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Gerber Baby

By Lorraine

 

A highly recognized and loved sketch by artist Dorothy Hope Smith. In 1928 Gerber was looking for a face to represent a baby food ad campaign. The baby Ann Turner Cook posed and became the precious Gerber Baby.

Editor’s note: This is an updated version of an article originally posted August 2010 with better photos and additional information.
 
 

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Gerber Baby 

A highly recognized and loved sketch by artist Dorothy Hope Smith. In 1928 Gerber was looking for a face to represent a baby food ad campaign. The baby Ann Turner Cook posed and became the precious Gerber Baby.
I got this sweet lithograph quite a few years ago.  
 
 
A highly recognized and loved sketch by artist Dorothy Hope Smith. In 1928 Gerber was looking for a face to represent a baby food ad campaign. The baby Ann Turner Cook posed and became the precious Gerber Baby.
The envelope indicates a lady from Charleston, W Va. received it from Gerber Products Co. in Fremont, Mich. back on June 23rd, 1942.
 
 
A highly recognized and loved sketch by artist Dorothy Hope Smith. In 1928 Gerber was looking for a face to represent a baby food ad campaign. The baby Ann Turner Cook posed and became the precious Gerber Baby.
 
 
 
A highly recognized and loved sketch by artist Dorothy Hope Smith. In 1928 Gerber was looking for a face to represent a baby food ad campaign. The baby Ann Turner Cook posed and became the precious Gerber Baby.
 
 
 

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Ever wonder who that sweet little baby is?
From the Gerber website:

The face that launched a brand

The tousled hair, the bright eyes, the round, pursed lips. The Gerber baby is recognized all around the world. So who is this special baby?

People polled throughout the United States surmised that the Gerber Baby had to have grown up to become someone famous: Guesses ranged from movie stars Humphrey Bogart and Elizabeth Taylor to Senator Bob Dole. But mystery novelist and retired English teacher Ann Turner Cook knows the real answer. Because she is the Gerber Baby.

 

The backstory on the Gerber Baby

In 1928 Gerber was looking for a face to represent a baby food ad campaign. The baby Ann Turner Cook posed for artist Dorothy Hope Smith. Her simple charcoal sketch competed with lots of portraits, including elaborate oil paintings. (Smith offered to finish the sketch if it were accepted.)

Whether it was the simplicity of the drawing or the cuteness of the baby (or both!), the judges fell in love with the adorable cherub face of Ann Turner Cook. They were so taken with it that Smith didn’t have to finish the sketch. Gerber used it just as it was.

 

World’s best-known baby image

The illustration became so popular that Gerber adopted it as its official trademark in 1931. Since then the Gerber Baby has appeared on all packaging and in every Gerber advertisement, making Ann Turner Cook the world’s best-known baby image.

 

A photo of Ann Turner Cook from her website.

 

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Filed Under: Home and Garden, Vintage

Comments

  1. pogonip says

    August 30, 2010 at 1:15 am

    My Gerber baby was (and still is) my favorite doll!

    Reply
  2. THE VERANDA HOUSE says

    August 29, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    AFTER YEARS AND YEARS OF THIS WERBER PICTURE WE KNOW THE NAME OF THE BEAUTIFUL BABY ,THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS LOVELY POST..HUGS

    Reply
  3. Hélène Glehen says

    August 29, 2010 at 7:52 am

    What a cute post. Of course I knew Gerber baby but I did not know her story. And the portrait is so alive, so cute.
    Thanks to share.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    August 29, 2010 at 2:29 am

    I clicked onto the Bible and went to the web site for daily reading. I do have realplayer; the web site is not working.

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    August 29, 2010 at 2:13 am

    I have a Gerber Baby calendar from 1959.Thanks for the information about baby Gerber.

    Reply
  6. Heather@myeverydaygraces says

    August 28, 2010 at 6:31 pm

    I had never given a thought to the Gerber Baby, but what an interesting story. That is quite a legacy!

    I read your post about Erin's chickens:) I am waiting patiently for my girls to start laying. Thanks for visiting and letting me know about yours.

