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Infant Feeder Collection

 

Marion E. Alberts, MD, 1968

From the McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives

Marion E. Alberts, MD

Chief of Pediatrics and an Avid Collector of Infant Related Artifacts

Marion E. Alberts, MD, was born in 1923 in Hastings, Nebraska. A World War II Navy veteran, he graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in 1948. After completing his residency, Dr. Alberts set up his pediatric practice in Des Moines, Iowa. He served as Chief of Pediatrics at Mercy Hospital for 18 years and as scientific editor of Iowa Medicine for 27 years. He retired in 1988 and passed away in 2018.

 

Dr. Alberts' passion for caring for children inspired his extensive collection of infant feeders, rattles, and teethers. A portion of his collection was donated to the McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives. The Alberts collection holds over 200 items spanning centuries. Alberts' archival collection contains his research and materials relating to his membership in the American Collectors of Infant Feeders.

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Feed Exhibition

In 2019, Rhode Island photo-based artist, Lindsey Beal, came to UNMC McGoogan Library to photograph portions of the Alberts Collection for her exhibition, Feed. Her photographs explore, “the invisible labor that went into feeding infants throughout history and today.” You can learn more about Lindsey Beal and view the exhibition via her website.

 

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From the Collection

The McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives continues to collect and preserve infant related artifacts to maintain the historical record of infant feeding and care. These artifacts provide students, faculty, staff, and researchers with the opportunity to discover the past and find inspiration for the future of infant care. You can view more of the Alberts Collection through McGoogan Library’s Digital Commons.

Betsy Brown Nursing Bottle

Donated by Marion E. Alberts, MD, from the McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives

American, c. 1897
8 oz. graduations, upright, screw-top aluminum collar to hold nipple

 

Betsy Brown Nursing Bottle

In 1841, C. M. Windship patented the first glass nursing bottle in the United States. Most nursing bottles held 8 ounces and manufacturers rarely produced bottles in sizes larger than 16 ounces until around 1900. Elijah Pratt patented the first rubber nipple in 1845. However, they had strong odors and hot water easily destroyed them. Parents resorted to using cloth placed over bottle ends or spouts. High infant mortality for artificially fed infants led scientists to devise many mathematical formulas to determine calorie and nutritional needs of the infant diet, which gave the name “formula” to breastmilk substitutes.

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Pewter Feeder

Donated by Marion E. Alberts, MD, from the McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives

European, c. 1700s
Pewter with incised decoration, screw-on top with nipple spout, and three claw-like feet.

 

Pewter Feeder

Pewter was a common material for infant feeders through the 16th to 19th centuries in England, France, Germany, and the United States. Manufacturers used pewter, not knowing it contributed to infant mortality. The milk acidified, attacked, and absorbed the metal. Children then digested the metals and were poisoned.

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Earthenware Pap Boat

Donated by Marion E. Alberts, MD, from the McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives

English, c. 1700s
Earthenware pap boat: partially covered top, white with gold line trim around edge, pink rose on center of top, handle-like projection on back side, no maker marks.

 

Earthenware Pap Boat

Pap boats date from the late 17th to the early 18th centuries and were used through the 19th century. Caregivers used the boats to pour a breastmilk alternative called "pap" into infants, children’s, and even adult's mouths. Pap was often bread soaked in water or milk. Often a nurse would chew it to create the right consistency. Unfortunately, pap did not provide infants with proper nutrition and led to malnourishment.

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Temp-Guard Baby Bottle

Donated by Marion E. Alberts, MD, from the McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives

Nashville, Tennessee, c. 1944
Upright with narrow neck and thermometer attached. Eisele & Co., Nashville, Tennessee.

 

Temp-Guard Baby Bottle

In the 20th century, nursing bottle design evolved from the banana-shape to the upright, cylindrical bottle. This design allowed for easier cleaning and sterilizing, keeping babies healthier. By the 1940s, manufacturers mass-produced bottles, which decreased the cost. Parents could own more than one bottle, allowing for some bottles to be in use while others were sterilized. By the end of World War II, the United States Patent Office had issued over 230 patents for nursing bottles.

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Roman Feeder

Donated by Marion E. Alberts, MD, from the McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives

Ancient Rome, c. 500 C.E.
Pale, translucent and iridescent green glass with traces of soil inside and depressed pontil marks on base with spout nearby.

