James Ford Bell

American businessman (1879–1961)

For other people named James Bell, see James Bell (disambiguation).

James Ford Bell

Portrait

Born| August 16, 1879

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Died| 7 May 1961(1961-05-07) (aged 81)
Nationality| American
Alma mater| University of Minnesota (Class of 1901)
Occupation(s)| Business leader, Philanthropist
Organization| Delta Waterfowl Foundation
Known for| Founder of General Mills
Notable work| Introduction of Wheaties cereal
Title| President of General Mills (1928-1934)
Term| Chairman of General Mills (1934-1948)
Board member of| AT&T, Eastman Kodak
Awards| Belgian Order of the Crown, French Legion of Honor

James Ford Bell (August 16, 1879 – May 7, 1961), was an American business leader and philanthropist, was the founder of General Mills in 1928. He served as president of General Mills from 1928 to 1934 and as chairman from 1934 to 1948. He remained a board member until his death in 1961.

## Biography

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A Quaker, Bell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and moved with his family to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1888. During World War I he was appointed by the Food and Drug Administration as chairman of the Milling Division. In 1918 he assisted Herbert Hoover's European Hunger Relief Mission and was awarded the Belgian Order of the Crown and membership in the French Legion of Honor. Bell served on the board of AT&T for 24 years and also served on the board of Eastman Kodak. He was a trustee of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC, and was a longtime trustee of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. His collection of Georgian silver is a major part of that museum's decorative arts collections. His collection of rare books devoted to the history of early modern trade comprises the basis for the James Ford Bell Library at the University of Minnesota. A highlight of the collection is Mateo Ricci's massive world map (1602), the oldest surviving map in Chinese to show the Americas. Bell was a graduate of the University of Minnesota (Class of 1901) and served as a regent of the university for 21 years. Bell's red-roofed mansion, Belford, still stands high on a hill overlooking Lake Minnetonka. Built by his father, James Stroud Bell, in 1906, the house's name is an amalgam of his parents' names (James Stroud Bell and Sally Montgomery Ford).

Bell was a dedicated conservationist. In 1938, he provided half the funding for a new natural history museum at the University of Minnesota, working with his friend, and fellow Quaker, Dr. Thomas Sadler Roberts, a physician, who had also served as director of the museum. In 1966, the museum was named for him, becoming the James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History, known today as the Bell Museum.

A lifelong hunter, Bell was very interested in waterfowl biology and the importance of habitat in supporting healthy populations of ducks, geese and other marshland species. He collaborated with Aldo Leopold on his desire to create an organization dedicated to better understanding of waterfowl biology. Leopold recommended one of his graduate students, H. Albert Hochbaum, to lead the research effort. Bell was the founder of the Delta Waterfowl Foundation, which continues to support research into waterfowl biology.

## General Mills

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Bell founded General Mills in 1928 to consolidate many regional grain milling concerns and was instrumental in the company's move into the breakfast cereal business with the introduction of Wheaties. The company's research campus is named The James Ford Bell Technical Center, in his honor.

## References

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## External links

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* James Ford Bell's personal papers are available at the Minnesota Historical Society.
* James Ford Bell papers, University Archives, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
* Bell Museum, University of Minnesota

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General Mills

Historical figures|

* Cadwallader C. Washburn
* John Crosby
* Charles Alfred Pillsbury
* James Ford Bell
* William de la Barre
* Adelaide Hawley Cumming
* Marjorie Husted

Cereals|

* Boo-Berry
* Cheerios
* Honey Nut Cheerios
* Chex
* Cinnamon Toast Crunch
* Cocoa Puffs
* Cookie Crisp
* Fiber One (Fibre One)
* Count Chocula
* Franken-Berry
* French Toast Crunch
* Golden Grahams
* Kaboom
* Kix
* Lucky Charms
* Nesquik
* Oatmeal Crisp
* Reese's Puffs
* Total
* Trix
* Wheaties

Brands|

* Betty Crocker
* Old El Paso
* Progresso
* Totino's
* Wanchai Ferry

Pillsbury|

* Jus-Rol
* Pillsbury
* Toaster Strudel

Snacks|

* Bugles
* Chex Mix
* Dunkaroos
* Fruit by the Foot
* Fruit Gushers
* Fruit Roll-Ups
* Gardetto's
* Nature Valley

Dairy|

* Go-Gurt
* Häagen-Dazs
* Liberté
* Yoplait

Baking|

* Betty Crocker
* Bisquick

Natural & organic|

* Annie's Homegrown
* Cascadian Farms
* Lärabar

Former|

* Colombo Yogurt
* Hamburger Helper
* Pet, Inc.
* Squeezit

Other|

* Betty Crocker Kitchens
* Cereal Partners Worldwide
* The General Mills Radio Adventure Theater
* Mill City Museum
* Great Mill Disaster
* Pillsbury Bake-Off
* Pillsbury Doughboy

Key innovations|

* DSV Alvin
* Hazard analysis and critical control points
* Project Strato-Lab
* Skyhook balloon
* Space food

* Food portal

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Netherlands
* Israel

People|

* Trove

Other|

* SNAC

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