Citrus Crate Label Collection

Corona Public Library

650 S. Main Street

Corona, California 92882

(951) 736-2381

http://www.coronapubliclibrary.org

Citrus Crate Label Collection

Collection number: Consult library

Corona Public Library

Corona, California 92882

Date Completed:: 2007
Encoded by:: California Digital Library

Descriptive Summary

Title: Citrus crate label collection

Dates: 1890-1954

Bulk Dates: Ca. 1920-1945

Collection number: Consult library

Collector: Corona Public Library

Additional collectors: Verity, Roger Allmon, Lorne

Collection Size: 78 items 78 online items

Repository: Corona Public Library

Corona, California 92882

Abstract: The collection includes labels from all the major packing houses in Corona including the Jameson Packing House, the Orange Heights Orange Association and Foothill Lemon Company. The labels are primarily lemon and orange crate labels with some grapefruit labels.

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Collection open for research.

Preferred Citation

Citrus crate label collection. Corona Public Library, Corona, California 92882.

Acquisition Information

This collection was created was created by the Corona Public Library staff from 2004 as part of the Corona Heritage Online Project from materials donated and purchased from 1980-2004.

Project Information

These Fruit Crate Labels were copied from the library's collection and digitized as part of a one-year project again funded by the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) from July 2003 through June 2004 in order to provide a single access point to primary graphic resources documenting the history of Corona.

Scope and Content of Collection

Fruit crate labels began to be designed at the end of the 19th century. As refrigerated railroad cars helped make the long distance shipping of citrus fruit possible, the industry developed labels so shippers and merchants could more easily identify what was in the crates. These vibrant and colorful paper labels were pasted onto the boxes they shipped around the country and were a lively mobile advertisement. Labels featured a wide range of designs and usually depicted fruit on the label, but that was not always the case. Labels drew on a wide range of in order to entice people to buy fruit. Early images included citrus groves, homes, historical or patriotic themes, animals, birds, flowers and scenic California views. In the 1920's with the urbanization of America and increased awareness of health issues, the images changed to reflect these concerns. The Corona Public Library Citrus Label Collection reflects the breadth of images used in crate label art. The labels are primarily lemon and orange crate labels with some grapefruit labels. The collection includes labels from all the major packing houses in Corona including the Jameson Packing House, the Orange Heights Orange Association and Foothill Lemon Company. In addition, the labels were designed by the major lithography companies in California including Schmidt & Co and Western Litho.

Subjects

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Names

Charter Davis

R.H. Verity and Sons

Spence Fruit Co.

American Fruit Growers

Davis & Verity

W.H. Jameson

Call Ranch

Orange Heights Orange Association

Corona Foothill Lemon

Corona Citrus Association

Jameson Co.

Thieme Fruit Co.

Brigg, Spence Co.

Queen Colony Fruit Exchange

Sunkist Growers

Mutual Orange Distributors

Western Litho, Los Angeles, CA

Schmidt & Co.

Union Litho

Carton Label, San Francisco, CA

Crocker Litho

Places

Corona (Calif.)

Riverside County (Calif.)

Topics

Citrus Fruit Industry -- California--Corona

Lemons--California--Corona

Oranges--California--Corona

Grapefruit--California--Corona

Genres and Forms of Materials

Fruit Crate Label