 

Roman Feeder

Archeologists have found pottery vessels for infant feeding dating back to 2000 B.C.E. Egyptians began to use glass feeders around 200-300 B.C.E., but breastfeeding was the norm in antiquity. When mothers could not or chose not to breastfeed, they found wet-nurses—slaves or women contracted to breastfeed others’ children—to feed their infants. Romans believed that character was transmitted through breastmilk, so parents took great care in choosing a wet-nurse. Goat’s milk was a common substitute. Soranus, a 1st/2nd century Greek physician, advised semi-solid food, like breadcrumbs soaked in milk, mead, or sweet wine, be fed to children starting at six months old.

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Tin Feeder

Donated by Marion E. Alberts, MD, from the McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives

Pennsylvania, c. 1700s
Tin with hinged lid and spout at right angle from handle.

 

Tin Feeder

The tin feeding can is reminiscent of the “Bubby Pot”, a ceramic teapot-shaped feeder used in Europe. The Germans of southeastern Pennsylvania, who immigrated to the United States in the 17th century, created the tin infant feeder called a “mammele” or “memily” meaning “little breast” or “little mother.” The caregiver attached a cloth to the spout to act as a nipple and to strain the milk. Traveling tinkerers created the cans. Designs and dimensions depended on the tinkerer’s whim and the amount of tin available.

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“Death Dealer” Baby Bottle

Donated by Marion E. Alberts, MD, from the McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives

c. 1800s
Glass with flattened bottom and graduations of 8 oz.

 

Death Dealer

This banjo-shaped nursing bottle with rubber tubing and nipple was the “Murder Bottle” of the Victorian era. The design was a modern innovation to allow parents to set an infant up to feed themselves, sucking the milk through the tubing. An influential domestic author advised parents to wash the nipple and tubing every two to three weeks. This led to bacteria growth that infected the infants. The design and lack of understanding of germs and sterilization techniques led to the death of many infants. In the 19th century, one third of all artificially fed infants died during their first year. The design was banned in 1910.

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Breast-Shaped Bottle

Donated by Marion E. Alberts, MD, from the McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives

c. 1841
Hand-blown, polished glass.

 

Breast-Shaped Bottle

The popularity of breastfeeding declined in the 19th century as women sought employment outside of the home during the Industrial Revolution. The employment of wet nurses—women contracted to breastfeed others’ children—declined as well. Scientists produced the first dehydrated milk in 1835 by condensing sweetened cow’s milk into a “honey-like mass.” Evaporated milk was first produced in 1847. Nestlé packaged the first condensed milk into tin boxes in 1866.

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Porcelain Pap Boat

Donated by Marion E. Alberts, MD, from the McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives

c. 1733
White porcelain ceramic with blue trim pattern and blue mark on bottom.

Porcelain Pap Boat

The blue and white design on this pap boat was based on the “Blue Onion” design originally produced in China and exported to Europe in the 17th century. It was so popular that German manufacturers discovered how to replicate the design in the 18th century. "Panada" was a breastmilk substitute similiar to pap, made with bread boiled in beer. It was sweetened with clarified honey and diluted with more beer to make a liquid. Caregivers also added other ingredients to the mixture like cornmeal, crushed walnuts, fennel seeds, and wine.

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Silver Pap Boat

Donated by Marion E. Alberts, MD, from the McGoogan Health Sciences Library Special Collections and Archives

Dutch, c. 1830
Plain silver with shell-pattern grip.

Silver Pap Boat

Caregivers used this silver pap boat to feed infants or adults with disabilities. Researchers believe that “pap” is of Scandinavian origin, referring to the noise a baby makes opening and closing their mouth while eating. Recipes for pap varied depending on the family’s wealth. Elites could afford to include butter, milk, or sugar. The practice of feeding infants artificial breastmilk was called “dry nursing.”

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Rattles & Teethers: History & Mythology

Found in both ancient Egypt and pre-colonial America, rattles are one of the oldest toys in the world, and have been used as more than distractions for infants. As talismans or charms, it was believed that the construction materials and the noise produced by the rattle protected infants against sorcery, evil eye, illness, and mishaps. Rattles made from silver and gold also indicated a family’s wealth and social status.

 

Over the centuries, teethers have been constructed out of various materials, including silver, gold, coral, amber, rock crystal, agate, ivory, wolf’s teeth, and mother-of-pearl. Some caregivers believed these materials had inate powers. Coral protected infants and infused them with the strength of the sea. Wolf’s teeth, while gnawed on by an infant, were believed to emit a secretion that caused teeth to erupt through the gums, thus easing the infant's discomfort. Still these were no guarantees of health. In the 19th century, caregivers blamed ten percent of childhood deaths on teething due to symptoms such as fever and gangrene.


 

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