Jay T. Last Collection of Food: Fruit and Vegetable Labels: 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: Fruit and Vegetable Labels
Dates (inclusive): approximately 1870-1975
Bulk dates: 1890-1950
Collection Number: priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg
Collector:
Last, Jay T.
Extent:
9,120 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: Fruit and Vegetable Labels contains over 9,000 printed produce labels from the 1870s to
the 1970s, with the majority of items
dating from 1890 to 1950. The collection is comprised mainly of color lithographs.
Language: English.
Note:
Finding aid last updated on August 28, 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: Fruit and Vegetable Labels, 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 fruit and vegetable labels were transferred to the Library between 2010 and 2012.
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: Fruit and Vegetable Labels contains over 9,000 printed produce labels from the 1870s
to the 1970s, with the majority of items
dating from 1890 to 1950. The collection is comprised mainly of color lithographs.
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 are fully inventoried and all printers,
artists, and publishers are indexed by name. The collection includes over 30 large-size product labels for produce. Small-size
labels number approximately
8,350. Materials include barrel and can labels as well as multiple kinds of box labels.
While the collection is primarily American, it does contain
a small quantity of foreign produce labels. Most notably, Boxes 9-11 contain Spanish citrus labels, while other boxes and
binders have fruit and vegetable labels from Australia, Canada, Mexico and New Zealand.
Also of note are three boxes of Blue Goose brand labels produced for American Fruit Growers, Inc. Other A.F.G. labels can
be found throughout the collection, but Blue Goose items were isolated by the
collector to create a comprehensive look at the brand.
Overall the collection identifies produce growers and merchandisers, reveals advertising trends and consumption habits, and
provides a resource for studying the history
of American fruit and vegetable production, including the canning, packing, and shipping industries that evolved in the late
19th and early 20th centuries. Many labels predictably depict colorful images of fruits or vegetables,
but pictures of women, children, animals, flowers, and views of farms, orchards, and vineyards also sold the product.
As graphic materials, these labels offer evidence of developing techniques and trends in printmaking, and of the artists,
engravers, lithographers,
and publishers involved in the creative process.
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Related materials in the Huntington Library
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following 2 series:
- Series I. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (small size)
- Subseries A. Fruit Labels (small size)
- Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (small size)
- Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (small size)
- Series II. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (large size)
- Subseries A. Fruit Labels (large size)
- Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (large size)
- Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (large size)
Indexing Terms
Genres
Chromolithographs.
Ephemera.
Ephemera -- United States -- 19th century.
Ephemera -- United States -- 20th century.
Fruit crate labels.
Intaglio prints.
Labels.
Lithographs.
Printed ephemera.
Relief prints.
Subjects
Advertising -- Farm produce.
Citrus fruit industry.
Fruit -- Pictorial works.
Vegetables -- 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.L. Bancroft & Company.
Dickman-Jones Co.
F.A. Read (Firm)
Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company.
H.S. Crocker & Co.
National Bureau of Engraving (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Schmidt Label & Litho. Co.
Schmidt Litho. Co.
Simpson & Doeller Co.
Stecher-Traung.
W.W. Elliott & Co.
Series I. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (small size)
approximately 1880-1975
(bulk 1890-1950)
Physical Description:
approximately 9,090 items in 33 binders and 49 flat-top boxes
Arrangement
This series is grouped into 3 subseries:
- Subseries A. Fruit Labels (small size)
- Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (small size)
- Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (small size)
Items smaller than 8 x 10 inches are housed in binders. Items that measure between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size
are sleeved and
arranged in boxes. Materials are organized by product type and then alphabetically by state and title. Labels in this series
are box labels unless otherwise designated. General labels (i.e. those for fruits, fruits and vegetables, produce, etc.) that
do not specify a particular type of produce
are referred to in this finding aid as "generic" labels.
