Leo Pearlstein papers, 1939-2011

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Summary

Creators:
Pearlstein, Leo
Abstract:
Leo Pearlstein is an American public relations executive known as the "Culinary King of Public Relations" and one of the pioneers of food consulting. The collection is comprised of recipes, photographs, press releases, magazine clippings, letters, memoranda, emails, menus, leaflets, and brochures related to Pearlstein's public relations buisness with the food and beverage industry.
Extent:
8.8 Linear Feet (14 document boxes and 1 shoebox)
Language:
English and Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Leo Pearlstein Papers (Collection 2151). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection is comprised of recipes, photographs, press releases, magazine clippings, letters, memoranda, emails, menus, leaflets, and brochures related to Leo Pearlstein's public relations business with the food and beverage industry. A significant portion of the collection relates to the Mrs. Cubbison's Foods account, focusing on stuffing recipes. Other materials relate to food-specific industries including apples, artichokes, asparagus, chives, eggs, figs, papayas, peaches, pineapples, plums, prunes, seafood, and turkeys. Also included is a collection of Pearlstein's cookbooks.

Biographical / historical:

Leo Pearlstein is a retired American public relations executive. He is known as the "Culinary King of Public Relations" and is considered one of the pioneers of food consulting and an expert on the food industry. In 1950 he founded a full -service public relations and advertising firm, Lee & Associates, Inc. that included a food and beverage division, Western Research Kitchens.

Named one of the top agencies in the country specializing in food and beverage, Pearlstein's clients included Mrs. Cubbison's Stuffing, an account he held for 62 years. He was on the team that invented the "Pop-Up" turkey timer and handled promotions for the California Turkey Advisory Board for more than 25 years.

The company pioneered ways to promote food products for many of California's agricultural commodities that included advisory boards, trade associations and co-ops for almonds, apples, artichokes, asparagus, peaches, chives, figs, prunes, tomatoes, fish and shrimp industries and more. Pearlstein was a forerunner of product placement on radio, television and movies to garner publicity for his clients' products. His used celebrities, top chefs, home economists to develop recipes and ideas for the home cook to promote the food products of his clients.

Specifically his experience in the food industry and his knowledge of how to use the media for nutrition education resulted in a 1969 invitation to participate in the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health. Pearlstein received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing at the University of Southern California, where he was honored with the Paul G. Hoffman Award, which is presented to the most outstanding marketing graduate. He has guest-lectured at UCLA and California State University, Long Beach, among others, on public relations and marketing in the food industry.

He has penned four books: Celebrity Stew, Recipes of the Stars, Mrs. Cubbison's Best Stuffing Cookbook, and Adventures in PR.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Leo Pearlstein, 2012.
Arrangement:

This collection has been arranged in the following series:

  • Series 1: Recipe Binders, 1957-1995
  • Series 2: Mrs. Cubbison's Recipes, 1953-2011
  • Series 3: Leaflets and Brochures, 1960s-1980s
  • Series 4: Recipe Cards, 1952-1972
  • Series 5: Cookbooks, 1939-2006

Physical location:
Stored off-site. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the reference desk for paging information.

Cookbooks in this collection have been individually cataloged in the UCLA Library online catalog. Records for these items may be found by searching this keyword string, "Leo Pearlstein papers."

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical object belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where UCLA Library Special Collections does not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Leo Pearlstein Papers (Collection 2151). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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