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
This shipping crate side contained Mission brand flaked tuna that was packed by the Van Camp Seafood Company of Los Angeles, California during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Mission brand flaked tuna that was packed by the Van Camp Seafood Company of Los Angeles, California during the early 20th century. The Van Camp Seafood Company changed its name to Chicken of the Sea after the exceedingly popular 1960s jingle: “Ask any mermaid you happen to see…what’s the best tuna? Chicken of the Sea!”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Van Camp Sea Food Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.207
catalog number
1979.0441.207
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side originally contained tobacco manufactured by the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained tobacco manufactured by the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company during the early 20th century. The crate bears a warning saying that the manufacturer has “complied with all requirements of law, and every person is cautioned under penalties of law not to use this package for tobacco again.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company
ID Number
1979.0441.271
catalog number
1979.0441.271
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 Empire Builder brand apple crate label was used by the Cashmere Pioneer Growers of Cashmere, Washington during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by the Schmidt Lithograph Company of Seattle, Washington. The label has a background image of an orchard with a train depot in the center, and mountains rising up in the background. In 1892 the Great Northern railroad entered the Wenatchee Valley, opening new markets to Washington apples, boosting sales during the early 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Cashmere Pioneer Growers
ID Number
1979.0441.111
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.111
This is a Sanford Ink Company shipping crate end. The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857.
Description (Brief)
This is a Sanford Ink Company shipping crate end. 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
1979.0441.283
catalog number
1979.0441.283
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 red wine crate side was in use by the Italian Swiss Colony company of San Francisco, California during the early 20th century. The crate reads “Italian Swiss Colony, California Tipo Red, 12 quarts.” The crate bears a label by the Italian Swiss Colony that has a space for the shipping number, serial number, kind of wine, date made, quantity, and alcoholic content. The "Washington State Liquor Control Board" is the Cosignee. The crate also bears a stamp noting that the alcohol tax of 30 cents has been paid.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Italian Swiss Colony
ID Number
1979.0441.048
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.048
This shipping crate side contained salt bricks manufactured by the Leslie-California Salt Company of San Francisco, California during the first half of the 20th century. The crate side has a center image of a circle with an illustration of a cow in the center.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained salt bricks manufactured by the Leslie-California Salt Company of San Francisco, California during the first half of the 20th century. The crate side has a center image of a circle with an illustration of a cow in the center. Salt bricks were used to supply cattle and livestock with important nutrients and minerals.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Leslie Salt Company
ID Number
1979.0441.291
catalog number
1979.0441.291
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 Twin Peaks brand apple crate label was used by Phillippi Orchards of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The white lithographed label features a large red apple in the center, with two blue mountain peaks in the background. The mountain ranges in Wenatchee are a subset of the Cascade Range, and helped provide an ideal climate.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Phillippi Orchards
ID Number
1979.0441.039
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.039
This shipping crate side contained American Beauties brand corn that was packed by E.V. Stockham of Perryman, Maryland during the early 20th century.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained American Beauties brand corn that was packed by E.V. Stockham of Perryman, Maryland during the early 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
E. V. Stockham
ID Number
1979.0441.235
catalog number
1979.0441.235
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 Washington State brand apple crate label was used during the early 20th century. The lithographed blue label has an image of two large red apples in the center, as well as a gray-suited cartoon figure with a globe-shaped head proclaiming the apples the “World’s Finest.”
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.0441.044
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.044
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940s
ID Number
2013.0327.1057
accession number
2013.0327
catalog number
2013.0327.1057
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 Chief Joseph brand apple crate label was used by the Ryan Fruit Company of Yakima, Washington during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by the Louis Rocsh Lithograph Company of San Francisco, California. The label has a central image of an arrowhead with an illustration of a Native American wearing a headdress. The depiction of Native Americans was a common theme in fruit label art.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Ryan Fruit Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.106
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.106
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
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 smiling and holding a red 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
H. S. Denison & Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.080
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.080
This shipping crate side contained Old Dutch Cleanser that was originally produced by the Cudahy Packing Company of Meade, Kansas during the first half of the 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Old Dutch Cleanser that was originally produced by the Cudahy Packing Company of Meade, Kansas during the first half of the 20th century. The brand was bought by Purex of Los Angeles, California in 1955, so this crate probably dates to around this time. The brand had a memorable logo of a Dutch maid chasing away dirt with a stick, and the crate bears the logo “makes everything spick and span.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Cudahy Soap Works, U.S.A.