Subseries A. Fruit Labels (small size)
Box 1
Apple box labels, California, A-N by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 80 items
Box 2
Apple box labels, California, O-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 75 items
Box 3
Apple box labels, Oregon and Washington, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 115 items
Box 4
Apple box labels, misc. states, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 40 items
Box 5
Apple box labels, foreign, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 100 items
Binder 1
Berry box labels, misc. states, A-Z by fruit (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 80 items
Box 6
Citrus box labels, Arizona, misc. states and foreign, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 105 items
Box 7
Citrus box labels, Texas, A-Q by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 85 items
Box 8
Citrus box labels, Texas, R-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 110 items
Box 9
Citrus box labels, foreign (Spain), A-G by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 115 items
Box 10
Citrus box labels, foreign (Spain), H-Q by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 95 items
Box 11
Citrus box labels, foreign (Spain), R-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 75 items
Box 12
Grape box labels, California, A-B by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 155 items
Box 13
Grape box labels, California, C-E by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 205 items
Box 14
Grape box labels, California, F-K by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 205 items
Box 15
Grape box labels, California, L-P by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 210 items
Box 16
Grape box labels, California, Q-S by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 210 items
Box 17
Grape box labels, California, T-Z by title, misc. states and generic, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches
in size)
Physical Description: approximately 155 items
Box 18
Raisin box labels, California, A-Z by company (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 95 items
Box 47
Raisin box labels, foreign, A-Z by company and generic (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 40 items
Box 19
Melon box labels, California, A-L by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 155 items
Box 20
Melon box labels, California, M-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 160 items
Box 21
Melon box labels, misc. states and foreign, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 205 items
Binder 2
Peach box labels, misc. states, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 175 items
Binder 3
Pear box labels, California, A-K by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 110 items
Binder 4
Pear box labels, California, L-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 135 items
Binder 5
Pear box labels, Oregon and Washington, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 75 items
Binder 6
Pear box labels, foreign, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 30 items
Box 23
Tomato box labels, Arizona and Mexico, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 235 items
Box 24
Tomato box labels, California, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 260 items
Box 25
Tomato box labels, Florida, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 55 items
Box 26
Tomato box labels, Texas, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 205 items
Box 27
Tomato box labels, misc. states and foreign, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 40 items
Box 28
Fruit box labels, California, A-K by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 200 items
Box 29
Fruit box labels, California, L-Z by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 90 items
Box 22
Fruit box labels, misc. states, A-Z by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 15 items
Binder 7
Fruit box labels, misc. states, A-Z by fruit (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 115 items
Box 30
Fruit box labels, California, generic, A-D by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 205 items
Box 31
Fruit box labels, California, generic, E-L by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 200 items
Box 32
Fruit box labels, California, generic, M-R by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 180 items
Box 33
Fruit box labels, California, generic, S-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 195 items
Binder 8
Fruit box labels, misc. states, generic, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 55 items
Box 34
Fruit can labels, California, A-F by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 220 items
Box 35
Fruit can labels, California, G-Peaches by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 225 items
Box 36
Fruit can labels, California, Pears-Z by fruit and generic, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 170 items
Box 37
Fruit can labels, misc. states and foreign, A-S by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 100 items
Box 48
Fruit can labels, misc. states and foreign, T-Z by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 180 items
Binder 32
Fruit can labels, misc. states, A-Z by fruit and generic, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 55 items
Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (small size)
Box 38
Asparagus box labels, California, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 120 items
Binder 9
Lettuce box labels, California, A-K by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 80 items
Binder 10
Lettuce box labels, California, L-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 75 items
Binder 11
Lettuce box labels, misc. states, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 50 items
Box 39
Yam and potato box labels, California, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 115 items
Box 40
Vegetable box labels, California, A-Z by vegetable (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 35 items
Binder 12
Vegetable box labels, misc. states, A-Car by vegetable (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 90 items
Binder 13
Vegetable box labels, misc. states, Cau-Ce by vegetable (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 90 items
Binder 14
Vegetable box labels, misc. states, Ch-L by vegetable (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 25 items
Binder 15
Vegetable box labels, misc. states, M-Z by vegetable (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 100 items
Binder 16
Vegetable box labels, Arizona, generic, A-J by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 105 items
Binder 17
Vegetable box labels, Arizona, generic, K-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 115 items
Binder 18
Vegetable box labels, California, generic, A-B by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 95 items
Binder 19
Vegetable box labels, California, generic, C-D by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 95 items
Binder 20
Vegetable box labels, California, generic, E-Go by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 80 items
Binder 21
Vegetable box labels, California, generic, Gr-J by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 85 items
Binder 22
Vegetable box labels, California, generic, K-M by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 90 items
Binder 23
Vegetable box labels, California, generic, N-Q by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 80 items
Binder 24
Vegetable box labels, California, generic, R-Sm by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 80 items
Binder 25
Vegetable box labels, California, generic, Sn-T by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 85 items
Binder 26
Vegetable box labels, California, generic, U-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 65 items
Box 41
Vegetable box labels, California, generic, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 100 items
Binder 27
Vegetable box labels, Texas, generic, A-G by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 70 items
Binder 28
Vegetable box labels, Texas, generic, H-R by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 85 items
Binder 29
Vegetable box labels, Texas, generic, S-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 65 items
Binder 30
Vegetable box labels, misc. states, generic, A-I by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 90 items
Binder 31
Vegetable box labels, misc. states, generic, J-Z by title and foreign, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 75 items
Box 42
Vegetable box labels, misc. states, A-Z by vegetable and generic (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 60 items
Box 43
Vegetable can labels, misc. states, A-O by vegetable (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 60 items
Box 49
Vegetable can labels, misc. states, P-Z by vegetable (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 175 items
Binder 33
Vegetable can labels, misc. states, A-Z by vegetable and generic, A-Z by title (8 x 10 inches or smaller in size)
Physical Description: approximately 30 items
Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (small size)
Box 44
Blue Goose citrus box labels, A-Z by title (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 60 items
Box 45
Blue Goose fruit box labels, A-Z by fruit (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 95 items
Box 46
Blue Goose vegetable box labels, A-Z by vegetable (between 8 x 10 inches and 11 x 14 inches in size)
Physical Description: approximately 10 items
Series II. Fruit and Vegetable Labels (large size)
approximately 1871-1966
Physical Description:
32 items
Arrangement
This series is grouped into 3 subseries:
- Subseries A. Fruit Labels (large size)
- Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (large size)
- Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (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. Fruit Labels (large size)
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001947
Golden gate brand genuine imperiale epineuse prunes.
