1918 Antique Rumford Every Day Sense cookbook for the Housewife and Student Vintage booklet by Lily Haxworth Wallace. Baking powder launch

While Rumford Baking Powder’s great successes and growth are remembered in Rumford, Rhode Island; our story begins at Harvard University in the early 1850s. There Professor Horsford was the Rumford Chair of the Application of Science to the Useful Arts where he was achieving national fame as a scientist. This makes sense since baking is, after all, a science. In 1854, George F. Wilson and Eben N. Horsford developed a partnership and opened a factory to build “up a chemical manufacturing establishment of respectability and permanency, such as shall be an honor to our selves and our children, and a community in which it is located…”

I would say what evolved into Rumford Baking Powder lived up Wilson and Horsford’s statement- Rumford, Rhode Island did become known as the “kitchen capital of the United States” and built a strong community around the factory.

The name “Rumford” comes from the Rumford Chair which Professor Horsford had occupied at Harvard. Baking powder was an incredible invention in 1859 – it gave the needed leavening power to batters and dough but prior to Rumford, the leavening power varied greatly in degree depending on what baking powder the cook used. What also made Rumford special was its use of calcium phosphate in the baking powder. This allowed for both a more balanced diet and didn’t leave an after taste like many of the other baking powders.

Rumford Baking Powder was incredibly inventive when it came to its market. Rumford developed thousands of recipes in their own kitchens, gathered recipes from the average housewife, addressed the war effort during World War II, and developed recipes specifically for other countries. Rumford also put it’s name or brand on everything from a child’s spinning top to everyday kitchen items. (Rumfordbaking)

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