Jay T. Last Collection of Food Prints and Ephemera: Finding
Aid
Finding aid prepared by Charla DelaCuadra.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Prints and Ephemera
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2015
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Overview of the Collection
Title: Jay T. Last Collection of Food Prints and Ephemera
Dates (inclusive): approximately 1845-1964
Bulk dates: approximately 1875-1950
Collection Number: priJLC_Food
Collector:
Last, Jay T.
Extent:
approximately 4,950 items
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Prints and Ephemera
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract:
The Jay T. Last Collection of Food Prints and Ephemera contains approximately 4,950 printed items advertising food products
and related businesses from the 1840s to the 1960s, with the bulk of the items
dating from 1875 to 1950. The collection consists largely of lithographed ephemera produced for American businesses affiliated
with the growth, manufacture, packaging, distribution, and sale of food and food products.
Language: English.
Note:
Finding aid last updated on September 22, 2017.
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
Administrative Information
Publication Rights
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities.
The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the
researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, Call number]. Jay T. Last Collection of Food Prints and Ephemera, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Provenance
This collection forms part of the Jay T. Last Collection of Graphic Arts and Social History, which was
donated to the Huntington Library by Jay T. Last in 2005 as a gift in progress. The bulk of the food prints and ephemera were transferred to the Library between 2010 and 2013.
Background
The Jay T. Last Collection is an unparalleled archive of printed paper artifacts that documents American lithographic, social,
and business history. The collection began in the early 1970s when
physicist and Silicon Valley pioneer Jay Last moved to Southern California and started collecting citrus box labels he found
at local flea markets and rummage sales. As his collection grew,
Last realized that these labels conveyed important information about commercial printing, graphic design, and social history,
and he expanded his collection to include other forms
of American visual culture. Today this collection contains more than 200,000 lithographic prints, posters, and ephemera of
mostly nineteenth- and early twentieth- century American
origin and represents works by more than five hundred lithographic companies.
Scope and Content
The Jay T. Last Collection of Food Prints and Ephemera contains approximately 4,950 printed items advertising food products
and related businesses in the United States from the 1840s to the 1960s, with the bulk of the items
dating from 1875 to 1950. The collection consists largely of ephemera produced for American businesses affiliated with the
growth, manufacture, packaging, distribution, and sale of food and food products. Most of these items
are color lithographs, but hand-colored and uncolored engravings and woodcuts are also included.
Materials are arranged in two series: small-size items (11 x 14 inches or less) and large-size items (more than 11 x 14 inches).
Small-size items are described broadly at the series level; large-size items and select small-size items are fully inventoried
and all printers,
artists, and publishers are indexed by name. The collection includes over 45 large-size items comprised mainly of lithographed
advertising prints and product labels. Small-size items number approximately
4,900 and contain a variety of promotional materials, including trade cards, product labels, and printed billheads and letterheads
with manuscript text.
The collection highlights food production, merchandising, distribution, purveying, and consumption, and the images provide
a rich resource for studying the history
of such American industries as canning, packaging, and manufacturing along with the evolution of their advertising in the
19th and early 20th centuries.
As graphic materials, the prints and ephemera offer evidence of developing techniques and trends in commercial printing, and
of the artists, engravers, lithographers, printers,
and publishers involved in the creative process.
Please note that food starch can be found in the Jay T. Last Collection of Household Goods Prints and Ephemera (in process).
Food starch and laundry starch are grouped together because both were often made or distributed by the same companies and
advertised together.
Note
The Jay T. Last Collection is a gift in progress. Container numbers may change as
the collection expands.
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Related materials in the Huntington Library
Arrangement
Items are arranged broadly by size in two series, which have been further arranged in subseries according to business and/or
product type:
- Series I. Food Prints and Ephemera (small size)
- Subseries A. Baby Food (small size)
- Subseries B. Confections (small size)
- Subseries C. Fruit and Vegetable Products (small size)
- Subseries D. Grain Products (small size)
- Subseries E. Ingredients (small size)
- Subseries F. Meat and Meat Products (small size)
- Subseries G. Purveyors (small size)
- Subseries H. Seafood (small size)
- Series II. Food Prints and Ephemera (large size)
- Subseries A. Confections (large size)
- Subseries B. Fruit and Vegetable Products (large size)
- Subseries C. Grain Products (large size)
- Subseries D. Ingredients (large size)
- Subseries E. Meat and Meat Products (large size)
- Subseries F. Purveyors (large size)
- Subseries G. Seafood (large size)
Indexing Terms
Genres
Advertisements.
