http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8vm4gmv Online available Finding aid prepared by Charla DelaCuadra. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Prints and Ephemera The Huntington Library 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, California 91108 Phone: (626) 405-2191 Email: reference@huntington.org URL: http://www.huntington.org 2015 The Huntington Library. All rights reserved. prijlc_food_ftveg 1
Overview of the Collection Title: Fruit and Vegetable Labels Dates (inclusive): approximately 1870-1975 Bulk dates: 1890-1950 Collection Number: prijlc_food_ftveg Collector: Last, Jay T. Extent: 9,120 Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Prints and Ephemera 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, California 91108 Phone: (626) 405-2191 Email: reference@huntington.org URL: http://www.huntington.org Abstract: The Fruit and Vegetable Labels contains over 9,000 printed produce labels from the 1870s to the 1970s, with the majority of dating from 1890 to 1950. The collection is comprised mainly of color lithographs. Language: English. Note: Finding aid last updated on August 28, 2017. Access Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services. Publication Rights The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher. Preferred Citation [Item title, Call number]. Fruit and Vegetable Labels, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California. Provenance This collection forms part of the Jay T. Last Collection of Graphic Arts and Social History, which was donated to the Huntington Library by Jay T. Last in 2005 as a gift in progress. The bulk of the fruit and vegetable labels were transferred to the Library between 2010 and 2012. Background The Jay T. Last Collection is an unparalleled archive of printed paper artifacts that documents American lithographic, social, and business history. The collection began in the early 1970s when physicist and Silicon Valley pioneer Jay Last moved to Southern California and started collecting citrus box labels he found at local flea markets and rummage sales. As his collection grew, Last realized that these labels conveyed important information about commercial printing, graphic design, and social history, and he expanded his collection to include other forms of American visual culture. Today this collection contains more than 200,000 lithographic prints, posters, and ephemera of mostly nineteenth- and early twentieth- century American origin and represents works by more than five hundred lithographic companies. Scope and Content The Fruit and Vegetable Labels contains over 9,000 printed produce labels from the 1870s to the 1970s, with the majority of dating from 1890 to 1950. The collection is comprised mainly of color lithographs. Materials are arranged in two series: small-size (11 x 14 inches or less) and large-size (more than 11 x 14 inches). Small-size are described broadly at the series level; large-size are fully inventoried and all printers, artists, and publishers are indexed by name. The collection includes over 30 large-size product labels for produce. Small-size labels number approximately 8,350. Materials include barrel and can labels as well as multiple kinds of box labels. While the collection is primarily American, it does contain a small quantity of foreign produce labels. Most notably, Boxes 9-11 contain Spanish citrus labels, while other boxes and binders have fruit and vegetable labels from Australia, Canada, prijlc_food_ftveg 2
Mexico and New Zealand. Also of note are three boxes of Blue Goose brand labels produced for American Fruit Growers, Inc. Other A.F.G. labels can be found throughout the collection, but Blue Goose were isolated by the collector to create a comprehensive look at the brand. PLEASE NOTE: Most California citrus labels collected by Jay T. Last are in the finding aid for the Jay T. Last Collection of Food: California Citrus Box Labels. Overall the collection identifies produce growers and merchandisers, reveals advertising trends and consumption habits, and provides a resource for studying the history of American fruit and vegetable production, including the canning, packing, and shipping industries that evolved in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many labels predictably depict colorful images of fruits or vegetables, but pictures of women, children, animals, flowers, and views of farms, orchards, and vineyards also sold the product. As graphic materials, these labels offer evidence of developing techniques and trends in printmaking, and of the artists, engravers, lithographers, and publishers involved in the creative process. Alternative Form of Materials Available Visit the Huntington Digital Library: Jay T. Last Collection to view digitized from this collection. Huntington Library Citrus Label Collection California Citrus Box Labels Jay T. Last Collection of Food Prints and Ephemera Arrangement The collection is arranged in the following 2 series: Series I. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (small size) Subseries A. Fruit Labels (small size) Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (small size) Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (small size) Series II. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (large size) Subseries A. Fruit Labels (large size) Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (large size) Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (large size) Indexing Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog. Genres Chromolithographs. Ephemera. Ephemera -- United States -- 19th century. Ephemera -- United States -- 20th century. Fruit crate labels. Intaglio prints. Labels. Lithographs. Printed ephemera. Relief prints. Subjects Advertising -- Farm produce. Citrus fruit industry. Fruit -- Pictorial works. Vegetables -- Pictorial works. Printer, Publisher, Artist Index The following is a complete list of printers, publishers, and artists represented in the large-size in this collection. A.L. Bancroft & Company. Dickman-Jones Co. prijlc_food_ftveg 3
