LibGuides: General Mills: Overview

Best Bets

"Betty Crocker: Marketing the Modern Woman," by Susan Marks-Kerst.
In Hennepin History, vol. 58, no. 2 (spring 1999).
MNHS call number: Reading Room F612.H52 H42 v.58:2

"General Mills, an Idea in Action," by James Gray.
In Horizons (spring 1953).
MNHS call number: HD9009.G48 G73 1953

Donald N. Gregg Flour Milling Collection, 185?-198?.
Subject files, including photocopies, photographs, and printed items, related to flour mills and milling in Minnesota and other Midwestern states (ca.1850s-1980s). The largest group of materials consists of files arranged by Minnesota city, with individual files for each mill within a city. There are also files containing background material on milling technology and the milling industry in general, files arranged by state (mostly Minnesota, but also including North Dakota and Wisconsin, with a few items from other states), files arranged by county and city (including large files on the many Minneapolis milling firms), biographical files on individual millers, and files of postcards and other graphic material. Individual files typically include photocopies of news, notes, and advertisements from the Northwestern Miller magazine and other printed sources; notes derived from various directories; and (in some cases) photographs and other original advertising materials.
MNHS call number: Digital Finding Aid

Overview

Minneapolis based General Mills, one of the world's largest food companies, traces its beginnings to Cadwallader C.Washburn who, in 1865, formed the Minneapolis Milling Company in order to lease power rights to mill operators. Ten years later, Washburn built his first flour mill near the falls of St. Anthony.

In 1874, the Washburn 'A' Mill was completed, only to be destroyed four years later by a flour dust explosion. Undeterred, Washburn rebuilt and, with new partner John Crosby, won medals in the first Millers' International Exhibition. The company's highest quality flour has been marketed under the Gold Medal label ever since.

In 1928, Washburn-Crosby president James Ford Bell consolidated with other mills, and General Mills was born. During this period, General Mills' iconic trademark, fictitious homemaker Betty Crocker, was created, and the company pioneered packaged food products such as Wheaties, Bisquick, and Cheerios.

Charles H. Bell moved the corporate headquarters to Golden Valley in 1952, and the company diversified into the toy and fashion industry. General Mills acquired hometown rival, Pillsbury, from British food company Diageo in 2000. The company has been known for its civic involvement through its General Mills Foundation, charitable contributions, and employee volunteerism.

Research Options

Visit the MNHS Library
Original materials, records, and newspapers on microfilm are available on site and reference staff can help with research.
MNHS Research Services
Order copies of records, articles, or other specific materials from the MNHS collections.
Interlibrary Loan
MNHS loans out most microfilm materials. Contact your local library for more information and assistance with this service.
Online Research
Some items such as newspapers, articles, photos and objects are available online. Look for links within this guide.
Other Libraries
Many books listed in the Secondary Sources page can be borrowed from other libraries.

Related Research Guides & Webpages

Washburn 'A' Mill Explosion
A guide listing the resources available at the MNHS library.
Pillsbury, Charles Alfred (1842–1899)
MNopedia article.
The 1878 Washburn A Mill Explosion
MNopeida article.
Mill City Museum
A Minnesota Historical Society museum which was built within the ruins of the Washburn ‘A’ Mill, and is a National Historic Landmark.