Agriculture

From butter churns to diesel tractors, the Museum's agricultural artifacts trace the story of Americans who work the land. Agricultural tools and machinery in the collections range from a John Deere plow of the 1830s to 20th-century cultivators and harvesters. The Museum's holdings also include overalls, aprons, and sunbonnets; farm photographs; milk cans and food jars; handmade horse collars; and some 200 oral histories of farm men and women in the South. Prints in the collections show hundreds of scenes of rural life. The politics of agriculture are part of the story, too, told in materials related to farm workers' unions and a group of artifacts donated by the family of the labor leader Cesar Chavez.

John Deere Plow
John Deere Plow, 1830s
Ira Wertman, a farmer in Andreas, Pennsylvania, raised fruits and vegetables and peddled them with this truck to retired coal miners near Allentown. He also used the truck to take produce to market and haul supplies from town to the farm.
Description
Ira Wertman, a farmer in Andreas, Pennsylvania, raised fruits and vegetables and peddled them with this truck to retired coal miners near Allentown. He also used the truck to take produce to market and haul supplies from town to the farm. Pickup trucks have been versatile aids to a wide range of agricultural, personal, and business activities. Early pickup trucks were modified automobiles, but postwar models were larger, more powerful, and able to carry heavier loads. Some postwar pickups were used in building suburban communities. Others were used for recreational purposes such as camping, hunting, and fishing. By the 1990s, many people purchased pickups for everyday driving.
date made
1949
maker
General Motors Corporation
ID Number
1999.0057.01
accession number
1999.0057
catalog number
1999.0057.01
In its search to develop electric power through chemical reactions, Allis-Chalmers in 1951 began research on fuel cells. In October 1959 near West Allis, Wisconsin, this fuel cell tractor plowed a field of alfalfa with a double-bottom plow.
Description
In its search to develop electric power through chemical reactions, Allis-Chalmers in 1951 began research on fuel cells. In October 1959 near West Allis, Wisconsin, this fuel cell tractor plowed a field of alfalfa with a double-bottom plow. Fuel cells produce electrical power directly through a chemical reaction, without heat, smoke, or noise. Unlike standard batteries, fuel cells do not store energy but convert chemical energy to electric energy.
This tractor has 1,008 fuel cells joined in 112 units of 9 cells each arranged in four banks that produced power to run a standard Allis-Chalmers 20 horsepower dc motor. Using a fuel cell to produce power was not a new idea in the 1950s. Over a century earlier, Sir William Grove originated the idea of a fuel cell that would run on hydrogen and oxygen. Over the years inventors experimented with a number of fuels and configurations. The search for an efficient and economical fuel cell unit continues.
Location
Currently not on view (fuel cell)
date made
1959-10
maker
Allis-Chalmers Company
ID Number
AG.76A8
accession number
232284
catalog number
76A08
This model accompanied the patent application for William N. Whiteley’s improvement in harvesters that received patent number 197,192 on November 13, 1877.
Description
This model accompanied the patent application for William N. Whiteley’s improvement in harvesters that received patent number 197,192 on November 13, 1877. The combined reaper and mower had a single large wheel with a driver’s seat to steer the horses and manipulate the mower, reaper, or rake attachments This harvester model was manufactured under the brand name “Champion.” The Champion was sold by a variety of company’s across the country from its home in Springfield, Ohio which is still known as the “Champion City.”
A reaper is a machine for harvesting grain crops, especially wheat. Drawn by horses (or a tractor), a reaper uses a large blade to cut wheat stalks. Early reapers required farmers to rake wheat off the machine by hand. On self-raking models, automatic rakes pushed the wheat across a platform and deposited it on the ground in bunches. Workers followed the reaper, gathering and tying bundles of wheat, called “sheaves.” They stacked the sheaves into piles, called “stooks,” for protection from wind and rain. Later, workers threshed and winnowed the wheat to remove edible grains from the inedible chaff.
date made
1877
patent date
1877-11-13
inventor
Whiteley, William N.
ID Number
AG.197192
accession number
89797
catalog number
197192
patent number
197,192
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1898
publisher
Underwood & Underwood Illustration Studios
maker
Strohmeyer & Wyman
ID Number
2006.0142.21
accession number
2006.0142
catalog number
2006.0142.21
A poster giving examples of egg sizes and how to cook fried and poached eggs.
