Magnolia was the brand name of one of the top-grade flours, called “patent” flours introduced C.H. Guenther

Magnolia was the brand name of one of the top-grade flours, called “patent” flours, introduced in 1899 following the lawsuit between C.H. Guenther's original company and that founded by his son, Arthur. Patent flours were ground and sifted repeatedly to eliminate all of the “middlings” and consequently were the lightest, least nutritious flours produced (since most of the bran and germ were removed).