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The Foods, People, & Innovations That Feed Us (Smithsonian)

A Sweeping History of Food & Culture with Paula J. Johnson

2024-04-02 13:00:00 2024-04-02 14:00:00 America/Chicago The Foods, People, & Innovations That Feed Us (Smithsonian) Virtually step into the National Museum of American History with Curator Paula Johnson to discuss the book Smithsonian American Table: The Foods, People, and Innovations That Feed Us. Please register. Virtual -

Tuesday, April 02
1:00pm - 2:00pm

Add to Calendar 2024-04-02 13:00:00 2024-04-02 14:00:00 America/Chicago The Foods, People, & Innovations That Feed Us (Smithsonian) Virtually step into the National Museum of American History with Curator Paula Johnson to discuss the book Smithsonian American Table: The Foods, People, and Innovations That Feed Us. Please register. Virtual -

Virtually step into the National Museum of American History with Curator Paula Johnson to discuss the book Smithsonian American Table: The Foods, People, and Innovations That Feed Us. Please register.

American Table is a sweeping history of food and culture that summons everyone to the table for a fresh look at some of the people, ingredients, events, and movements that have shaped how and what we eat.

Johnson, curator and project director of the American Food History Project, will discuss several stories featured in the volume, with an emphasis on those that intersect most directly with the Smithsonian’s research, collecting, and programming around food history.

During this event, Johnson will engage viewers in discovering the connections between food and American history: 

  • How immigration and migration has shaped (and continues to shape) American tables,
  • How food companies have influenced home cooks through advertising, from Jell-O salads to Crock-pots.
  • How individuals from Brownie Wise to James Beard and Julia Child inspired generations of cooks and eaters across the United States.
  • And show viewers how uniting in the kitchen can change the shape of our collective futures, specifically highlighting growers and chefs who are reclaiming and reinventing regional and cultural traditions, including Indigenous ingredients and cooking techniques.

After this enlightening, enriching, and entertaining webinar, you can cook your way through the recipes that are featured in the volume that reflect American history and culture. Hungry for more? Register now! 

About the Speaker: 

Paula Johnson is a Curator in the Division of Work and Industry at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and is responsible for strengthening and maintaining the food history and marine resources collections. She is also the Project Director for the Smithsonian's multi-faceted American Food History Project and director and co-curator for the exhibition, FOOD: Transforming the American Table, which opened in 2012; a refresh of the exhibition was completed in 2019. As one of the curators who collected Julia Child’s home kitchen in 2001, she was also on the team that developed the exhibition Bon Appetit! Julia Child’s Kitchen at the Smithsonian, on view from 2002 to 2012. Over more than three decades at the Smithsonian, Johnson has collected a wide range of artifacts and archives reflecting the work and experiences of diverse Americans and communities.

Johnson has published books and articles on the Chesapeake Bay, maritime communities, and material culture, and has lectured widely on these and topics related to American food and wine history, field research, oral history recording, and community-based documentation. She is an inaugural member of the editorial collective for Gastronomica: The Journal for Food History and received the 2020 Smithsonian Distinguished Scholar in the Humanities Award. Johnson is working on a book about Julia Child’s home kitchen for publication in Fall 2024.

Please Register for link to program.


Live Virtual Author Talks - This new series through Library Speakers Consortium offers live online talks by bestselling authors of books in a variety of genres. Participants receive a link to the program when they register. Please see https://libraryc.org/gailborden to register and also view recorded videos of past speakers.

AGE GROUP: | Virtual Live | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Virtual | History | Adult Programs |

TAGS: | |

Virtual

Phone: 847-742-2411

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About the Branch

Programs presented virtually through FB, Zoom, YouTube, and other online sources.

Upcoming Events

Wed, Apr 30, 9:15am - 9:45am
Rakow Branch
Join us for stories, rhymes, and songs in this interactive Storytime. Ages 1-3 years old with adult caregiver.
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Wed, Apr 30, 10:00am - 10:30am
Rakow Branch
Join us for stories, rhymes, and songs in this interactive Storytime. Ages 1-3 years old with adult caregiver.
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Wed, Apr 30, 10:00am - 12:00pm
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Bookmobile stop in Freshway parking lot

Wed, Apr 30, 10:45am - 11:15am
Rakow Branch
Preschoolers will enjoy stories, songs, and activities. Ages 3-5 years old
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Wed, Apr 30, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Main Library - Meadows Community Rooms ABC
Music Director Chad Goodman & ESO Violinist Robbie Herbst will lead discussions about upcoming ESO concerts, repertoire, guest artists, special events and other Symphony-related topics. Register

Wed, Apr 30, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
Mobile Services
Bookmobile stop: Willow Lakes Estates – club house – 161 W. River Road – Elgin 60123 – 2:00-2:45

Wed, Apr 30, 3:00pm - 3:45pm
Mobile Services
Bookmobile stop: Highbury Dr., east of Waverly – Elgin 60120 – 3:00-3:45

Wed, Apr 30, 4:00pm - 4:45pm
Mobile Services
Bookmobile stop: Woodview Circle – corner of Woodview Cr. & Chicago St., Elgin 60120 – 4:00-4:45

Wed, Apr 30, 4:45pm - 5:45pm
Rakow Branch - Rakow - Shales Living Room
The kid's book club is back! This program is a 4-week series that combines reading, critical thinking, and hands-on activities to enrich the experience.
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Wed, Apr 30, 5:00pm - 5:45pm
Mobile Services
Bookmobile stop: Crestwood Apts. of Elgin – info office – 45 Poplar Creek Dr. – Elgin 60120 – 5:00-5:45

Wed, Apr 30, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Main Library - Meadows Community Room C
Aprende en la biblioteca. Participa con otras personas que hablan español o inglés como primer idioma. Learn at the Library with native English and Spanish speakers.
This event is full

Wed, Apr 30, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - Grove Room
The Walking Book Club meets weekly on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm to walk, followed by the book discussion at 7:45 pm at the Main Library.

Wed, Apr 30, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - Computer Training Room
In this series, learn how to use Microsoft Excel to manipulate, format, and organize numbers and other types of data. Sponsored by Comcast Internet Essentials.
Registration is now closed

Thu, May 01, 9:30am - 11:30am
Rakow Branch - Rakow - Computer Cafe
Get help with common tech issues like Microsoft Office, using a tablet, hotspots, syncing email with your phone, downloading content, and more. Drop in for personalized assistance at your library.

Thu, May 01, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Mobile Services - Sprinter
Centro de Informacion Elgin - 1885 Lin Lor Ln, Elgin, IL 60123

Thu, May 01, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Mobile Services - Sprinter
425 Dundee Ave. – Elgin 60120

Thu, May 01, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Main Library - Conference Room
Usando material de USCIS que incluye preguntas de educación cívica, el formulario de solicitud y otros requisitos para la entrevista de ciudadanía.
This event is full

Thu, May 01, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - Computer Training Room
In this series, learn how to use Microsoft Excel to manipulate, format, and organize numbers and other types of data. Sponsored by Comcast Internet Essentials.

Thu, May 01, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - Grove Room
This writer's peer group will inspire and motivate you using prompts and exercises for creative writing. Writers of all genres are welcome to participate. Please Register.