We all have been fed by Gerber’s baby food. This is something that even hipsters can’t deny. That being said, one of the most memorable things of it is the sketched logo of a happy baby. We all grew up seeing this in our lives.
But even though this particular and iconic logo have been so present in everybody’s lives, have you ever wonder who’s the baby in the picture?
Well her name is Ann Turner Cook.
And she just turned 90 years old. She is a Tampa Bay original and has spent her life teaching English and becoming an American Mystery Novelist. Without a doubt, Cook’s most iconic work is her picture as Gerber’s classic logo.
Cook was about 4 months old.
In 1927, a family friend Dorothy Hope Smith sketched the famous image in charcoal. She thought “it was kind of unfinished, and if they liked it she could finish it properly,”
According to Gerber.
In 1928, there was a contest held to find a face to represent the baby food advertising campaign. That’s when artist Smith entered the famous sketch she created, describing it as a “simple charcoal sketch of a tousle-haired, bright-eyed cherub of a baby with endearing pursed lips.” The sketch started appearing on the products in 1928 and became the official trademark in 1931.
David Yates, Gerber’s North America operations Vice-President said
“The logo is the essence of who we are,(…) It’s the epitome of a happy, healthy baby and the symbol of trust we have with parents. It’s everything to our company.”
Cook didn’t have had much contact with Gerber through the years.
Although around 1950’s the company paid her a not determined fee to settle any ownership issues. She participated in the 50th-anniversary celebration, in 1978, and reconnected with the company again in the 1990’s visiting its Michigan headquarters for anniversary celebrations. And now again with Gerber congratulating Turner for her 90’s birthday anniversary through a Facebook message. That’s taking the Facebook use of connecting with old friends to another limit.