Billheads.
Business cards.
Chromolithographs.
Ephemera.
Ephemera -- United States -- 19th century.
Ephemera -- United States -- 20th century.
Intaglio prints.
Labels.
Letterheads.
Lithographs.
Printed ephemera.
Promotional materials.
Relief prints.
Trade cards.
Views.
Subjects
Advertising -- Baked products.
Advertising -- Farm produce.
Advertising -- Food.
Advertising -- Spice trade.
Bread -- Pictorial works.
Canning & preserving.
Chewing gum industry.
Cocoa.
Condiments -- Pictorial works.
Farms -- Pictorial works.
Flour mills -- Pictorial works.
Fruit -- Pictorial works.
Grain -- Pictorial works.
Grocers -- Pictorial works.
Industrial buildings -- Pictorial works.
Livestock -- Pictorial works.
Meat industry and trade.
Mills and mill-work -- Pictorial works.
Orchards -- Pictorial works.
Seafood industry.
Storefronts -- Pictorial works.
Vegetables -- Pictorial works.
Vineyards -- Pictorial works.
Printer, Publisher, Artist Index
The following is a complete list of printers, publishers, and artists represented in the large-size items in this collection.
A. Trochsler & Co.
August Gast & Co.
Bencke, Herman.
Boston Bank Note Co.
Campbell, James (Inspector of Provisions)
Currier & Ives.
Gunn, Bliss & Co.
H. Gugler & Son.
Hatch Lith. Co.
Henderson-Achert-Krebs Lithographing Co.
Herline & Co.
J. Mayer & Co.
J.H. Bufford's Sons Lith.
Kilburn, Samuel Smith.
Lakeside Press (Portland, Me.)
Mayer & Stetfield.
Morgan & Hamilton Co.
Palmer, C.
Rease, W. H.
Richmond Lith. Co.
Rochester Lith. & Print Co.
Schmidt Label & Litho. Co.
Shober & Carqueville.
Skeen & Stuart Stationery Co.
Stahl & Jaeger.
Wagner & M’Guigan.
Wells & Hope Co.
Wilmanns Bros. Co.
Wogram, Fred.
Series I. Food Prints and Ephemera (small size)
approximately 1850-1945
(bulk 1870-1920)
Physical Description:
approximately 4,900 items in 38 binders and in 1 flat-top box
Scope and Content
This series contains approximately 4,900 small-size printed promotional ephemera items that pertain to food industries and
related products in the United States from approximately 1850-1945.
The food-affiliated entities represented in this series include growers, packers, distributors, merchants, manufacturers,
grocers, and restaurants and eateries. Item types include mainly trade cards, product labels, and printed
billheads and letterheads with manuscript text.
Many of the images depict food, though the collection also contains
a wide variety of other images, including women; animals; children; flowers;
and views of industrial buildings, farms, orchards, and vineyards.
Arrangement
This series is grouped into 8 subseries:
- Subseries A. Baby Food (small size)
- Subseries B. Confections (small size)
- Subseries C. Fruit and Vegetable Products (small size)
- Subseries D. Grain Products (small size)
- Subseries E. Ingredients (small size)
- Subseries F. Meat and Meat Products (small size)
- Subseries G. Purveyors (small size)
- Subseries H. Seafood (small size)
Items smaller than 8 x 10 inches are housed in binders. These items are grouped by business type and/or subject as indicated
by the binder names and then alphabetically according to company name.
Items that are between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size are sleeved and arranged numerically by call number in folders
in one box, and select items have been fully cataloged.
These items are described in the following format:
-
Title of print. Date
- Artist(s) (when known). Printer(s). Publisher(s).
