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U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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  3. The History of FDA's Fight for Consumer Protection and Public Health
  4. Historical Research and Teaching Tools
  1. The History of FDA's Fight for Consumer Protection and Public Health

Historical Research and Teaching Tools

These pages offer resources and advice to researchers, teachers and students interested in learning more about the history of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.


Sub-Topic Paragraphs

historical photo of a man in a laboratory

Research Tips

Recommendations from the agency’s historians on useful resources for researchers.
two young children reaching for product packages

Teaching Aids

Materials that may be of particular use to grades 6-12 educators.

Dr. Francis Kelsey and President Kennedy

Oral Histories

Read first-hand accounts of important agency changes from former FDA employees.
photo of a flyer with the headline Public Beware! from the FDA history collection

Primary Sources

Review select primary sources that document significant aspects of FDA history.

Food additives cartoon image from the FDA history collection

Historical Images

Search and download over 250 free, non-copyrighted, high resolution digital images on FLICKR.