National Turkey Federation Records

The collection contains extensive files from the National Turkey Federation (NTF) and its advertising agency, the Evans Advertising Agency of Salt Lake City, Utah. Records include photographs of the NTF’s early officers, statistical reports, correspondence, promotional budgets, marketing research, recipes, photographs, slides, audio recordings, filmstrips, videotapes, and hundreds of color photographs and transparencies.

Materials document the NTF’s efforts to promote the consumption of turkey products. Additional records describe the history and objectives of NTF. There are statistical reports (1945-1981) on numbers of turkeys raised, consumption patterns, cold storage holdings, etc. Incomplete files of general correspondence (1945-1983) and promotional budgets (1971-1972) document decisions that were made to help reach the goals of promoting the consumption of turkey products. Notable among the correspondence is an original letter from Julia Child. Market research reports (1947-1982) on methods of preparing turkey products and recipes developed for school lunch programs, restaurants, institutions, and households, provided the basic material used in promotion efforts. There is a large number of color photographs and transparencies, along with suggested texts describing recipes and uses of the products shown, which were sent to newspapers and magazine food editors. Several hundred clippings (1970-1972) show the extent to which these photos and texts were used. Additional color photographs, 35mm slides, audio tape reels, VHF and Beta video tapes, and film strips contain educational materials on methods of cooking turkey products and promoting turkey meat consumption.