Subseries A. Baby Food (small size)
Binder 12
Baby food, A-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 90 items
Subseries B. Confections (small size)
Binder 16
Candy, A-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 160 items
Binder 17
Chewing gum, A-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 95 items
Binder 18
Chocolate, A-H by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 145 items
Binder 19
Chocolate, I-T by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 135 items
Binder 20
Chocolate, U-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 135 items
Binder 21
Ice cream, gelatin and pudding, A-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 30 items
Box 1 , Folder 1
Confections (between 8 x 10 inches inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 15 items
Subseries C. Fruit and Vegetable Products (small size)
Binder 22
Fruit and vegetable products, A-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 115 items
Box 1 , Folder 2
Fruit and vegetable products (between 8 x 10 inches inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 15 items
Note
Select items in this box have been fully cataloged and are listed below.
priJLC_FOOD_001945
California fruits : Fontana & Co. San Francisco. 1888-1899
Printers: Dickman-Jones Co.
priJLC_FOOD_003775
California fruits : Byron Jackson. 1883-1899
Printers: Schmidt Label & Litho. Co.
Subseries D. Grain Products (small size)
Binder 13
Baked goods, A-L by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 145 items
Binder 14
Baked goods, M-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 120 items
Binder 15
Cereal, A-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 160 items
Box 1 , Folder 3
Grain products (between 8 x 10 inches inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 10 items
Note
Select items in this box have been fully cataloged and are listed below.
priJLC_FOOD_003781
Fabrique de crackers de Boston. 1865-1866
Printers: J.H. Bufford & Sons
priJLC_FOOD_003782
Fleischmann's imported Vienna zwieback. approximately 1879-1880
priJLC_FOOD_003786
From Geo. E. Scripture's cracker and biscuit manufactory. approximately 1878-1886
Printers: Rice, J. E. (Engraver)
Subseries E. Ingredients (small size)
Binder 1
Baking powder, A-D by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 165 items
Binder 2
Baking powder, E-N by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 135 items
Binder 3
Baking powder, O-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 175 items
Binder 4
Flour, A-H by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 135 items
Binder 5
Flour, I-R by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 105 items
Binder 6
Flour, S-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 115 items
Binder 7
Seasonings and sauces, A-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 165 items
Binder 8
Sweeteners and extracts, A-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 100 items
Binder 9
Vinegar and misc., A-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 100 items
Binder 10
Yeast, A-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 145 items
Binder 11
Yeast, Fleischmann's (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 160 items
Box 1 , Folder 4
Ingredients (between 8 x 10 inches inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 20 items
Note
Select items in this box have been fully cataloged and are listed below.
priJLC_FOOD_003753
Congress yeast powders. approximately 1876-1908
Printers: J.H. Bufford's Sons Lith.
Subseries F. Meat and Meat Products (small size)
Binder 23
Meat, A-C by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 170 items
Binder 24
Meat, D-L by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 140 items
Binder 25
Meat, M-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 190 items
Box 1 , Folder 5
Meat and meat products (between 8 x 10 inches inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: less than 5 items
Note
Select items in this box have been fully cataloged and are listed below.
priJLC_FOOD_003790
Johnston's fluid beef : Geo. Brougham, sole manufacturer in the United States. 1877-1896
Printers: Shober & Carqueville
Subseries G. Purveyors (small size)
Binder 35
Restaurants and dining, A-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 40 items
Binder 36
Grocers, packers and manufacturers, A-F by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 175 items
Binder 37
Grocers, packers and manufacturers, G-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 170 items
Binder 38
Grocers, packers and manufacturers, Heinz (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 85 items
Box 1 , Folder 6
Purveyors (between 8 x 10 inches inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 10 items
Note
Select items in this box have been fully cataloged and are listed below.
priJLC_FOOD_003754
Heinz's catsup. 1876-1888
priJLC_FOOD_003755
Heinz's celery sauce. approximately 1893-1894
Printers: Hinds, Ketcham & Co.
priJLC_FOOD_003756
Heinz's radish. 1876-1888
priJLC_FOOD_003757
Table sauce F. & J. Heinz Pittsburgh, PA. 1879-1888
Printers: Johns & Co. (Cleveland, Ohio)
Subseries H. Seafood (small size)
Binder 26
Seafood, A-H by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 125 items
Binder 27
Seafood, I-O by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 95 items
Binder 28
Seafood, P-Z by company (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 100 items
Binder 29
Salmon can labels, 19th century, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 65 items
Binder 30
Salmon can labels, 20th century, A-E by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 150 items
Binder 31
Salmon can labels, 20th century, F-L by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 135 items
Binder 32
Salmon can labels, 20th century, M-Q by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 140 items
Binder 33
Salmon can labels, 20th century, R-S by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 140 items
Binder 34
Salmon can labels, 20th century, T-Z and misc. fish can labels, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 85 items
Box 1 , Folder 7
Seafood (between 8 x 10 inches inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 5 items
Note
Select items in this box have been fully cataloged and are listed below.
priJLC_FOOD_003791
D. D. Mallory & Co. oysters canned goods. 1879-1886
Printers: Clay & Richmond
priJLC_FOOD_003792
D. D. Mallory & Co. diamond brand oysters. 1867-1882
Printers: Calvert Lithographing Co. (Detroit, Mich.)
