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
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 Far Famed brand apple crate label was used by the Helliwell Fruit Company of Chelan, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label was produced by the Schmidt L. Company of Seattle, Washington. The label has a simple blue background with a red frame. Calling the brand “Far Famed” was not far-fetched, as the Wenatchee region was well known for its apples, and claimed to be the “Apple Capital of the World.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Helliwell Fruit Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.088
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.088
This shipping crate side originally contained petroleum lubricating grease made by an unknown manufacturer during the first half of the 20th century. The plain wooden crate side has black text.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained petroleum lubricating grease made by an unknown manufacturer during the first half of the 20th century. The plain wooden crate side has black text.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.0441.245
catalog number
1979.0441.245
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 Hi Sea brand apple crate label was is use by Washington Sales, Inc. of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by the Schmidt L. Company of Seattle, Washington. The label features an image of two seagulls soaring over a green-blue ocean, with a red apple and a golden apple hanging from a branch on the right hand side of the label. Washington Sales, Inc. was a grower co-operative in Wenatchee.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Washington Sales, Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.036
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.036
This Lake Wenatchee brand apple crate from Wenatchee, Washington was in use around 1900-1940. The wilderness depicted on the Lake Wenatchee label invokes an American longing for nature through the pastoral image of snowy mountains, blue lakes, and a log cabin on the shore.
Description (Brief)
This Lake Wenatchee brand apple crate from Wenatchee, Washington was in use around 1900-1940. The wilderness depicted on the Lake Wenatchee label invokes an American longing for nature through the pastoral image of snowy mountains, blue lakes, and a log cabin on the shore. The Pacific Northwest was renowned for its apple production at this time, and Wenatchee was called “the apple capital of the world.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Cascoa Growers
ID Number
1979.0441.002
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.002
This end panel of a Crescent Manufacturing Company bird food shipping crate is imprinted with the company’s crescent moon trademark. The company was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1883 as a supplier of vanilla extract to the Pacific Northwest.
Description (Brief)
This end panel of a Crescent Manufacturing Company bird food shipping crate is imprinted with the company’s crescent moon trademark. The company was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1883 as a supplier of vanilla extract to the Pacific Northwest. Later becoming Crescent Foods Inc., the company made its mark on the consumer landscape in 1905 with its Mapleine imitation maple flavoring. Mapleine is still sold today by McCormick, which bought Crescent in 1989.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Crescent Mfg. Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.162
catalog number
1979.0441.162
accession number
1979.0441
This is the label from a Dunbar’s shrimp shipping crate. G.W. Dunbar’s Sons Inc. was founded in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1881 as a seafood packaging and distribution company.
Description (Brief)
This is the label from a Dunbar’s shrimp shipping crate. G.W. Dunbar’s Sons Inc. was founded in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1881 as a seafood packaging and distribution company. The crate label caught customer’s attention with its bright red color and touted the company’s quality by showing silver medals awarded at the World Exposition in Paris and London in 1883, as well as its Pan-American Exposition gold medal in Buffalo in 1901.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
G. W. Dunbar's Sons Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.030
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.030
This shipping crate side originally contained Swastika brand ginger snaps produced by the Pacific Coast Biscuit Company of Seattle, Washington during the early 20th century. The swastika has been stigmatized after World War II due to its adoption by the Nazi Party.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Swastika brand ginger snaps produced by the Pacific Coast Biscuit Company of Seattle, Washington during the early 20th century. The swastika has been stigmatized after World War II due to its adoption by the Nazi Party. Prior to the 1930s, the swastika was known across cultures as a symbol generally meant to convey “good luck.” The Pacific Coast Biscuit Company called the symbol their “Good Luck” seal in their advertising.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Pacific Coast Company
ID Number
1979.0441.272
catalog number
1979.0441.272
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side was used by the Yours Truly Biscuit Company of Seattle, Washington during the early 20th century.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side was used by the Yours Truly Biscuit Company of Seattle, Washington during the early 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Yours Truly Biscuit Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.167
catalog number
1979.0441.167
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side contained Happy-Vale brand pink salmon that was shipped by the Emery Food Company of Chicago, Illinois. The crate contained four dozen one-pound packages of Happy-Vale salmon.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Happy-Vale brand pink salmon that was shipped by the Emery Food Company of Chicago, Illinois. The crate contained four dozen one-pound packages of Happy-Vale salmon.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Emery Food Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.176
catalog number
1979.0441.176
accession number
1979.0441
This Carnation Irradiated Vitamin D Milk shipping crate side features the Carnation can that includes the carnation logo. Irradiation is the process of exposing the milk to ultra-violet light, which sterilizes it and adds vitamin D.
