Earlier this summer, Archives Librarian Mary Mann joined Engineering & Science Librarian James Malin to host a virtual event for the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO):
The presentation offered an exploration into both food science patents, and the life of Cooper Union founder Peter Cooper. In 1845, Peter Cooper filed patent US4084A for a new type of gelatine. Sold as the first consumer-grade shelf-stable (or ‘portable’) edible gelatine, “Peter Cooper’s Gelatine” revolutionized cooking, and paved the way for Jell-O.
Considering how popular sweet and savory aspics became in the 19th century, just as industrial food manufacturing began to take off, Peter Cooper’s Gelatine is an early example of how science and industry began to conquer the American palate.
How did Cooper—glue and iron manufacturer; one-time presidential candidate; founder of a free college called The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art; and recipient of just one year of formal education—end up developing a wiggly wonder that remains popular nearly 200 years later? Well, fortunately our USPTO presentation that answers that question was recorded, so just click the link to join us on a journey deep into the archives as we explore Cooper’s penchant for inventing and the role of his wife Sarah as inspiration and collaborator—picking up delicious gastronomic and scientific facts along the way.
Cooper Union Library Presents "Gelatine Gentleman" for the USPTO, July 11, 2024: youtube.com/watch?v=gbseb7D7R0I
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