An unthinkable crime

Have you ever been accused of food hoarding? In 1918, you might have been suspected of that crime alongside Frank Foran, J. W. Riess, and Carl Rink. The American Protective League was a patriotic organization that spied on individuals and businesses and reported allegations of food-hoarding and other un-American activities. The League was especially interested in German-Americans and suspected German sympathizers.

These letters from the League are about suspected food hoarders, but there are many more letters from the League in our holdings—including reports of brawls over sugar and restaurants leaving their sugar bowls on the table.

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    Some truly phenomenal documents of food history.
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    A report on “food hoarding” from July 29, 1918:
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