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Aunt Jemima is one of the most famous and recognizable of all trademarks. She is to this day a trademark for pancake flour, syrup, and other breakfast foods currently owned by the Quaker Oats Company. The trademark dates to 1893, although Aunt Jemima pancake mix debuted in 1889. The Quaker Oats Company first registered the Aunt Jemima trademark in April, 1937.

Aunt Jemima was depicted as a plump, smiling, bright-eyed, African-American woman, originally wearing a kerchief over her hair. She was originally described in marketing materials as a former slave. The original Aunt Jemima image is the most commonplace representation of the stereotypical “mammy” character.

Antique Aunt Jemima Cookie Jar by McCoy
US $20.50 (12 Bids)
End Date: Tuesday Sep-07-2010 17:54:45 PDT
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3 Medium Cast Iron Black Mammy Penny Bank Aunt Jemima
US $9.99 (0 Bid)
End Date: Thursday Sep-09-2010 10:22:05 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $12.99
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3 Medium Cast Iron Black Mammy Penny Bank Aunt Jemima
US $12.00
End Date: Thursday Sep-09-2010 21:31:49 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $12.00
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1930s RARE VINTAGE AUNT JEMIMA BLACK SAMBO TABLECLOTH
US $15.51 (4 Bids)
End Date: Saturday Sep-11-2010 10:03:25 PDT
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St. Joseph Gazette editor Chris L. Rutt of St. Joseph, Missouri and his friend Charles G. Underwood bought a flour mill in 1888. Rutt and Underwood’s Pearl Milling Company faced a glutted flour market, so they sold their excess flour as a ready-made pancake mix in brown paper sacks without a trade name (which Arthur F. Marquette dubbed the “first ready-mix.” The direct inspiration for Aunt Jemima was Billy Kersands’ minstrel vaudeville song “Old Aunt Jemima”, written in 1875. The Aunt Jemima character was prominent in minstrel shows in the late 19th century, and was later adopted by commercial interests to represent the Aunt Jemima brand. Rutt reportedly saw a minstrel show featuring the “Old Aunt Jemima” song in the fall of 1889, and Rutt appropriated this Aunt Jemima character to market the Pearl Milling Company pancake mix in late 1889. They sold their company to the R.T. Davis Milling Company in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1890. The Davis Milling Company was renamed Aunt Jemima Mills in 1914. The Quaker Oats Company bought the brand in 1926.

The Aunt Jemima image has been modified several times over the years. In her most recent 1989 make-over, as she reached her 100th anniversary, the 1968 image was updated, with her kerchief removed to reveal a natural hairdo and pearl earrings. This new look remains with the products to this day.

Aunt Jemima has a rich history spanning over 115 years. Through those years, this popular trademark character’s image was used on a vast number of kitchen and advertising collectibles. Cookie jars, spice containers, potholders, syrup holders and other kitchen items can be readily found in shops, shows and on-line sites, with the oldest images of Aunt Jemima generally being the most valuable.