example, I could discuss the differences between baking bread yourself and buying it off the shelf. Homemade bread does not have preservatives in it and whole wheat bread is much better for you than white. I could possibly arrange a taste test with students and show them that the “healthy bread” can also taste good.