after 1898
Printers: Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001948
Balloon brand packed by the Hanford Raisin & Dried Fruit Packing Co. Hanford, Cal.
approximately 1888-1899
Printers: Dickman-Jones Co.
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001949
California cluster raisins.
approximately 1883-1899
Printers: Schmidt Label & Litho. Co.
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001950
Eclipse brand.
approximately 1892-1897
Printers: H.S. Crocker & Co.
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001951
The Griffin & Skelley Company raisin packers California.
approximately 1888-1899
Printers: Dickman-Jones Co.
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001952
McPherson brand. California raisins.
approximately 1879-1885
Printers: W.W. Elliott & Co.
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001953
Muscatel Raisins. McPherson Bros. Orange, Cal.
approximately 1872-1877
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001954
Rancho Chico muscatel raisins.
©1880
Printers: A.L. Bancroft & Company
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001955
San Juan brand superior muscatel raisins. McPherson, Cal.
approximately 1872-1877
Printers: H.S. Crocker & Co.
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001956
Muscatel raisins. Josephine vineyard, Napoleon Vieu, proprietor, Fresno, Cal.
approximately 1871-1921
Printers: H.S. Crocker & Co.
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001957
Jno. T. Gordon, El Cajon Valley, San Diego Co., Cal.
approximately 1871-1921
Printers: H.S. Crocker & Co.
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001958
Fresno Raisin & Fruit Packing Co. Geo. W. Meade & Co. agents. Fresno and San Francisco. California.
approximately 1871-1921
Printers: H.S. Crocker & Co.
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001967
Sultana.
approximately 1880-1890
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001968
Black swan.
approximately 1936-1966
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001969
Motor cop perfect peaches.
approximately 1930s
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001970
The Oleander Co-operative Packing Co. Oleander. Fresno Co., Cal.
approximately 1888-1899
Printers: Dickman-Jones Co.
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001971
California raisins grown & packed by El Cajon Vineyard Co. El Cajon Valley, Cal.
approximately 1888-1899
Printers: Dickman-Jones Co.
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001972
Packed by the Fresno Raisin & Fruit Packing Co. Fresno, Cal.
approximately 1877-1909
Printers: National Bureau of Engraving (Philadelphia, Pa.)
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001973
Robin Brand packed by the Home Packing Company. California.
approximately 1890-1920
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001977
California Sun-Maid imperial cluster muscat raisins.
after 1916
Printers: Schmidt Litho. Co.
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001983
H. F. Byrd Winchester, Va.
after 1906
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001984
Chandler orchards located Milton, Del. & Lake Winola, Pa.
approximately 1920s
Printers: F.A. Read (Firm)
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001985
Packed for S. A. Les fruits de France, Paris.
approximately 1897-1954
Printers: Simpson & Doeller Co.
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001986
Higrade Virginia apples for flavor.
after 1912
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001987
"Jersey Jerry" brand fruits.
after 1922
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001988
J.P. Neff & Son Inc. Pocahontas brand.
approximately 1930-1945
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001989
Queen Shenandoah brand.
after 1916
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001990
Red cardinal : Sorenson & Co. Inc. exporters - New York.
©1926
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001991
Strasburg Orchard and Produce Co. Strasburg, Virginia.
after 1907
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_001992
Strathmore Farm & Orchard Co. Inc.
after 1917
Subseries B. Vegetable Labels (large size)
priJLC_FOOD_FtVeg_003732
Sunniland Florida celery.
approximately 1898-1928
Subseries C. American Fruit Growers Inc. Blue Goose Labels (large size)