Agriculture

John Deere Model D Tractor

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
Place: New York

Wax Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained Parowax, made by the Standard Oil Company of New York during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Parowax, made by the Standard Oil Company of New York during the early 20th century. Parowax was Standard Oil’s proprietary name for paraffin wax that could be “used for sealing Jelly Glasses, Fruit Jars, Bottles, etc.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Standard Oil Company of New York
ID Number
1979.0441.305
catalog number
1979.0441.305
accession number
1979.0441

Abrasives Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained abrasive cloth manufactured by the Carborundum Company of Niagara Falls, New York. The Carborundum Company was founded in 1891 after Edward Goodrich Acheson synthetically produced silicon carbide (carborundum) in an attempt to create diamonds.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained abrasive cloth manufactured by the Carborundum Company of Niagara Falls, New York. The Carborundum Company was founded in 1891 after Edward Goodrich Acheson synthetically produced silicon carbide (carborundum) in an attempt to create diamonds. Silicon carbide was originally used as an abrasive in products like sandpaper, but is found in a variety of other implementations like bulletproof vests and car brakes.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Carborundum Company
ID Number
1979.0441.275
catalog number
1979.0441.275
accession number
1979.0441

Maximum and Minimum Soil Thermometer

Charles F. Marvin and Milton Whitney, both of the U.S. Weather Bureau, introduced this type of Combined Maximum and Minimum Soil Thermometer in 1893. This example has a wood and brass frame. A brass plate on the frame is marked "H. J. GREEN B'KLYN N.Y." and "No. 8 U.S.
Description
Charles F. Marvin and Milton Whitney, both of the U.S. Weather Bureau, introduced this type of Combined Maximum and Minimum Soil Thermometer in 1893. This example has a wood and brass frame. A brass plate on the frame is marked "H. J. GREEN B'KLYN N.Y." and "No. 8 U.S. WEATHER BUREAU" and graduated every 5 degrees Fahrenheit from -20 to +170. The glass thermometer inside the frame is filled with mercury and alcohol. The back of the stem is milk glass. The clear front is marked "U.S. 8" and graduated every degree Fahrenheit from -20 to +180. The Weather Bureau transferred it to the Smithsonian in 1954.
Ref: C. F. Marvin and M. Whitney, "Instructions for Use of Combined Maximum and Minimum Soil Thermometer," U.S. Weather Bureau Circular G (1894).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1890
maker
H. J. Green
ID Number
PH.314540
catalog number
314540
accession number
204612

Pepper Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained ground pepper packed and shipped by the John M. Oest coffee and spice factory of New York. The crate contained 20 pounds of ground pepper.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained ground pepper packed and shipped by the John M. Oest coffee and spice factory of New York. The crate contained 20 pounds of ground pepper.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Irving Coffee & Spice Factory
referenced individual
Oest, John M.
ID Number
1979.0441.344
catalog number
1979.0441.344
accession number
1979.0441

Mucilage Shipping Crate

This is a side panel of a Sanford Manufacturing Company shipping crate that contained Sanford glue (mucilage). The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857.
Description (Brief)
This is a side panel of a Sanford Manufacturing Company shipping crate that contained Sanford glue (mucilage). The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857. The company relocated to Chicago in 1866 and produced ink and glue in its early years before solely manufacturing ink products and renaming itself the Sanford Ink Company in 1940. Sanford was purchased by Newell Company in 1992.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Sanford Corporation
ID Number
1979.0441.260
catalog number
1979.0441.260
accession number
1979.0441

Evaporated Milk Shipping Crate

This is an end panel of a Borden’s Evaporated Milk shipping crate. Gail Borden Jr. patented his method for producing condensed milk by vacuum in 1856 and established the New York Condensed Milk Company in 1857.
Description (Brief)
This is an end panel of a Borden’s Evaporated Milk shipping crate. Gail Borden Jr. patented his method for producing condensed milk by vacuum in 1856 and established the New York Condensed Milk Company in 1857. The company changed its name to the Borden Condensed Milk Company in 1899, which was simplified to the Borden Company in 1919.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Borden Company
ID Number
1979.0441.287
catalog number
1979.0441.287
accession number
1979.0441

Terramycin Soluble Powder

date made
ca 1962
maker
Charles Pfizer and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10017
accession number
239425
catalog number
M-10017

Homenta Shipping Crate

This Homenta shipping crate side was used by the New York Drug Concern of New York City during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This Homenta shipping crate side was used by the New York Drug Concern of New York City during the early 20th century. Homenta was a mixture of water, menthol, thymol, ammonia, sugar, water, and alcohol that the New York Concern advertised as a remedy for catarrh (mucus) and colds.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
New York Drug Concern
ID Number
1979.0441.157
catalog number
1979.0441.157
accession number
1979.0441