F.A. Read (Firm) Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company. H.S. Crocker & Co. National Bureau of Engraving (Philadelphia, Pa.) Schmidt Label & Litho. Co. Schmidt Litho. Co. Simpson & Doeller Co. Stecher-Traung. W.W. Elliott & Co. Series I. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (small size) approximately 1880-1975 (bulk 1890-1950) Physical Description: approximately 9,090 in 33 binders and 49 flat-top boxes Arrangement This series is grouped into 3 subseries: Subseries A. Fruit Labels (small size) Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (small size) Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (small size) Items smaller than 8 x 10 inches are housed in binders. Items that measure between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size are sleeved and arranged in boxes. Materials are organized by product type and then alphabetically by state and title. Labels in this series are box labels unless otherwise designated. General labels (i.e. those for fruits, fruits and vegetables, produce, etc.) that do not specify a particular type of produce are referred to in this finding aid as "generic" labels. Subseries A. Fruit Labels (small size) Box 1 Apple box labels, California, A-N by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 80 Box 2 Apple box labels, California, O-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 75 Box 3 Apple box labels, Oregon and Washington, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 115 Box 4 Apple box labels, misc. states, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 40 Box 5 Apple box labels, foreign, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size) Physical Description: approximately 100 Binder 1 Berry box labels, misc. states, A-Z by fruit (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 80 prijlc_food_ftveg 4
Series I. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (small size) approximately 1880-1975 (bulk 1890-1950) Subseries A. Fruit Labels (small size) Box 6 Citrus box labels, Arizona, misc. states and foreign, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 105 Box 7 Citrus box labels, Texas, A-Q by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size) Physical Description: approximately 85 Box 8 Citrus box labels, Texas, R-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size) Physical Description: approximately 110 Box 9 Citrus box labels, foreign (Spain), A-G by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 115 Box 10 Citrus box labels, foreign (Spain), H-Q by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 95 Box 11 Citrus box labels, foreign (Spain), R-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 75 Box 12 Grape box labels, California, A-B by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 155 Box 13 Grape box labels, California, C-E by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 205 Box 14 Grape box labels, California, F-K by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 205 Box 15 Grape box labels, California, L-P by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size) Physical Description: approximately 210 Box 16 Grape box labels, California, Q-S by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 210 Box 17 Grape box labels, California, T-Z by title, misc. states and generic, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 155 Box 18 Raisin box labels, California, A-Z by company (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 95 Box 47 Raisin box labels, foreign, A-Z by company and generic (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 40 prijlc_food_ftveg 5
Series I. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (small size) approximately 1880-1975 (bulk 1890-1950) Subseries A. Fruit Labels (small size) Box 19 Melon box labels, California, A-L by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 155 Box 20 Melon box labels, California, M-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 160 Box 21 Melon box labels, misc. states and foreign, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 205 Binder 2 Peach box labels, misc. states, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 175 Binder 3 Pear box labels, California, A-K by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 110 Binder 4 Pear box labels, California, L-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 135 Binder 5 Pear box labels, Oregon and Washington, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 75 Binder 6 Pear box labels, foreign, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 30 Box 23 Tomato box labels, Arizona and Mexico, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 235 Box 24 Tomato box labels, California, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 260 Box 25 Tomato box labels, Florida, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size) Physical Description: approximately 55 Box 26 Tomato box labels, Texas, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size) Physical Description: approximately 205 Box 27 Tomato box labels, misc. states and foreign, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 40 Box 28 Fruit box labels, California, A-K by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size) Physical Description: approximately 200 prijlc_food_ftveg 6
