After compulsory participation in countless workplace potlucks I’d like to know
What is the history of the potluck meal?
When did potluck meals become so prevalent in the American workplace?
One of my co-workers said that she thought having a potluck meal means just telling people to bring whatever they want &
potluck does not include a minimal amount of meal planning, such as, “You bring an entree, you bring something from the vegetable group, you bring chips” etc.
True or not true?
Potluck’s were started by Native Americans in the north-west as a form of social insurance. Basically I share my bounty with you if you’ll share your bounty with me. And, if you have a lot and I don’t you’ll still share it with me because you owe me for etc. The book “Non-zero” covers some of the basic theories of early commerce and insurance. It seems that spreading the risk around in the form of potlucks and other early forms of social insurance where one of the major factors in establishing societies and early Governments.
Considering that the term occurs in English in 1592, it probably didn’t come from the early Native Americans in the Northwest. It could have, but probably didn’t.
Main Entry: 1pot·latch
Pronunciation: 'pät-"lach
Function: noun
Etymology: Chinook Jargon patlac, from Nootka paλpac
Date: circa 1861
1 : a ceremonial feast of the American Indians of the northwest coast marked by the host’s lavish distribution of gifts or sometimes destruction of property to demonstrate wealth and generosity with the expectation of eventual reciprocation
2 Northwest : a social event or celebration
From M-W.com
Although, you bring up an Interesting point.
That Insufferable Jerk, I’m not certain that “potluck” and “potlatch” are that closely related. A workplace “potluck” certainly doesn’t fit the first definition, as there is no host, and the second definition is general enough that it could include events not involving food.
Also from M-W.com:
Main Entry: pot·luck
Pronunciation: 'pät-'l&k, 1b also -"l&k
Function: noun
Date: 1592
1 a : the regular meal available to a guest for whom no special preparations have been made b : a communal meal to which people bring food to share – usually used attributively <a potluck supper>
2 : whatever is offered or available in given circumstances or at a given time
I remember having potlucks at work in the late '80s, so they’ve been around at least that long. All of the ones I’ve been in involved minimal planning- every one did more or less bring what they wanted rather than being assigned a specific course, but a sign up sheet was passed around so that when people decided what they were bringing, they could see what was already covered.
Whenever we have a potluck at work we get a signup sheet as well. It gets interesting because we have a pretty wide ethnic range - Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Burmese (!), Afghan, Romanian. (And I’m from Saskatchewan!) Some wimp out and bring chips or something like that, but usually half or more cook or buy something good.
No cite for this, but I think “potluck” literally means “luck of the pot”. That is, you eat whatever happens to be “in the pot”; in the case of a potluck, whatever anyone happens to bring.
Wait a minute. Here’s a cite.
BTW, rjk: We’ll soon be neighbours! 
Okay I’m wrong. Convergent evolution of a word, maybe?