Description (Brief)
This Carnation Irradiated Vitamin D Milk shipping crate side features the Carnation can that includes the carnation logo. Irradiation is the process of exposing the milk to ultra-violet light, which sterilizes it and adds vitamin D. The Carnation Evaporated Milk Company was founded in 1901 by E.A. Stuart in Seattle, Washington.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Carnation Company
ID Number
1979.0441.184
catalog number
1979.0441.184
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 Outboard brand apple crate label was used by the Chelan-Manson Co-operative Association Inc., of Chelan, Washington during the mid 1900s. The lithographed label has an illustration of a man wearing a life jacket driving a hydroplane named “Red Apple” over Lake Chelan, with the peak of Stormy Mountain rising in the background. The hills of the lake shore are lined with apple orchards. Fruit crate labels often depicted landscapes like this to evoke a sense of fresh, natural produce.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1949
1950s
referenced business
Chelan-Manson Cooperative Assn., Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.052
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.052
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 Kershaw brand apple crate label was used by the Kershaw Fruit and Cold Storage Company of Yakima, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label was produced by Stecher-Traung of San Francisco, California. The label has a blue background with a central representation of an apple.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Kershaw Fruit and Cold Storage Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.086
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.086
This shipping crate side contained Kulshan brand minced clams that were distributed by the Lee Growers Company of Bellingham and Everett, Washington. The wooden crate side has black stencil text.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Kulshan brand minced clams that were distributed by the Lee Growers Company of Bellingham and Everett, Washington. The wooden crate side has black stencil text.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Lee Gro. Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.234
catalog number
1979.0441.234
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 Blue Larkspur brand apple crate label was used by the Heller Brothers Company Inc. of Wenatchee, Washington after 1928. The lithographed label was produced by Crocker-Union of Seattle, Washington. The blue label features an image of the stallion Blue Larkspur wreathed in flowers on the left of the label. Blue Larkspur was a race horse who competed from 1928-1930, and was named the American Horse of the Year in 1929.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Heller Bros. Co., Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.026
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.026
This end panel is from a Sun-Maid Raisin shipping crate. In 1912, a group of California farmers formed the California Associated Raisin Company with the goal of stabilizing fluctuating prices in the raisin market. The cooperative introduced the Sun-Maid brand of raisins in 1914.
Description (Brief)
This end panel is from a Sun-Maid Raisin shipping crate. In 1912, a group of California farmers formed the California Associated Raisin Company with the goal of stabilizing fluctuating prices in the raisin market. The cooperative introduced the Sun-Maid brand of raisins in 1914. To capitalize on the success of the brand, the co-operative renamed itself the Sun-Maid Raisin Growers of California in 1922, which it remains today.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Sun-Maid
ID Number
1979.0441.360
catalog number
1979.0441.360
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side contained Mica Axle Grease, produced by the Standard Oil Company of California during the late 19th and early 20th century. The crate contained 12 5-pound lithographed tins of the axle grease.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Mica Axle Grease, produced by the Standard Oil Company of California during the late 19th and early 20th century. The crate contained 12 5-pound lithographed tins of the axle grease. The grease allowed wagon axles to rotate freely and without friction, extending the life of the wagon and easing the burden on the horse.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Standard Oil
ID Number
1979.0441.315
catalog number
1979.0441.315
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side contained one dozen Moose brand scrubs manufactured by the Royal Brush & Broom Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The wooden crate side has black text.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained one dozen Moose brand scrubs manufactured by the Royal Brush & Broom Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The wooden crate side has black text.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Royal Brush & Broom Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.237
catalog number
1979.0441.237
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 Blue Z brand apple crate label was used by the C.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 Blue Z brand apple crate label was used by the C.M. Holtzinger Fruit Company of Yakima, Washington during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by Stecher-Traung of San Francisco, California. The label has a blue background, with a pale circle in the center, with a cut-out Z in the center. The apples came from the Wenatchee Valley region of Washington that claimed to be the “Apple Capital of the World.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
C. M. Holtzinger Fruit Co. LLC
ID Number
1979.0441.099
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.099
This apple crate label was for fancy DB brand apples that were shipped by Duckwall Brothers Inc. of Hood River, Oregon during the early 20th century. The red and yellow label has an illustration of a colorful duck in the center.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This apple crate label was for fancy DB brand apples that were shipped by Duckwall Brothers Inc. of Hood River, Oregon during the early 20th century. The red and yellow label has an illustration of a colorful duck in the center.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Duckwall Bros. Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.374
catalog number
1979.0441.374
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side originally contained Red Seal brand matches made by the Union Match Company of Trenton, New Jersey during the early 20th century. The crate contained 5 boxes of 20 packages of these matches.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Red Seal brand matches made by the Union Match Company of Trenton, New Jersey during the early 20th century. The crate contained 5 boxes of 20 packages of these matches.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Union Match Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.279
catalog number
1979.0441.279
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 Nuchief brand apple crate label was in use from 1900-1950.
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 Nuchief brand apple crate label was in use from 1900-1950. The lithographed label was produced by the Schmidt L. Company of Seattle, Washington. The label has an image of a young Native American boy wearing a headdress and carrying an apple and a hatchet. There is a Smith’s Treat brand label insert on the label. These apples were grown by Smith Orchards of Pateros, Washington and distributed by Nuchief Sales, Inc. Growers, packers, and distributors in the Northwest banded together in co-operatives to secure the best price for their produce and compete with growers in other regions.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Nuchief Sales Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.077
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.077
This shipping crate side originally contained the beverage Bevo manufactured by Anheuser Busch of St. Louis, Missourri from 1916-1929.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained the beverage Bevo manufactured by Anheuser Busch of St. Louis, Missourri from 1916-1929. Bevo was one of the many “near beer” beverages created by breweries during Prohibition to maintain sales and repurpose their factories.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.348
catalog number
1979.0441.348
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 Hi Buy All brand apple crate label was used by the Butler Trading Company, Inc. of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed yellow label features an image of two large red apples on the branch. These apples came from Wenatchee, Washington which claimed to be the “Apple Capital of the World.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Fruit Growers Service Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.027
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.027
This shipping crate side contained salt bricks manufactured by the Leslie Salt Company of Newark, California during the first half of the 20th century. The crate contained 20 five-pound salt range bricks.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained salt bricks manufactured by the Leslie Salt Company of Newark, California during the first half of the 20th century. The crate contained 20 five-pound salt range bricks. Salt licks supply livestock with important nutrients and minerals.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Leslie Salt Company
ID Number
1979.0441.205
catalog number
1979.0441.205
accession number
1979.0441

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