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David Pollack Collection of Cereal Boxes

Call Number

MSS.512

Date

1976-2017, inclusive

Creator

Pollack, David

Extent

20 linear feet in 14 flat boxes and 1 half manuscript box

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Abstract

David Pollack is a New York-based architect and designer. This collection consists of approximately 300 breakfast cereal boxes and other items of food packaging collected by Pollack from the 1970s through the 2000s. The bulk of the collection consists of cereal boxes, many of which feature athletes, popular culture figures, entertainment cross-promotions for newly released films, or fictional spokescharacters for specific cereals, such as Kellogg's Corn Flakes' "Sweetheart of the Corn" and Rice Krispies' Snap, Crackle, and Pop. Olympians are prominently featured throughout the collection, documenting the breakfast cereal industry's long-standing association with athletics, especially Kellogg Corn Flakes and Wheaties' "Breakfast of Champions" promotion. In addition to the specific items present in the collection, the materials also document the intersection of food advertising, design, and marketing with athletics and popular culture in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Biographical Note

David Pollack is a New York-based architect and designer. He studied psychology at New York University, and earned his BS in Environmental Design from Cornell University.

Arrangement

Items are arranged chronologically by expiration date.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of approximately 300 breakfast cereal boxes and other items of food packaging collected by David Pollack from the 1970s through the 2000s. The bulk of the collection consists of cereal boxes, many of which feature athletes, popular culture figures, entertainment cross-promotions for newly released films, or fictional spokescharacters for specific cereals, such as Kellogg's Corn Flakes' "Sweetheart of the Corn" and Rice Krispies' Snap, Crackle, and Pop. Olympians are prominently featured throughout the collection, documenting the breakfast cereal industry's long-standing association with athletics, especially Corn Flakes and Wheaties' "Breakfast of Champions" promotion. In addition to the specific items present in the collection, the materials also document the intersection of food advertising, design, and marketing with athletics and popular culture in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date; David Pollack Collection of Cereal Boxes; MSS 512; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University.

Location of Materials

Some materials in this collection are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please contact fales.library@nyu.edu at least two business days prior to your research visit to coordinate access.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by David Pollack in October 2017; the accession number associated with this gift is 2017.181.

Appraisal

The following items were appraised out of the collection at the point of acquisition by the curator: one can of Diet Pepsi, one sleeve of Dixie Cups (box retained in collection), an E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial figurine, and an internet starter optical disk.

Collection processed by

Rachel Searcy

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 17:04:31 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information

At the time of accessioning, cereal boxes were flattened, sorted according to size, arranged chronologically by the expiration date on the box, and described on the collection-level with a box inventory.

Repository

Fales Library and Special Collections
Fales Library and Special Collections
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012