New advances in refrigeration made sweet treats like ice cream widely available in the early twentieth century. Two of the first companies to develop frozen desserts like ice cream bars and suckers were the Good Humor Corporation and the Popsicle Corporation. Archivist Jefferson Moak described some of their legal battles over patent and market share infringements in the 1920s which ended up in nine different federal courts and their eventual outcome. He showed slides during his presentation and then responded to questions from members of the audience.
“The Frozen Sucker War: Good Humor v. Popsicle” was a noon lecture in the Jefferson Room in conjunction with the “What’s Cooking, Uncle Sam?” exhibition on food and the government at the National Archives.