Finding aid created by: MM
Date: 2006
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| Feb 2009 | converted to EAD (MRC) |
| May 2009 | updated, rehoused (MRC) |
| March 2011 | added material, updated (CEG) |
| June 2014 | added material (DRF) |
Overview of the Collection |
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| Creator: | National Plastics Center & Museum. |
| Title: | Tupperware Collection |
| Dates: | 1949-2004 |
| Quantity: | 0.25 linear ft. |
| Abstract: | Collection is an artificial compilation of pieces donated to the National Plastics Center & Museum. It includes sales material such as brochures and sales receipts, a copy photograph of the founder Earl Tupper with his signature, and a book of poetry published by Tupperware. |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: |
Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center |
Earl Tupper (1907-1983) founded Tupperware Brands Corporation in 1938. Tupper's method of purifying a by-product of the oil refining process resulted in affordable polyethylene -- plastic -- products in a rainbow of colors for a wide range of kitchen and home uses. Tupper introduced the line in 1946 through department and hardware stores; sales were steady but modest until the advent of Tupperware Home Parties (based on a similar strategy developed by Stanley Home Products). The Home Parties were an immediate success and in 1958 Earl Tupper was able to sell the company for $16 million.
Tupperware spread to England and thence to Europe in the 1960s. As of 2009 Tupperware was being sold in nearly 100 countries -- still primarily through the home party method, though in some cases under alternate product names (for example, Kompakt-System in Germany and Eleganzia in England).
The Tupperware Collection contains correspondence, printed material and photographs.
Correspondence includes letters between Harold A. Holtz and Earl Tupper, Harold A. Holtz and Gladys M. Leedy, and Harold A. Holtz to Lou Agnello with accompanying photographs of the opening of a time capsule with the original Tupperware set inside. Harold A. Holtz was an employee of Union Carbide/Bakelite Company and a colleague and friend of Earl Tupper.
Photographs include several photos of Earl Tupper and Harold A. Holtz.
Printed material includes a Tupperware newsletter, Tupperware Home Parties material, Tupperware demonstration booklet, and promotional material.
Alphabetical by type of material.
Access Restrictions:
The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.
Use Restrictions:
Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
Special Collections Research Center has numerous holdings in the areas of plastics and industrial design. Please refer to the SCRC Subject Index for a complete listing. There are also items made of Tupperware in the artifacts holdings.
Persons
Holtz, Harold A.
Tupper, Earl Silas.
Corporate Bodies
Tupperware Corporation.
Subjects
Plastic containers.
Plastic tableware.
Plastics industry and trade.
Tupperware Home Parties.
Genres and Forms
Advertisements.
Brochures.
Catalogs (documents)
Newsletters.
Photographs.
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Tupperware Collection,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Plastics Center and Museum, 11/06/2008.
"Tupperware: A Household Word in Homes Everywhere" (1958) catalog given to Harold A. Holtz by Earl Tupper, later donated to the National Plastics Museum.
Correspondence
Photographs
Printed material
| Correspondence | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Holtz, Harold A. and Earl S. Tupper 1953, 1978-1979, 1982-1983 (8 letters) | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Holtz, Harold A. and Gladys M. Leedy 1983, 1985 (7 letters) | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Holtz, Harold A. and Lou A. Agnello 1983 - 5 photographs of Tupper and Holtz are enclosed with the letters featuring a Tupperware time capsule opening event (2 letters) | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Tupper, Glenn 1983 - handwritten Christmas card to Harold A. Holtz | ||||||||||
| Photographs | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Earl Tupper and Harold A. Holtz, signed by Earl Tupper | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Earl Tupper, Harold A. Holtz, and unknown man - one photograph is signed by Earl Tupper (3 photographs) | ||||||||||
| Printed material | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Clippings 1983 - Earl Tupper's obituaries, one from The New York Times and the other from The Tico Times | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Newsletter, "Sales Sentinal Magazine Section," Special Jubilee Edition July 1958 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Promotional material 1949, 1957, 2002, 2004 | ||||||||||
| advertisement for a movie screening of "Tupperware!" being shown at the Museum of
Fine Arts in Boston (2004) "American Experience: Tupperware!" postcard ad for PBS documentary (2004) comb and shampoo fount advertisement "Tupper Seals" brochure (circa 1949) Tupperware Tumblers brochure (1949) Tupperware holiday home catalog (2002) Wonderlier bowls advertisement (1957) |
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| Box 1 | Tupperware Home Parties 1953-1955, 1957-1958, 1978, 1980 | ||||||||||
| blank receipts catalog (1980) container insert explain how to fix the top if it becomes warped (1957) map of the Orange Blossom Trail that highlights Tupperware Home Parties, Inc. HQ location and picture (1954) paper card featuring Sauce Dishes of Poly-T (1953) postcard featuring Tupperware Home Parties, Inc. National Headquarters (1955) recipe cards (1953-1954) "This is Tupperware" information guide "Tupperware: A Household Word in Homes Everywhere" (1958) You’re in the Company of Friends book of poems (1978) |
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| Box 1 | Tupperware Know How Demonstration Guide 1983 | ||||||||||