Series I. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (small size) approximately 1880-1975 (bulk 1890-1950) Subseries A. Fruit Labels (small size) Box 29 Fruit box labels, California, L-Z by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size) Physical Description: approximately 90 Box 22 Fruit box labels, misc. states, A-Z by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 15 Binder 7 Fruit box labels, misc. states, A-Z by fruit (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 115 Box 30 Fruit box labels, California, generic, A-D by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 205 Box 31 Fruit box labels, California, generic, E-L by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 200 Box 32 Fruit box labels, California, generic, M-R by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 180 Box 33 Fruit box labels, California, generic, S-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 195 Binder 8 Fruit box labels, misc. states, generic, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 55 Box 34 Fruit can labels, California, A-F by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size) Physical Description: approximately 220 Box 35 Fruit can labels, California, G-Peaches by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 225 Box 36 Fruit can labels, California, Pears-Z by fruit and generic, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 170 Box 37 Fruit can labels, misc. states and foreign, A-S by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 100 Box 48 Fruit can labels, misc. states and foreign, T-Z by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 180 Binder 32 Fruit can labels, misc. states, A-Z by fruit and generic, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 55 prijlc_food_ftveg 7
Series I. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (small size) approximately 1880-1975 (bulk 1890-1950) Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (small size) Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (small size) Box 38 Asparagus box labels, California, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size) Physical Description: approximately 120 Binder 9 Lettuce box labels, California, A-K by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 80 Binder 10 Lettuce box labels, California, L-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 75 Binder 11 Lettuce box labels, misc. states, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 50 Box 39 Yam and potato box labels, California, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 115 Box 40 Vegetable box labels, California, A-Z by vegetable (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 35 Binder 12 Vegetable box labels, misc. states, A-Car by vegetable (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 90 Binder 13 Vegetable box labels, misc. states, Cau-Ce by vegetable (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 90 Binder 14 Vegetable box labels, misc. states, Ch-L by vegetable (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 25 Binder 15 Vegetable box labels, misc. states, M-Z by vegetable (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 100 prijlc_food_ftveg 8
Series I. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (small size) approximately 1880-1975 (bulk 1890-1950) Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (small size) Binder 16 Vegetable box labels, Arizona, generic, A-J by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 105 Binder 17 Vegetable box labels, Arizona, generic, K-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 115 Binder 18 Vegetable box labels, California, generic, A-B by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 95 Binder 19 Vegetable box labels, California, generic, C-D by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 95 Binder 20 Vegetable box labels, California, generic, E-Go by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 80 Binder 21 Vegetable box labels, California, generic, Gr-J by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 85 Binder 22 Vegetable box labels, California, generic, K-M by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 90 Binder 23 Vegetable box labels, California, generic, N-Q by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 80 Binder 24 Vegetable box labels, California, generic, R-Sm by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 80 Binder 25 Vegetable box labels, California, generic, Sn-T by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 85 Binder 26 Vegetable box labels, California, generic, U-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 65 prijlc_food_ftveg 9
Series I. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (small size) approximately 1880-1975 (bulk 1890-1950) Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (small size) Box 41 Vegetable box labels, California, generic, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 100 Binder 27 Vegetable box labels, Texas, generic, A-G by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 70 Binder 28 Vegetable box labels, Texas, generic, H-R by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 85 Binder 29 Vegetable box labels, Texas, generic, S-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 65 Binder 30 Vegetable box labels, misc. states, generic, A-I by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 90 Binder 31 Vegetable box labels, misc. states, generic, J-Z by title and foreign, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 75 Box 42 Vegetable box labels, misc. states, A-Z by vegetable and generic (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 60 Box 43 Vegetable can labels, misc. states, A-O by vegetable (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 60 Box 49 Vegetable can labels, misc. states, P-Z by vegetable (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 175 Binder 33 Vegetable can labels, misc. states, A-Z by vegetable and generic, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size) Physical Description: approximately 30 prijlc_food_ftveg 10
