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 Electric brand apple crate label was used by the Mann Fruit Company of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label was produced by the Spokane Lithograph Company of Spokane, Washington. The label has a dark blue background with lightning bolt from a cloudy dark sky striking diagonally across the label behind a large red apple. The label notes that the apples are “Wenatchee District Apples,” a region that claims to be the “Apple Capital of the World” due to the volume of its apple production.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Mann Fruit Company
ID Number
1979.0441.078
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.078
This California Star brand chocolate shipping crate side was in use during the early 20th century in San Francisco, California.
Description (Brief)
This California Star brand chocolate shipping crate side was in use during the early 20th century in San Francisco, California. The crate label has an image of a five pointed star, and lists the company’s address as 617-619 Sansome Street, San Francisco, California.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
California Star Chocolate
ID Number
1979.0441.243
catalog number
1979.0441.243
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side bears a label for Jap Rose brand soap that was manufactured by James S. Kirk & Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side bears a label for Jap Rose brand soap that was manufactured by James S. Kirk & Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The yellow label has an image of a smiling Japanese woman wearing a kimono, with roses growing on a bamboo frame on the right. At this time the Japanese had a reputation for daily bathing and cleanliness which Kirk’s tried to exploit with their branding and advertising.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
James S. Kirk & Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.257
catalog number
1979.0441.257
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 Band Box brand apple crate label was used by Boehmer, 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 Band Box brand apple crate label was used by Boehmer, Inc. of Wenatchee, 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 illustration of a red apple enclosed in a clear container encircled by a ribbon.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Boehmer, Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.049
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.049
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 Falls brand apple fruit crate label was used by Chelan Falls Orchards of Chelan Falls, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label was produced by the Traung Label Company of Seattle, Washington. The label has an illustration of a river going down a mountain through several falls, with a rainbow crossing the river and orchards in the background. Fruit crate labels often depicted landscapes like this to evoke the idea of rich, natural produce.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Chelan Falls Orchards
ID Number
1979.0441.034
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.034
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 'W' brand apple crate label was used by the Dow Fruit Company during the early 20th century. The label was lithographed by the Lehmann Lithograph Company of San Francisco, California. The label has a green background, with a large red “W” in the center. These apples came from Wenatchee, Washington, which claimed to be the “Apple Capital of the World.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Dow Fruit Company
ID Number
1979.0441.119
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.119
This shipping crate end contained Happy Home brand canned peas distributed by the Schwabacher Brothers Company, based in Seattle, Washington. The Schwabacher Bros. Co. Inc.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate end contained Happy Home brand canned peas distributed by the Schwabacher Brothers Company, based in Seattle, Washington. The Schwabacher Bros. Co. Inc. was founded in 1860 in Walla Walla, Washington and was one of the first retail stores in the Pacific Northwest. In 1869, Schwabacher Bros. & Co. founded a business in Seattle when Washington was still a territory, becoming a popular spot for miners and settlers, selling clothing, groceries, and hardware.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Schwabacher Bros. & Co. Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.280
catalog number
1979.0441.280
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 Sapphire brand apple crate label was used by Standard Fruits Inc. 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, and an image of a sapphire ring in the lower right of the cover.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Standard Fruits, Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.092
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.092
This end panel of a 1942 DuPont explosives shipping crate bears the company logo and is marked Gelex No. 2. Today DuPont is known for its wide array of industrial and commercial products, but it was founded in 1802 as an explosive manufacturer.
