Smithsonian's three-year initiative to document brewing history

Make Your Own Beer at Home [Advertisement for malt extract, circa 1900]

At the Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America in Philadelphia two weeks ago (sorry, we’ve been busy), The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History announced it will launch a three-year initiative to collect, document and preserve the history of brewing, craft brewers and the beer industry to explore how the beverage and brewing connect to larger themes in American history. Part of the “Smithsonian Food History” project, this initiative is made possible through a donation from the Brewers Association of Boulder, Colo., the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers.

American beer can with handle, circa 1933-1950.

Museum staff have researched and documented American food and beverage history for more than two decades and will work with the Brewers Association, American brewers and beer historians to document and collect the stories and history of modern American brewing. Beer and brewing have been an important part of the American experience since before the nation’s founding and into the present day, and beer production for the past 30 years has been connected to significant social, cultural, economic and environmental movements across the country. The team will explore the unique connections between brewing and broader themes, including advertising, agriculture, industry, innovation, business and community life. More information about the initiative and beer history at the museum is available here: http://s.si.edu/BrewHistory.

“Brewing has a long and deep connection to our country’s history, and the museum’s collections explore the history of beer from the late 19th to early 20th centuries,” said John Gray, the director of the museum. “The support of the Brewers Association allows our staff to collect the more recent history, including the impact of small and independent craft brewers who continue to advance the U.S. beer culture and inspire brewers worldwide.

The museum currently houses several small but important collections related to brewing and beer consumption in America. The bulk dates from the 1870–1960s, including the collection of former Brewmaster Walter Voigt of Ruxton, Md., and is composed of brewing instruments and tools, advertising materials, beer bottles, trays and taps, as well as technical papers, prints and photographs from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, New York and Pennsylvania. As American brewing continues to expand in scope, scale and impact, the museum is uniquely positioned to document the stories of American brewers and to collect the material culture of the industry for the benefit of scholars, researchers and the public.

“The craft brewing revolution in America has had a profound social, cultural and economic impact on this country,” said Bob Pease, president and CEO of the Brewers Association. “America is a beer destination. We are honored to support this effort and work with the National Museum of American History to chronicle and showcase the significant achievements small and independent brewers have made throughout this nation’s history.”

Beer tray, about 1905: Unions’ power was built on worker solidarity. This beer tray shows a driver and a brewer working together. It says in German “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.”

Tags: Brewers Association Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America Smithsonian The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History