Series I. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (small size) approximately 1880-1975 (bulk 1890-1950) Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (small size) Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (small size) Box 44 Blue Goose citrus box labels, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 60 Box 45 Blue Goose fruit box labels, A-Z by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size) Physical Description: approximately 95 Box 46 Blue Goose vegetable box labels, A-Z by vegetable (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 Physical Description: approximately 10 Series II. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (large size) approximately 1871-1966 Physical Description: 32 Arrangement This series is grouped into 3 subseries: Subseries A. Fruit Labels (large size) Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (large size) Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (large size) Within each subseries, are arranged numerically by call number and described in the following format: Title of print. Date Artist(s) (when known). Printer(s). Publisher(s). Subseries A. Fruit Labels (large size) prijlc_food_ftveg_001947 Golden gate brand genuine imperiale epineuse prunes. after 1898 Printers: Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company prijlc_food_ftveg_001948 Balloon brand packed by the Hanford Raisin & Dried Fruit Packing Co. Hanford, Cal. approximately 1888-1899 Printers: Dickman-Jones Co. prijlc_food_ftveg_001949 California cluster raisins. approximately 1883-1899 Printers: Schmidt Label & Litho. Co. prijlc_food_ftveg_001950 Eclipse brand. approximately 1892-1897 Printers: H.S. Crocker & Co. prijlc_food_ftveg_001951 The Griffin & Skelley Company raisin packers California. approximately 1888-1899 Printers: Dickman-Jones Co. prijlc_food_ftveg 11
Series II. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (large size) approximately 1871-1966 Subseries A. Fruit Labels (large size) prijlc_food_ftveg_001952 McPherson brand. California raisins. approximately 1879-1885 Printers: W.W. Elliott & Co. prijlc_food_ftveg_001953 Muscatel Raisins. McPherson Bros. Orange, Cal. approximately 1872-1877 prijlc_food_ftveg_001954 Rancho Chico muscatel raisins. 1880 Printers: A.L. Bancroft & Company prijlc_food_ftveg_001955 San Juan brand superior muscatel raisins. McPherson, Cal. approximately 1872-1877 Printers: H.S. Crocker & Co. prijlc_food_ftveg_001956 Muscatel raisins. Josephine vineyard, Napoleon Vieu, proprietor, Fresno, Cal. approximately 1871-1921 Printers: H.S. Crocker & Co. prijlc_food_ftveg_001957 Jno. T. Gordon, El Cajon Valley, San Diego Co., Cal. approximately 1871-1921 Printers: H.S. Crocker & Co. prijlc_food_ftveg_001958 Fresno Raisin & Fruit Packing Co. Geo. W. Meade & Co. agents. Fresno and San Francisco. California. approximately 1871-1921 Printers: H.S. Crocker & Co. prijlc_food_ftveg_001967 Sultana. approximately 1880-1890 prijlc_food_ftveg_001968 Black swan. approximately 1936-1966 Printers: Stecher-Traung prijlc_food_ftveg_001969 Motor cop perfect peaches. approximately 1930s prijlc_food_ftveg_001970 The Oleander Co-operative Packing Co. Oleander. Fresno Co., Cal. approximately 1888-1899 Printers: Dickman-Jones Co. prijlc_food_ftveg_001971 California raisins grown & packed by El Cajon Vineyard Co. El Cajon Valley, Cal. approximately 1888-1899 Printers: Dickman-Jones Co. prijlc_food_ftveg 12
Series II. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (large size) approximately 1871-1966 Subseries A. Fruit Labels (large size) prijlc_food_ftveg_001972 Packed by the Fresno Raisin & Fruit Packing Co. Fresno, Cal. approximately 1877-1909 Printers: National Bureau of Engraving (Philadelphia, Pa.) prijlc_food_ftveg_001973 Robin Brand packed by the Home Packing Company. California. approximately 1890-1920 prijlc_food_ftveg_001977 California Sun-Maid imperial cluster muscat raisins. after 1916 Printers: Schmidt Litho. Co. prijlc_food_ftveg_001983 H. F. Byrd Winchester, Va. after 1906 prijlc_food_ftveg_001984 Chandler orchards located Milton, Del. & Lake Winola, Pa. approximately 1920s Printers: F.A. Read (Firm) prijlc_food_ftveg_001985 Packed for S. A. Les fruits de France, Paris. approximately 1897-1954 Printers: Simpson & Doeller Co. prijlc_food_ftveg_001986 Higrade Virginia apples for flavor. after 1912 prijlc_food_ftveg_001987 "Jersey Jerry" brand fruits. after 1922 prijlc_food_ftveg_001988 J.P. Neff & Son Inc. Pocahontas brand. approximately 1930-1945 prijlc_food_ftveg_001989 Queen Shenandoah brand. after 1916 prijlc_food_ftveg_001990 Red cardinal : Sorenson & Co. Inc. exporters - New York. 1926 prijlc_food_ftveg_001991 Strasburg Orchard and Produce Co. Strasburg, Virginia. after 1907 prijlc_food_ftveg_001992 Strathmore Farm & Orchard Co. Inc. after 1917 Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (large size) prijlc_food_ftveg_003732 Sunniland Florida celery. approximately 1898-1928 Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (large size) prijlc_food_ftveg 13
Series II. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (large size) approximately 1871-1966 Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (large size) prijlc_food_ftveg_003935 Blue Goose. after 1919 prijlc_food_ftveg 14