ID Number
1979.0441.230
catalog number
1979.0441.230
accession number
1979.0441
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1969
maker
Plowden, David
ID Number
1986.0711.0692
accession number
1986.0711
catalog number
1986.0711.0692
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 Jo-Jo brand apple crate label was used by the Justman-Frankenthal Company of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by the Ridgway Lithograph Company of Seattle, Washington. The label has an illustration of two dice, with the two sides showing up. 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
Justman Frankenthal Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.125
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.125
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 Horan’s apple crate label was in use by Horan Brother’s Inc.
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 Horan’s apple crate label was in use by Horan Brother’s Inc. of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label is made of three horizontal stripes. The top stripe is brown, then white, then red, with the middle white stripe bearing the symbol of two lions holding a shield with an interlocking “HB” in the center. The lithography was done by Stecher-Traung of San Francisco, California.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Horan Bros., Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.014
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.014
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-YU brand apple crate label was used by the Northern Fruit Company Inc., of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by Crocker-Union of Seattle, Washington. The label has a large illustration of a Native American man wearing a colorful feathered headdress. Native American imagery was a popular motif in fruit crate labeling during the early 20th century, linking the commercializing fruit industry with a more agrarian time gone by.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Northern Fruit Co. Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.025
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.025
This is a side panel of a shipping crate for Del Monte canned pumpkin. Del Monte is the premium brand of the California Packing Corporation (Calpak).
Description (Brief)
This is a side panel of a shipping crate for Del Monte canned pumpkin. Del Monte is the premium brand of the California Packing Corporation (Calpak). The Calpak cooperative heavily promoted Del Monte as its high quality, premium product through full-page color ads in national publications. In 1967, Calpak changed its name to the Del Monte Corporation to capitalize on the brand’s recognition.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
California Packing Corporation
ID Number
1979.0441.253
catalog number
1979.0441.253
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 Rivas brand apple crate label was used by the Oneonta Trading Corporation of Wenatchee-Yakima, Washington during the first half of the 20th century. The blue and red crate label was lithographed by the Ridgway Lithograph Company of Seattle, Washington. The Wenatchee-Yakima region of central Washington was a large producer of apples during the early 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Oneonta Trading Corp.
ID Number
1979.0441.006
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.006
This shipping crate side originally contained Peters small arms ammunition manufactured by the Peters Cartridge Division of the Remington Arms Company in King Mills, Ohio during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Peters small arms ammunition manufactured by the Peters Cartridge Division of the Remington Arms Company in King Mills, Ohio during the early 20th century. Peters was once a Remington competitor and enjoyed financial success during World War I, before Remington bought Peters during the Great Depression.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Remington Arms Company, Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.345
catalog number
1979.0441.345
accession number
1979.0441
This Skookum brand apple crate was in use by the Northwestern Fruit Growers Association of Seattle, Washington, in the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This Skookum brand apple crate was in use by the Northwestern Fruit Growers Association of Seattle, Washington, in the early 20th century. Skookum was a Chinook word denoting “excellence.” Native American imagery was frequently depicted on the crate labels of various fruit distributors to evoke the idea of rich, natural produce.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Skookum Packers Association
Northwestern Fruit Exchange
ID Number
1979.0441.058
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.058
This shipping crate side contained White King brand washing machine soap that was manufactured by the Los Angeles Soap Company of Los Angeles, California during the first half of the 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained White King brand washing machine soap that was manufactured by the Los Angeles Soap Company of Los Angeles, California during the first half of the 20th century. The crate contained 24 packages of soap, and features an illustration of a king holding a sword similar in style to the King playing card.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Los Angeles Soap Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.198
catalog number
1979.0441.198
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side contained Kraft brand American Cheese spread that was manufactured by the Kraft Cheese Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Kraft brand American Cheese spread that was manufactured by the Kraft Cheese Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The crate contained 2 pounds of cheese spread, and the crate side bears a reminder to keep the cheese under refrigeration.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Kraft Foods Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.351
catalog number
1979.0441.351
accession number
1979.0441

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.