Photograph of “Hamm’s Good Cheer” holiday promotional sign featuring the Hamm’s bear, little bear, and squirrel, mid-to-late 1950s.

Hamm's Beer promotional sign

“Hamm’s Good Cheer” holiday promotional sign featuring the Hamm’s bear, little bear, and squirrel, mid-to-late 1950s.

Photograph of Hamm’s Brewing Company salt and pepper shakers

Hamm's Beer salt and pepper shakers

A pair of salt and pepper shakers modeled after the Hamm's bear, ca. 1970s.

Still image of a Hamm's TV commercial showing the Hamm's bear and little bear, early 1950s.

Hamm’s bear and little bear

Still image of a Hamm's TV commercial showing the Hamm's bear and little bear, early 1950s.

Photograph of Hamm’s bear bank

Hamm’s bear bank

Hamm’s bear bank made by Red Wing Pottery, Red Wing, Minnesota, late 1950s.

Hamm’s Beer float in St. Paul Winter Carnival Parade

Hamm’s Beer float with Hamm's bear and dogsled in the St. Paul Winter Carnival Parade, 1959.

A souvenir totem pole, created ca. 1970, with a depiction of the Hamm’s bear. This piece is a good example of Hamm’s Brewing Company’s use of generic and often inaccurate Indigenous iconography in their advertising. Although this object was made by an Ojibwe family, totem-pole carving is not an Anishinaabe tradition; the art form is practiced by Indigenous groups on the West Coast of the United States and Canada, including the Haida, the Tlingit, and the Nuxalk.

Hamm’s Beer miniature totem pole

A souvenir totem pole, created ca. 1970, with a depiction of the Hamm’s bear. This piece is a good example of Hamm’s Brewing Company’s use of generic and often inaccurate Indigenous iconography in its advertising. Although this object was made by an Ojibwe family, totem-pole carving is not an Anishinaabe tradition; the art form is practiced by Indigenous groups on the West Coast of the United States and Canada, including the Haida, the Tlingit, and the Nuxalk.

Photograph of Hamm’s Beer needle case

Hamm’s Beer needle case

Plastic needle case advertising Hamm's Beer, ca. 1950s.

A promotional item produced by Hamm’s Brewing Company ca. 1950. This clock shows a cabin scene that embodies the essence of Hamm’s early advertising campaign around the “cool refreshment of Minnesota’s vacationland.”

Hamm’s Beer sunset clock

A promotional item produced by Hamm’s Brewing Company ca. 1950. This clock shows a cabin scene that embodies the essence of Hamm’s early advertising campaign around the “cool refreshment of Minnesota’s vacationland.”

Hamm’s Brewery distribution truck, ca. 1933. Hamm’s owned trucks would distribute beer to businesses throughout Minnesota.

Hamm’s Brewery distribution truck

Hamm’s Brewery distribution truck, ca. 1933. Hamm’s owned trucks would distribute beer to businesses throughout Minnesota.

A view of Hamm’s Brewery in St. Paul, designed by August Maritzen, ca. 1905. The ornamental design of the building was later removed as the facilities were updated for operations. The large house on the bluff near the brewery was built for Theodore Hamm and his wife, Louise.

Hamm’s Brewery in St. Paul

A view of Hamm’s Brewery in St. Paul, designed by August Maritzen, ca. 1905. The ornamental elements of the building were later removed as the facilities were updated for operations. The large house on the bluff near the brewery was built for Theodore Hamm and his wife, Louise.

Pages

Subscribe to Multimedia