Series II. Food Prints and Ephemera (large size)
approximately 1845-1964
(bulk 1875-1920)
Physical Description:
46 items
Scope and Content
This series contains more than 45 large-size advertising and promotional items related to food industries in the United States
from approximately 1845 to the 1960s, with the majority of items spanning from 1875 to 1920.
The series is comprised mainly of lithographed advertising prints and labels produced for manufacturers, growers, packers,
and distributors, but also includes engravings and woodcuts. Genres represented include advertising prints, views of factories
and storefronts,
and product labels. Items in this series range in size from approximately 12 x 13 inches to 29 x 42 inches.
Arrangement
This series is grouped into 7 subseries:
- Subseries A. Confections (large size)
- Subseries B. Fruit and Vegetable Products (large size)
- Subseries C. Grain Products (large size)
- Subseries D. Ingredients (large size)
- Subseries E. Meat and Meat Products (large size)
- Subseries F. Purveyors (large size)
- Subseries G. Seafood (large size)
Within each subseries, items are arranged numerically by call number and described in the following format:
-
Title of print. Date
- Artist(s) (when known). Printer(s). Publisher(s).
Subseries A. Confections (large size)
priJLC_FOOD_000649
Walter Baker & Co.'s chocolate & cocoa preparations.
approximately 1862-1886
priJLC_FOOD_001980
W. Baker & Co. ... American and vanilla chocolates prepared cocoa, broma and homeopathic cocoa.
approximately 1861
Printers: Mayer & Stetfield
priJLC_FOOD_002000
W. Baker & Co. ... American and vanilla chocolates prepared cocoa, broma and homeopathic cocoa.
approximately 1862-1886
priJLC_FOOD_003526
Don’t forget that we prepay freight to you and guarantee satisfaction.
approximately 1891-1930
priJLC_FOOD_003527
All shipped freight pre-paid and satisfaction guaranteed.
approximately 1891-1930
priJLC_FOOD_003528
Steam refined loaf sugar candies and sugar plums. Stewart & Co.
1861
Subseries B. Fruit and Vegetable Products (large size)
priJLC_FOOD_001963
Warner's newport relish.
approximately 1888-1895
Printers: Boston Bank Note Co.
priJLC_FOOD_001965
Ritter's fruit butter 2015 & 2017 Frankford Av. Philadelphia, PA.
approximately 1876-1888
Printers: Wells & Hope Co.
priJLC_FOOD_001976
Delicious fruit.
©1865
Printers: Currier & Ives
Publishers: Currier & Ives
priJLC_FOOD_001993
Summer fruits.
©1861
Printers: Currier & Ives
Publishers: Currier & Ives
priJLC_FOOD_003733
Catalogue of Florida oranges, to be sold at auction by Edward Soper & Co.
1893
priJLC_FOOD_003734
Catalogue of Florida oranges ex steamship City of Macon, sold at auction by H. Harris & Co.
1894
Subseries C. Grain Products (large size)
priJLC_FOOD_001959
W. J. Boynton's biscuits Groton Mass.
after 1872
priJLC_FOOD_001996
New York Excelsior Steam Cracker Bakery 96 Louisiana Av.
approximately 1862
priJLC_FOOD_001997
Thurston, Hall and Co. manufacturers of crackers Cambridgeport, Mass.
approximately 1876-1890
Printers: A. Trochsler & Co.
priJLC_FOOD_002004
"For breakfast eat" Haskell's wheat flakes "sold by all grocers."
1890-1895
Printers: Henderson-Achert-Krebs Lithographing Co.
priJLC_FOOD_003795
National Biscuit Company choice American export soda biscuit.