Description
A poster giving examples of egg sizes and how to cook fried and poached eggs.
date made
1967
copyright date
1967
associated institution
U.S. Department of Agriculture
maker
U.S. Department of Agriculture
ID Number
ZZ.RSN81724Y42
This Chere Best brand apple crate label was used by the Columbia Fruit Packers Inc. of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by Stecher-Traung of San Francisco, California.
Description (Brief)
This Chere Best brand apple crate label was used by the Columbia Fruit Packers Inc. of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by Stecher-Traung of San Francisco, California. These apples came from the Wenatchee Valley region of Washington, which is colloquially known as the “Apple Capital of the World.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Columbia Fruit Packers, Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.112
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.112
This shipping crate side contained Rose of Virginia brand apples that were grown and packed by E.W. Barr of Winchester, Virginia during the early 20th century. The crate side has an image of a rose stenciled in the center.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Rose of Virginia brand apples that were grown and packed by E.W. Barr of Winchester, Virginia during the early 20th century. The crate side has an image of a rose stenciled in the center. Winchester, Virginia is well known for hosting the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
E. W. Barr
ID Number
1979.0441.203
catalog number
1979.0441.203
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side originally contained Providence River brand cove oysters packed and shipped by the Fait & Winebrenner Company of Baltimore, Maryland during the early 20th century. The shipping crate was made by J.M. Thiemeyer & Company Box Manufacturers.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Providence River brand cove oysters packed and shipped by the Fait & Winebrenner Company of Baltimore, Maryland during the early 20th century. The shipping crate was made by J.M. Thiemeyer & Company Box Manufacturers. The wooden shipping crate side has an interlocking F and W symbol in the center, and contained 24 20-ounce cans of oysters.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Fait & Winebrenner
ID Number
1979.0441.347
catalog number
1979.0441.347
accession number
1979.0441
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.This Rose brand apple crate label was used by J.M.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Rose brand apple crate label was used by J.M. Wade of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. This label was lithographed by the Ridgway Lithograph Company of Seattle, Washington. The label has a blue background with an illustration of two large red roses in the center. These apples came from Wenatchee, part of a region that claimed to be the “Apple Capital of the World.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
J. M. Wade
ID Number
1979.0441.126
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.126
This shipping crate side contained Murphy’s Select brand California tomatoes that were packed and shipped by the Murphy’s Brothers Company in California during the early 20th century. The crate side has a four leaf clover logo in the upper right.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Murphy’s Select brand California tomatoes that were packed and shipped by the Murphy’s Brothers Company in California during the early 20th century. The crate side has a four leaf clover logo in the upper right.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
O. P. Murphy & Sons
ID Number
1979.0441.229
catalog number
1979.0441.229
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side has a label for Gilbert S. Graves Family Gloss Starch that was manufactured by the National Starch Company of Buffalo, New York during the late 19th and early 20th century. The crate contained 16 3-pound boxes of starch.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side has a label for Gilbert S. Graves Family Gloss Starch that was manufactured by the National Starch Company of Buffalo, New York during the late 19th and early 20th century. The crate contained 16 3-pound boxes of starch. The National Starch Company was one of the largest American producers of starch during the early 20th century, controlling a number of companies including the Gilbert S. Graves Company.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
National Starch Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.333
catalog number
1979.0441.333
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side was used by Ferg’s brand chili con carne and packed by the Ferguson Canning Company of Snohomish, Washington in the early 20th century. The crate contained 48 11 ounce tins.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side was used by Ferg’s brand chili con carne and packed by the Ferguson Canning Company of Snohomish, Washington in the early 20th century. The crate contained 48 11 ounce tins.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Ferguson Canning Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.165
catalog number
1979.0441.165
accession number
1979.0441
Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Good Pickens brand apple crate label was used by the Cashmere Fruit Exchange of Cashmere, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label was produced by Louis Roesch Company Lithography of San Francisco, California. The label has an illustration of a smiling young boy holding a half-eaten apple. Fruit labels often would depict images of healthy young children to promote the health benefits of apples.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Cashmere Fruit Exchange
ID Number
1979.0441.082
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.082
This steam-powered cotton gin, usually called a ginstand, was produced by F. H. Lummus and Sons of Columbus, Georgia. It employed a system of 80 twelve-inch saws, a pneumatic elevator, and a single-cylinder feeder.
