Originally published in 1977 by Contemporary Books.

Details the history of the company from its beginnings in Illinois to becoming a major, international corporation.

WINNER • 2021 PULITZER PRIZE IN HISTORY Winner • 2022 James Beard Foundation Book Award [Writing] The “stunning” (David W. Blight) untold history of how fast food became one of the greatest generators of black wealth in America. Just as The Color of Law provided a vital understanding of redlining and racial segregation, Marcia Chatelain’s Franchise investigates the complex interrelationship between black communities and America’s largest, most popular fast food chain. Taking us from the first McDonald’s drive-in in San Bernardino to the franchise on Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri, in the summer of 2014, Chatelain shows how fast food is a source of both power—economic and political—and despair for African Americans. As she contends, fast food is, more than ever before, a key battlefield in the fight for racial justice.

The movie The Founder, starring Michael Keaton, focused the spotlight on Ray Kroc, the man who amassed a fortune as the chairman of McDonald’s. But what about his wife Joan, the woman who became famous for giving away his fortune? Lisa Napoli tells the fascinating story behind the historic couple. Ray & Joan is a quintessentially American tale of corporate intrigue and private passion: a struggling Mad Men–era salesman with a vision for a fast-food franchise that would become one of the world’s most enduring brands, and a beautiful woman willing to risk her marriage and her reputation to promote controversial causes that touched her deeply. Ray Kroc was peddling franchises around the country for a fledgling hamburger stand in the 1950s—McDonald’s, it was called—when he entered a St. Paul supper club and encountered a beautiful young piano player who would change his life forever. The attraction between Ray and Joan was instantaneous and instantly problematic. Yet even the fact that both were married to other people couldn’t derail their roller coaster of a romance. To the outside world, Ray and Joan were happy, enormously rich, and giving. But privately, Joan was growing troubled over Ray’s temper and dark secret, something she was reluctant to publicly reveal. Those close to them compared their relationship to that of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. And yet, this volatility paved the way for Joan’s transformation into one of the greatest philanthropists of our time. A force in the peace movement, she produced activist films, books, and music and ultimately gave away billions of dollars, including landmark gifts to the Salvation Army and NPR. Together, the two stories form a compelling portrait of the twentieth century: a story of big business, big love, and big giving.

Chronicles the rise and expansion of the nation's number-one fast-food chain and the Horatio Alger life of founder Ray Albert Kroc

In this title, unwrap the life of talented McDonald's restaurants builder, Ray Kroc! Readers will enjoy getting the scoop on this Food Dude, beginning with his childhood in Oak Park, Illinois. Students can follow Kroc's success story from his education at Oak Park and River Forest High School to his careers with WGES radio station, the Lily-Tulip Cup Company, and the Malt-A-Mixer Company. Kroc's family and his retirement years are also highlighted. Engaging text familiarizes readers with topics of interest including the original McDonald's in San Bernardino, California, menu developments, and Ronald McDonald House Charities. An entertaining sidebar, a helpful timeline, a glossary, and an index, supplement the historical and color photos showcased in this inspiring biography. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.