CALUMET BAKING POWDER — THE CHICAGO BRAND MUSEUM

REINVENTING BAKING POWDER

Calumet Baking Powder was established by William Monroe Wright in 1889 in Chicago, Illinois. The brand was named after William’s brother, Calumet Wright, and got its iconic logo from the surrounding land of Calumet City in Illinois, which derived from the Native Americans. Before creating Calumet Baking Powder, William was a salesman for Royal Baking Powder, who used expensive creams to produce their product. Using more affordable chemical blends instead, William revolutionized the baking powder industry with Calumet’s new formula.

THE LEGACY OF CALUMET

Royal Baking Powder was eventually passed by Calumet as the highest-selling baking powder in the United States. The colorful and iconic packaging was bought off the shelves for years and advertised heavily, resulting in massive success. By 1929, William was pleased with his sales and success and sold the Calumet company to the Postum Cereal Company. With all the wealth generated from William’s baking powder business, he was able to pursue his passion for horse breeding, which was later taken over by his son, transforming it into the legendary Calumet Farm known today.