Description (Brief)
This end panel of a 1942 DuPont explosives shipping crate bears the company logo and is marked Gelex No. 2. Today DuPont is known for its wide array of industrial and commercial products, but it was founded in 1802 as an explosive manufacturer. The DuPont Gelex in this crate was a semi-gelatinous powder, a type of dynamite sold in the early 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
ID Number
1979.0441.150
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.150
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 Supreme brand apple crate label was in use by Apple Service, Inc. of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label has an illustration of a Native American man wearing a full headdress and colorful clothes standing on top of a rocky hill raising his hands to the sky. In the sky floats two bright red apples still on the branch. Crate labels often used Native American imagery to link their produce to a naturalistic ideal.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Apple Service, Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.057
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.057
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 Service brand apple crate label was used by the Trunkey-Wolfe Fruit Company, Inc. of Wenatchee, Washington during the early 20th century. The lithographed label was produced by the Ridgway Lithography Company of Seattle, Washington. The green label has a red rim with a large rainbow in the center. The label advertises the apples as Wenatchee district apples. The Wenatchee Valley region is famous for its apple production, and claimed to be the “Apple Capital of the World.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Trunkey-Wolfe Fruit Co., Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.128
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.128
This shipping crate side was used by Bolivar Brand Olives, shipped by the Bolivar Packing Company of San Diego, California during the early 20th century. The crate contained 48 6-ounce jars.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side was used by Bolivar Brand Olives, shipped by the Bolivar Packing Company of San Diego, California during the early 20th century. The crate contained 48 6-ounce jars.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Bolivar Packing Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.152
catalog number
1979.0441.152
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side originally contained Vienna sausages that were packed by the Armour Canning Company of South Omaha, Nebraska.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Vienna sausages that were packed by the Armour Canning Company of South Omaha, Nebraska. Armour and Company was one of the largest meatpacking companies of Omaha, Nebraska and produced a variety of meats and meat by-products.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Armour Canning Company
ID Number
1979.0441.268
catalog number
1979.0441.268
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 Mupu brand oranges crate label was used by the Mupu Citrus Association of Santa Paula, California during the early 20th century. The lithographed label has a blue and yellow background, with an image of a Native American on the right. Mupu was the name of a Chumash Native American village in what is now the town of Santa Paula, in Ventura County, California. The label has the Sunkist orange logo on it, a designation given to high quality oranges grown by the California Fruit Growers Exchange.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
MUPU Citrus Assn.
ID Number
1979.0441.096
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.096
This tobacco shipping crate end is imprinted with the text “Climax, 7 oz., 3x12, 6 spaces.” Climax was a brand of plug tobacco manufactured by the P. Lorillard Company in the 1890’s.
Description (Brief)
This tobacco shipping crate end is imprinted with the text “Climax, 7 oz., 3x12, 6 spaces.” Climax was a brand of plug tobacco manufactured by the P. Lorillard Company in the 1890’s. Plug tobacco is a form of chewing tobacco that is pressed into sheets and kept together by the addition of molasses. The Lorillard Tobacco Company was founded in 1760 by Pierre Abraham Lorillard. It is the United States oldest tobacco company.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
P. Lorillard Company
ID Number
1979.0441.169
catalog number
1979.0441.169
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 Cas-Co brand apple crate label was used by the Associated Fruit Company on Cashmere, Washington during the early 20th century. The red lithographed label has a central illustration of a barrel with “CAS-CO” written in the center. The label calls Cashmere “The Heart of the famous Wenatchee Valley,” which was one of the most productive apple-producing regions of the United States.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Associated Fruit Company
ID Number
1979.0441.020
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.020
Scribner’s Radio Music Library was a nine volume set of sheet music published by Charles Scribner’s Sons in 1931. Each of the volumes contains the favorite radio songs of its particular type of music. Vol.
Description (Brief)
Scribner’s Radio Music Library was a nine volume set of sheet music published by Charles Scribner’s Sons in 1931. Each of the volumes contains the favorite radio songs of its particular type of music. Vol. #1 "Classic and Romatic Compositions," #2 "Modern Compositions,” #3 "Light compositions," #4 "Grand Opera Excerpts, "#5 "Light Opera and Ballet Excerpts," #6 "Standard and Modern Dance Music," #7 Opera Songs and Sacred Music," #8 "Favorite Songs of every Character," and #9 "Supplementary Compositions."