    Reply
  7. Donna@Conghaile Cottage says

    August 28, 2010 at 3:12 am

    That is a WONDERFUL story and I'm SO Happy you shared it with us…
    Hugs, Donna

    Reply
  8. ~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ says

    August 27, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    Great Face and story!
    ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

    Reply
  9. Ann says

    August 27, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    Ah yes a very recognizable baby face. Is there anyone who doesn't know the Gerber baby face? 🙂 How wonderful for Ann Turner Cook to see her adorable face still after all these years.

    Reply
  10. Karen says

    August 27, 2010 at 11:02 pm

    What an interesting post. I've always loved that picture of the baby and would exclaim when our little ones were about that age that they were as cute as the Gerber baby.
    Have a great weekend.
    Karen
    Ladybug Creek

    Reply
  11. Atticmag says

    August 27, 2010 at 5:30 pm

    How interesting! I never knew that. But the Gerber baby is still an icon. Everyone wants to nominate their grandchildren to replace her, I'm sure.

    BTW – we have a unique kitchen backsplash giveaway that might be useful to you or a friend. Please stop by our Giveaway Friday! Jane F.

    Reply
  12. bj says

    August 27, 2010 at 3:06 pm

    awww…this is the sweetest post. I love that little Gerber baby. I also grew up with it everywhere. I was born in 1937 and I, too, have a photo of this cute baby. I must go thru my trunk and see if I can find it.
    Thanks for the memories…
    xo bj

    Reply
  13. HOOTIN' ANNI says

    August 27, 2010 at 11:08 am

    What a treasure!!!

    My link for you… WIZARD OF OZ
    Do come by to say hello if you have time!

    Reply
  14. Debbie says

    August 27, 2010 at 7:50 am

    I think you read my mind, I was just thinking about the Gerber baby a couple of days ago, wondering who that baby was. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  15. Patricia Torres says

    August 27, 2010 at 6:45 am

    This is such a cute post.. His eyes speaks volumes… Lovely!

    Reply
  16. Debbie~ says

    August 27, 2010 at 3:56 am

    What a GREAT post! I've always loved that sketch, but have never heard how it came about! Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful little story! Debbie @ Cottage Hann~Me~Downs

    Reply
  17. NanaDiana says

    August 27, 2010 at 3:22 am

    Hi! I'm not sure what happens when I try to comment. Sometimes my posts show up and sometimes it pops off site before I cans see that is saved. Weird-very weird!

    Anyway..what I said before was that I bet she has had a lot of enjoyment in life seeing her baby self on every Gerber product in every grocery store in the nation. Being as that was before all the lawyers and agents were in place she probably got a little lump sum and no royalties at all. In today's market she would have made a gazillion dollars for that one picture! Diana

    Reply
  18. Susan says

    August 27, 2010 at 2:22 am

    Oh I have always thought the photos of the Gerber Baby was so beautiful!

    Reply
  19. Valerie says

    August 27, 2010 at 1:48 am

    This is such a great post! I have always loved that portrait.
    So neat to see the real person 'all grown up'!

    Reply
  20. Sonia says

    August 27, 2010 at 2:40 am

    How wonderful to see what she looks like now…so beautiful as a baby and now too ! Thanks for sharing this fun post!

    Miss Bloomers

    Reply
  21. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    August 27, 2010 at 2:02 am

    Oh how interesting. I have often wondered who the real baby was. She lovely today too. Very interesting. Thanks, I really enjoyed this post.

    Thanks also for your gracious comments on my Foodie Friday BBQ sauce post. It probably takes about 5 to 6 minutes on each side to grill them. I make sure the grill is nice and hot and then put them on. Turn the temp down if they start to carmelize too much, or place them on a higher shelf. I hope you try it, they really are mouth watering and so easy. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  22. Mildred says

    August 27, 2010 at 1:51 am

    How interesting. I love that baby sketch and it is so nice to see the lady who posed for that as a baby. What a great show and tell.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Frances Hook | Grateful Prayer | Thankful Heart says:
    March 6, 2020 at 5:33 pm

    […] The Gerber Baby Print […]

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Lorraine. Welcome to Grateful Prayer Thankful Heart. A place to find food for your tummy, projects for your hands, and encouragement for your heart.

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