As part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the iconic contour-shaped Coca-Cola bottle, The Coca-Cola Company will sponsor the public display of several rare and invaluable documents at the National Archives from June to November 2015.

“We appreciate Coca-Cola’s generous sponsorship, which enables the Archives to give the public access to some of the rarest documents in U.S. History,” said National Archives Foundation Executive Director Patrick M. Madden.

In addition to documents from the American Revolution, the Civil Rights Movement, and World War II, the original design patent and a 1915 Coca-Cola bottle will be on display during June and July 2015 in a special West Rotunda Gallery exhibition, and again in November 2015 as part of the “Featured Document” exhibit.

“The Coca-Cola bottle has an intriguing story, from innovative design to an American icon across the globe. We are delighted that members of the public will have the opportunity to view the patent this year and connect history to popular culture,” added Madden.

In 1915, the Root Glass Company of Terre Haute, Ind. came up with a unique bottle design after Coca-Cola launched a national competition to generate a new package for the beverage that would distinguish it from others. The design brief called for “a bottle so distinct you would recognize it by feel in the dark or lying broken on the ground.” The Root Glass Company’s submission was patented on November 16, 1915, and is one of the most successful commercial designs of all time.

“The patent is where the history of the Coca-Cola bottle begins,” said Ted Ryan, Director of Heritage Communications for The Coca-Cola Company. “In 1915, Coca-Cola endeavored to strengthen its trademark, never dreaming the proprietary package would inspire such nostalgia and creativity for a century to come. We are honored to partner with the National Archives to share the contour bottle design patent and important records in our country’s history with D.C. residents and visitors.”

The rotating “Featured Document” exhibit at the National Archives, located near displays of the original Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, is seen by more than 1 million visitors each year. As each record is displayed, more information about its history and free access to high-resolution images of the document will be available through the National Archives Foundation’s website.

The documents include:

• In honor of the 800^th Anniversary of the Magna Carta: Articles of Association (on display June 4 – July 29): American colonists often invoked “the Great Charter of Liberties” to justify acts of rebellion. They believed the Intolerable Acts of 1774 trampled on the ancient rights enshrined in Magna Carta. The Articles of Association rebelled against this violation by instituting a boycott of British goods throughout the colonies.

• In honor of the Anniversary of 1965 Civil Rights activities, March on Selma statements (on display July 30 – August 26): On March 7, 1965, civil rights activists attempted a protest march from Selma to Montgomery. That day came to be known as Bloody Sunday due to Alabama state troopers’ attacks on the marchers. Among the many wounded were John Lewis of SNCC and 60-year-old Stella Davis. The statements of Lewis and Davis will be displayed.

• In honor of the 70^th Anniversary of the End of WWII, the Japanese Instrument of Surrender (on display August 27 – October 28): On September 2, 1945, in a formal ceremony aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan, representatives of the Japanese government signed this Instrument of Surrender, officially ending World War II.

• In honor of the 100^th Anniversary of the Coke Bottle, the Original Design Patent and a 1915 Bottle (on display October 29 – December 2): On November 16, 1915, the Root Glass Company was granted a patent for the now-famous contour-shaped Coca-Cola bottle. The silhouette became so unmistakable that in 1961, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office gave it trademark status.

The National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, is located on Constitution Avenue at 9th Street, NW.  Museum hours are 10 am to 5:30 pm. The building is Metro accessible on the Yellow and Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter station.

For media inquiries, contact: Melissa Schwartz at [email protected]

About the National Archives Foundation

The National Archives Foundation is an independent nonprofit that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage, and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy. The Foundation generates financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, introducing America’s records to people around the U.S. and the world. Learn more at: archivesfoundation.org.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands.  Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable and recognizable brands, our Company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks.  Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.9 billion servings a day.  With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate.  Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates.  For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.

About the National Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent Federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, so people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education, and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries, and on the Internet at: archives.gov.

About the National Archives Museum

The National Archives Museum, created by the National Archives in partnership with the Foundation for the National Archives, has transformed the visitor experience at the National Archives’ Washington, DC, building, and includes the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, the David M. Rubenstein Gallery and its Records of Rights permanent exhibition, the award-winning Public Vaults permanent gallery, the William G. McGowan Theater, the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery for special exhibits, the Boeing Learning Center, the Digital Vaults online exhibit, and the DocsTeach website. These components make the rich resources of the National Archives accessible to Americans nationwide.