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Charles Scribner's Sons
ID Number
1979.0441.343
catalog number
1979.0441.343
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side originally contained Sunny-Vale brand Thompson seedless raisins that were packed by Libby, McNeil, & Libby in Sunnyvale, California in the early 20th century. Libby’s opened a cannery in Sunnyvale in 1907 which became the world’s largest cannery by 1922.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained Sunny-Vale brand Thompson seedless raisins that were packed by Libby, McNeil, & Libby in Sunnyvale, California in the early 20th century. Libby’s opened a cannery in Sunnyvale in 1907 which became the world’s largest cannery by 1922. The crate contained 8 4-pound bags.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Libby, McNeill & Libby
ID Number
1979.0441.250
catalog number
1979.0441.250
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 Glacier Peak brand apple crate label was used by Washington Fruit Growers, Inc. of Wenatchee, 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 large red apple in the foreground, and an inset image of a mountainous peak. These apples came from the Wenatchee Valley region of Washington, an area that claimed to be the “Apple Capital of the World.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Washington Fruit Growers, Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.094
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.094
This shipping crate side contained chocolate produced by Walter Baker & Company Ltd. of Dorchester, Massachusetts during the early 20th century. The crate side features a central image of a woman carrying a tray with a mug and a glass of water.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained chocolate produced by Walter Baker & Company Ltd. of Dorchester, Massachusetts during the early 20th century. The crate side features a central image of a woman carrying a tray with a mug and a glass of water. The logo comes from the painting “The Chocolate Girl” by Jean-Étienne Liotard, which the company adopted as its trademark in 1883.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Walter Baker & Co. Ltd.
ID Number
1979.0441.177
catalog number
1979.0441.177
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate end panel is imprinted with the “Libby’s” script of the manufacturing firm Libby, McNeil, and Libby. Archibald McNeil and Charles and Arthur Libby founded the company in 1868. In 1875, Libby’s began to pack their meats into pyramidal shaped cans.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate end panel is imprinted with the “Libby’s” script of the manufacturing firm Libby, McNeil, and Libby. Archibald McNeil and Charles and Arthur Libby founded the company in 1868. In 1875, Libby’s began to pack their meats into pyramidal shaped cans. These cans were extremely popular among consumers, and Libby’s became one of the country’s biggest producers of canned meats. The company was purchased by Nestle in 1971.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Libby, McNeill & Libby
ID Number
1979.0441.353
catalog number
1979.0441.353
accession number
1979.0441
This is a shipping crate end of an Albers Brother’s Carnation Wheat Flakes Mush crate. The Albers Brother’s Milling Company was founded in 1895 in Portland, Oregon.
Description (Brief)
This is a shipping crate end of an Albers Brother’s Carnation Wheat Flakes Mush crate. The Albers Brother’s Milling Company was founded in 1895 in Portland, Oregon. The Albers Brothers Milling Company produced a variety of grain products such as corn meal, grits, oats, wheat mush, and flour under a variety of brands, like Carnation, Peacock, Del Monte and Sunripe. In 1929 the Carnation Milk Products Company purchased Albers Brother’s Milling Company, but kept Albers as a subsidiary.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Albers Brothers Milling Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.328
catalog number
1979.0441.328
accession number
1979.0441
This shipping crate side contained Clearlite brand glass that was made by the Fourco Glass Company of Clarksburg, West Virginia which operated from 1935-1977.Fourco was formed from four glass plants as an effort designed to compete with larger glass companies.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Clearlite brand glass that was made by the Fourco Glass Company of Clarksburg, West Virginia which operated from 1935-1977.Fourco was formed from four glass plants as an effort designed to compete with larger glass companies. The Fourco Glass Company logo is on the upper left of the crate side.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Fourco Glass Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.171
catalog number
1979.0441.171
accession number
1979.0441
This is the end panel of a shipping crate for Drummond’s Horseshoe Tobacco. Founded in St. Louis around 1880, Drummond’s Tobacco Company was one of the largest chewing tobacco producers in the country.
Description (Brief)
This is the end panel of a shipping crate for Drummond’s Horseshoe Tobacco. Founded in St. Louis around 1880, Drummond’s Tobacco Company was one of the largest chewing tobacco producers in the country. Their horseshoe logo was always depicted as open side-up on their packaging since that was supposed to bring good luck. Drummond’s began making Chesterfield cigarettes in 1873, which is the oldest continuously manufactured cigarette in the United States.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Drummond Tobacco Company
ID Number
1979.0441.269
catalog number
1979.0441.269
accession number
1979.0441

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