03/31/2026
As Women’s History Month draws to an end, we would like to honor a special woman that added to the early industrial history of Monterey Park.
Laura C. Scudder was a business pioneer in Monterey Park in the 1920s, creating the first wax bag that kept potato chips fresh. Many other food products were sold under her label such as peanut butter and dip mixes, both of which remain on grocery shelves today!
We celebrated the centennial of her business with a private event earlier this month. Mayor Elizabeth Yang presented John Scudder (one of Mrs. Scudder’s grandsons) with an official city plaque, recognizing the location of her business in Monterey Park as a historical site. Mr. John Scudder shared stories and memories of his grandmother to shed light on the real woman behind the business. It was a great event honoring an amazing woman that wore so many hats so well.
We’d like to thank the Scudder Family for their continued support of the historical society. It has been a pleasure preserving her story and sharing it with visitors to the museum.
