NECCO WAFERS
Pastel-colored little candy disks called NECCO wafers first appear in 1902, named for the acronym of the New England Confectionery Company.
In the 1930s, Admiral Byrd took 2½ tons of NECCO Wafers to the South Pole -- almost a pound a week for each of his men during their two-year stay in the Antarctic. During World War II, the U.S. government ordered a major portion of the production of the wafers. Since the candy doesn't melt and is 'practically indestructible' during transit, it was the perfect food to ship overseas to the troops.
Library of Congress Local Legacies Project
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