Ink Shipping Crate

This is a Sanford Ink Company shipping crate side. The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857.
Description (Brief)
This is a Sanford Ink Company shipping crate side. The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857. The company relocated to Chicago in 1866 and became a large producer of ink and glue products in its early years before focusing on ink and being renamed the Sanford Ink Company in 1940. Sanford introduced the Sharpie marker in 1964, which went on to become one of its best selling products. Sanford was purchased by the Newell Company in 1992.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Sanford Corporation
ID Number
1979.0441.226
catalog number
1979.0441.226
accession number
1979.0441

Borden's Evaporated Milk Crate Label

This end panel of a Borden’s Evaporated Milk shipping crate bears the imprint of an eagle. Gail Borden Jr. patented his method for producing condensed milk by vacuum in 1856 and established the New York Condensed Milk Company in 1857.
Description (Brief)
This end panel of a Borden’s Evaporated Milk shipping crate bears the imprint of an eagle. Gail Borden Jr. patented his method for producing condensed milk by vacuum in 1856 and established the New York Condensed Milk Company in 1857. The company changed its name to the Borden Condensed Milk Company in 1899, which was simplified to the Borden Company in 1919.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Borden Western Company
ID Number
1979.0441.330
catalog number
1979.0441.330
accession number
1979.0441

Terramycin for Mastitis

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1962
maker
Charles Pfizer and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10016.01
catalog number
M-10016.01
accession number
239425

Farmers Nooning

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1843
engraver
Jones, Alfred
original artist
Mount, William Sidney
printer
Burton, James
publisher
Apollo Association
ID Number
GA.12804
catalog number
12804
accession number
29209

Chewing Gum Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Beech-Nut brand chewing gum shipped by the Beech-Nut Packing Company of Canajoharie, New York. Beech-Nut was founded in 1890, and produced a variety of food products.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Beech-Nut brand chewing gum shipped by the Beech-Nut Packing Company of Canajoharie, New York. Beech-Nut was founded in 1890, and produced a variety of food products. In 1910, the company launched its chewing gum brand whose popularity helped them weather the rough economy of the Great Depression.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Beech-Nut Packing Company
ID Number
1979.0441.274
catalog number
1979.0441.274
accession number
1979.0441

Ink Shipping Crate

This is an end panel of a Sanford Ink Company shipping crate. The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857.
Description (Brief)
This is an end panel of a Sanford Ink Company shipping crate. The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857. The company relocated to Chicago in 1866 and became a large producer of ink and glue products in its early years before focusing on ink and being renamed the Sanford Ink Company in 1940. Sanford introduced the Sharpie marker in 1964, which went on to become one of its best selling products. Sanford was purchased by Newell Company in 1992.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Sanford Corporation
ID Number
1979.0441.294
catalog number
1979.0441.294
accession number
1979.0441

Bakery Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side was used by the Fancy Cake Bakery, which was owned by Philip Diehl of Brewster, New York during the early 20th century.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side was used by the Fancy Cake Bakery, which was owned by Philip Diehl of Brewster, New York during the early 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced
Diehl, Philip
referenced business
Fancy Cake Bakery
ID Number
1979.0441.320
catalog number
1979.0441.320
accession number
1979.0441

Biscuit Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained biscuits manufactured by the American Biscuit & Manufacturing Company of New York, New York during the late 19th century. The crate label has the company’s trademark image of a colorful parrot on the left.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained biscuits manufactured by the American Biscuit & Manufacturing Company of New York, New York during the late 19th century. The crate label has the company’s trademark image of a colorful parrot on the left. Founded in 1890, the American Biscuit & Manufacturing Company merged with the New York Biscuit Company in 1898 to form the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) now one of the largest bakeries in the world.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
American Biscuit and Mfg. Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.338
catalog number
1979.0441.338
accession number
1979.0441

Maximum and Minimum Soil Thermometer

Charles F. Marvin and Milton Whitney, both of the U.S. Weather Bureau, introduced this type of Combined Maximum and Minimum Soil Thermometer in 1893. This example has a wood and brass frame with a brass band marked "HENRY J. GREEN B'KLYN N.Y.
Description
Charles F. Marvin and Milton Whitney, both of the U.S. Weather Bureau, introduced this type of Combined Maximum and Minimum Soil Thermometer in 1893. This example has a wood and brass frame with a brass band marked "HENRY J. GREEN B'KLYN N.Y. 12 IN." A brass plate on the frame is marked "No. 11 U.S. WEATHER BUREAU" and graduated every 5 degrees Fahrenheit from -10 to +150. The glass thermometer inside the frame is filled with mercury and alcohol. The back of the stem is milk glass. The clear front is marked "U.S. 11" and graduated every degree Fahrenheit from +5 to +150.
Ref: C. F. Marvin and M. Whitney, "Instructions for Use of Combined Maximum and Minimum Soil Thermometer," U.S. Weather Bureau Circular G (1894).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1890
maker
H. J. Green
ID Number
PH.314541
catalog number
314541
accession number
204612