1907
Subseries D. Ingredients (large size)
priJLC_FOOD_000595
The Northwestern Consolidated Milling Company : Minneapolis, Minnesota.
approximately 1891-1895
Printers: Richmond Lith. Co.
priJLC_FOOD_001853
Empire Mills fresh ground Canada malt. 58 Broad Street New York. For family use.
1876-1880
Printers: J.H. Bufford's Sons Lith.
priJLC_FOOD_001960
The baker's delight baking powder.
approximately 1895
priJLC_FOOD_001961
Church & Co. Arm & Hammer brand soda New York.
1847-1896
priJLC_FOOD_001962
Church & Co. Arm & Hammer brand soda New York.
1847-1896
priJLC_FOOD_001964
F. H. Leggett & Co's. standard spices.
after 1872
priJLC_FOOD_001975
"Yes Mam" Fleischmann's yeast makes the best root beer. "We have it fresh every day."
©1907
priJLC_FOOD_001978
National Yeast.
after 1870
priJLC_FOOD_001979
C. J. Fell & Brother 64 Sth. Front St. Philadelphia.
1866-1872
priJLC_FOOD_001981
Old King Cole brand fancy patent.
approximately 1890-1931
Printers: Lakeside Press (Portland, Me.)
priJLC_FOOD_001982
The Sleepy Eye Mills, Sleepy Eye, Minn. Sleepy Eye cream.
approximately 1891-1914
Printers: Wilmanns Bros. Co.
priJLC_FOOD_001998
Cleveland’s superior baking powder made of grape cream of tartar.
approximately 1871-1886
Printers: Hatch Lith. Co.
priJLC_FOOD_001999
Cleveland’s superior baking powder made of grape cream of tartar.
approximately 1871-1886
Printers: Hatch Lith. Co.
priJLC_FOOD_002002
Cahill, Fletcher & Co. Minneapolis, Minn.
approximately 1878-1883
Printers: H. Gugler & Son
priJLC_FOOD_003530
Daisy Mills white daisy flour.
1892-1964
priJLC_FOOD_003531
Manufactured for L. L. Rogers Leader flour.
after 1912
priJLC_FOOD_003532
Ashwood Roller Mills … Shamrock patent flour.
after 1912
priJLC_FOOD_003533
Ashwood Roller Mills … Pansy best patent flour.
after 1912
priJLC_FOOD_003534
Ashwood Roller Mills … Comet.
after 1912
Printers: Morgan & Hamilton Co.
priJLC_FOOD_003735
Pinckney, Jackson & Co.'s price current of spices, &c. No. 16. September. 1876.
1876
Subseries E. Meat and Meat Products (large size)
priJLC_FOOD_000624
Interior views of a modern first class pork packaging & canning establishment of the United States of America.
©1880
Printers: Shober & Carqueville
Publishers: Campbell, James
priJLC_FOOD_001974
St. Louis Beef Canning Co.'s cooked corned beef St. Louis.
approximately 1877-1887
Printers: August Gast & Co.
priJLC_FOOD_001994
Illustrated price list of the leading butchers' and packers' machinery and tools, by S. Oppenheimer & Co.
approximately 1890
Printers: Skeen & Stuart Stationery Co.
priJLC_FOOD_002001
Halstead & Co. beef & pork packers, lard refiners & c.
approximately 1876-1888
priJLC_FOOD_002003
Dougherty’s New England condensed mince meat.
approximately 1885-1943
Printers: Rochester Lith. & Print Co.
Subseries F. Purveyors (large size)
priJLC_FOOD_000621
Harrison & Newhall, corner of Race and Crown Streets, Philadelphia.
approximately 1856-1857
Artists: Rease, W. H.
Printers: Wagner & M’Guigan
priJLC_FOOD_000674
Jordan & Brother, wholesale grocers, No. 121, North Third Street, Philadelphia.
1845-1847
Artists: Rease, W. H.
Printers: Wagner & M’Guigan
priJLC_FOOD_003529
J. Winslow Jones, superior canned goods.
approximately 1878-1882
Artists: Palmer, C.; Kilburn, Samuel Smith
Printers: Gunn, Bliss & Co.
Subseries G. Seafood (large size)
priJLC_FOOD_001995
R. D. Hume. Crown brand fresh salmon.
1883-1899
Printers: Schmidt Label & Litho. Co.