Description
This steam-powered cotton gin, usually called a ginstand, was produced by F. H. Lummus and Sons of Columbus, Georgia. It employed a system of 80 twelve-inch saws, a pneumatic elevator, and a single-cylinder feeder. It also used a single-stand condenser, which collected the lint (cotton) as it came out of a flue and discharged it in mat form. The mat of cotton lint was then put into a compress. This machine was manufactured around 1900.
The Lummus gin and compress could produce one and a half bales of cotton every hour, or as many as 15 bales in a twelve-hour workday. Steam whistles signaled the beginning of a new day of ginning.
Much information about the construction of the shed that housed the gin has been lost, but it may date to the 1880s. When land development threatened the structure, the owner contacted the Smithsonian about the 80-saw ginstand. Lummus Industries restored the gin.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
maker
F. H. Lummus Sons Co
ID Number
1990.0344.01
catalog number
1990.0344.01
accession number
1990.0344
This Glidden Varnish crate side was used by the Glidden Varnish Company of Cleveland, Ohio during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This Glidden Varnish crate side was used by the Glidden Varnish Company of Cleveland, Ohio during the early 20th century. The crate side bears the image of an Eagle-like creature on the left, with plain black text that reads “Factories Cleveland, Ohio, Toronto, Ontario/ Branches New York Chicago Boston St. Louis Atlanta.” In 1875 Francis Glidden, Levi Rackett, and Thomas Bolles started a varnish company called Glidden, Brackett & Co. In 1894 the company became the Glidden Varnish Company, and in 1917 was renamed simply the Glidden Company when it diversified its product line by adding paints.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Glidden Company
ID Number
1979.0441.142
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.142
Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Enpee brand apple crate label was used by the North Pacific Sales Company of Seattle, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label has a blue background with the letters “N.P.” in the center, filled with triangles of a variety of colors.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
North Pacific Sales Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.124
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.124
Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Buddy brand apple crate label was used by the Andrews Brothers, Detroit, Michigan during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by the Schmidt Lithography Company of Fresno, California. The label has a blue background with a green rim, and an illustration of a red apple and a golden apple next to the face of a smiling baby. Apple advertising would often stress the health benefits of eating apples for young children.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.0441.108
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.108
This shipping crate side originally contained Reliance brand prunes from Santa Clara, California during the early part of the 20th century.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Reliance brand prunes from Santa Clara, California during the early part of the 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
National Grocery Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.336
catalog number
1979.0441.336
accession number
1979.0441
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.This Dainty Maid brand apple crate label was used by H.S.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Dainty Maid brand apple crate label was used by H.S. Denison & Company of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label has a red background and a central illustration of a pretty young girl with ruddy cheeks. Fruit labels often used depict images of healthy young children to promote the health benefits of apples.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
H. S. Denison & Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.061
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.061
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.This Kile brand apple crate label was in use by the W.B.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Kile brand apple crate label was in use by the W.B. Kile Company of Yakima, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label has a blue background with an illustration of two red apples on a branch, with the brand KILE above it in large letters. Yakima was part of the Wenatchee Valley apple producing region, which claimed to be the “Apple Capital of the World.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
W. B. Kile Company
ID Number
1979.0441.022
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.022
Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Luxor brand apple crate label was used by the Fruit Growers Service Company of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by the Ridgway Lithograph Company of Seattle, Washington. The label has a blue background with a blue and yellow geometric stripe across the middle with a large red cross in the center.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Fruit Growers Service Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.114
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.114
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1968
maker
Plowden, David
ID Number
1986.0711.0714
accession number
1986.0711
catalog number
1986.0711.0714
Labels are an important marketing device.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Sea Plane brand oyster meat crate label was used by the Biloxi Fishermen’s Packing Company of Biloxi, Mississippi during the early 20th century. The label has an image of two oyster shells split apart on the left side, and a central image of a sea plane taking off. The crate contained 8 ounce cans of oyster meat.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Biloxi Fishermen's Packing Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.101
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.101
This shipping crate side contained Hawaiian Chief brand sliced pineapple that was packed by the Pearl City Fruit Company Ltd., of Honolulu, Hawaii during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Hawaiian Chief brand sliced pineapple that was packed by the Pearl City Fruit Company Ltd., of Honolulu, Hawaii during the early 20th century. George Lycurgus founded the Pearl City Fruit Company in 1892, and competed with the Hawaiian Fruit and Packing company for packing and shipping pineapples. This crate contained four dozen 11-ounce tins.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Pearl City Fruit Co. Ltd.
ID Number
1979.0441.263
catalog number
1979.0441.263
accession number
1979.0441

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