Physician and promoter of health foods (1852–1943) best known for his invention of Corn Flakes. Scarce TLS signed “J. H. Kellogg,” two pages, 8.25 x 11, Battle Creek Sanitarium letterhead, May 6, 1910. Letter to Rev. Francis E. Clark of the United Society of Christian Endeavor after Kellogg founded a society at the sanitarium. In part: “We already have over 80 members and I hope we shall soon have two or three hundred. Your coming will be a red-letter day for our society. I assure you will be a very welcome and honored guest whenever you can get away, and whenever you are passing through this part of the country, be sure to drop off if only for a day or two. A little rest with us will do you good. We have methods of resting which expedite matters. I think under the conditions we can supply a tired man can rest about twice as fast as under ordinary circumstances. I have asked our food department to send you a box of samples of our foods, in some of which you may be interested. I have asked them to put into the box a cook book. It sometimes takes a cook a little while to get acquainted with the methods of preparing the foods. I think you will find our Rice Flakes and Biscuit and Granose Biscuit, also our Marmalades, Malt Honey, and Malted Nuts particularly good.” Each page is affixed to a heavier 9.5 x 12 sheet, each with another letter to Clark affixed to the reverse, including an ALS from Charles M. Sheldon, who coined the popular phrase “What would Jesus do?” In very good condition, with intersecting folds, scattered soiling, and mirroring and bleeding to the typewritten ink. John Harvey’s brother Will Keith Kellogg founded the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company in 1906, which would go on to become Kellogg’s, while John founded the The Battle Creek Food Company to focus on soy products. This early letter demonstrates Kellogg’s confidence in his product as he helped begin a healthy-eating movement which continues to this day. RRAuction COA.
