Jay T. Last Collection of Food: Fruit and Vegetable Labels, approximately 1870-1975, bulk 1890-1950

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Summary

Creators:
Last, Jay T.
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.
Extent:
9,120 items
Language:
English.

Background

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.

PLEASE NOTE: Most California citrus labels collected by Jay T. Last are in the finding aid for the Jay T. Last Collection of Food: California Citrus Box Labels.

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.

Acquisition information:
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 .
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)

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Note:

Finding aid last updated on August 28, 2017.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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