Jell-O Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained Jell-O manufactured by the Jell-O Company, Inc. of LeRoy, New York during the early 20th century. The crate side warns the owner to “Keep In a Dry Place.”Peter Cooper patented powdered gelatin in 1845.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Jell-O manufactured by the Jell-O Company, Inc. of LeRoy, New York during the early 20th century. The crate side warns the owner to “Keep In a Dry Place.”Peter Cooper patented powdered gelatin in 1845. The patent was sold to Pearle B. Wait in 1897, who flavored the gelatin and named the product Jell-O. Two years later Jell-O was sold to Francis Woodward of the Genesee Pure Food Company, who popularized the dessert.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Jell-O Company
ID Number
1979.0441.335
catalog number
1979.0441.335
accession number
1979.0441

Terramycin Poultry Formula

date made
ca 1964
product expiration date
1964-05
maker
Charles Pfizer and Company
ID Number
2013.0280.13
accession number
2013.0280
catalog number
2013.0280.13

Celluloid Novelty

Rectangular celluloid card. A photograph of the Agricultural Museum at the New York State Fair Grounds in Syracuse is on the front. Reverse has calendar for the year starting July 1920. The date of Jan 22, 1930, is circled in red to highlight the organization's homecoming.
Description (Brief)
Rectangular celluloid card. A photograph of the Agricultural Museum at the New York State Fair Grounds in Syracuse is on the front. Reverse has calendar for the year starting July 1920. The date of Jan 22, 1930, is circled in red to highlight the organization's homecoming. The back of the card reads, "The New York State Agricultural Society // The Mother Agricultural Society of New York State // Organized at Albany // April 30, 1832."
Description
One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for July 1929 – June 1930, and ad for the New York State Agricultural Society. The other has image of the Daniel Parish Whitter Agricultural Museum erected in Syracuse in 1928.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1929
advertiser
New York State Agricultural Society
maker
Bastian Bros Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0583
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0583

Medicine Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Portonol, a medicinal mixture of olive oil, port wine, and glyerophosphate of iron manufactured by the Portonol Drug Company of Yonkers, New York during the late 19th and early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Portonol, a medicinal mixture of olive oil, port wine, and glyerophosphate of iron manufactured by the Portonol Drug Company of Yonkers, New York during the late 19th and early 20th century. The crate contained 12 24-ounch bottles of the solution.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Portonol Drug Company
ID Number
1979.0441.331
catalog number
1979.0441.331
accession number
1979.0441

W. Atlee Burpee & Co.

A letter opener advertising W. Atlee Burpee Co. Made of cream celluloid with green printed details, it has an image of a lima bean pod on the front and back.
Description (Brief)
A letter opener advertising W. Atlee Burpee Co. Made of cream celluloid with green printed details, it has an image of a lima bean pod on the front and back. The handle section of the opener is in the shape of a pod, described as "Natural size pod of Burpee's bush lima."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1877
advertiser
W. Atlee Burpee & Co.
maker
Baldwin & Gleason Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0899
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0899

Oil Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Gargoyle brand “A” mobiloil that was made by the Vacuum Oil Company of New York City, New York in the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Gargoyle brand “A” mobiloil that was made by the Vacuum Oil Company of New York City, New York in the early 20th century. The Vacuum Oil Company merged with the Standard Oil Company of New York in 1931 and marketed the Gargoyle Mobiloil brand for several years before Mobil became the new company name and Pegasus the new logo. The crate contained ten one-gallon cans of oil.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Vacuum Oil Company
ID Number
1979.0441.204
catalog number
1979.0441.204
accession number
1979.0441

Cigar Box Label

This cigar box label was made by Hummell and Company of Binghamton, New York.
Description (Brief)
This cigar box label was made by Hummell and Company of Binghamton, New York. The label has a red background with an image of a large black bear with the text “’Bear’ in Mind.” Binghamton was a large producer of cigars from 1890-1950, before the popularity of the cigarette caused a downturn in cigar production.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Hummell and Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.341
catalog number
1979.0441.341
accession number
1979.0441

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