Descriptive Summary
Administrative Information
Biographical Note
Indexing Terms
Scope and Content
Arrangement of the Fred W. Crandall Photographs
Descriptive Summary
Title: Fred W. Crandall Photographs
Date (inclusive): circa
1883-1911
Collection Number: ECS01.04
Creator:
Fred W. Crandall Family
Extent:
Items: 29 photographs
Selected online items available
Repository:
Sourisseau Academy for State and
Local History,
San José State University
Abstract: The Fred W. Crandall Photographs collection consists of
twenty-nine images that chronicle approximately thirty years of Northern California
agricultural history, from approximately 1883 to 1911. It includes photos of the
Fred W. Crandall and William T. Rice Fruit Drying establishment in Los Gatos and the
Sorosis Fruit farm in Saratoga, as well as several photographs depicting
turn-of-the-century life in Los Gatos.
Language:
English
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Acquisition Information
The Fred W. Crandall Photographs were donated to the Sourisseau Academy by the
Edith Corinne Smith Trust in 2006.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Sourisseau Academy. Neither the original
photographs nor the digital images held by the Sourisseau Academy may be
reproduced, published, or used on the Internet without the expressed, written
permission of the Executive Secretary. Permission for publication is given on
behalf of the Sourisseau Academy as the owner of the physical items and is not
intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also
be obtained by the researcher. The credit line, "Courtesy of the Edith C. Smith
Trust Collection, Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History" must accompany
any such use.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Fred W. Crandall Photographs, Edith C. Smith Photograph
Collection, Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History, San Jose State
University, San Jose, California.
Biographical Note
Fred Warren Crandall was born to George Washington Crandall and Emily (Chaffee)
Crandall on July 28, 1858 in Herrick, Pennsylvania. One of five children, Fred was
raised a farmer’s son; however, from an early age, he aspired to join the clergy,
and in the mid-1870s traveled to Irvington, California to study theology.
Unfortunately, the misfortune of ill health forced him to reconsider his theological
aspirations. After spending a brief time as an educator in Nebraska and Missouri
from 1878 to 1883, Crandall moved to California to pursue a vocation in the ranching
business.
Fred Crandall entered into an agricultural, fruit-drying business partnership with
William T. Rice in the mid-1880s. Over thirty years Crandall’s senior, W.T. Rice
shared his partner’s farming background. Born in 1821, Rice owned nearly 600 acres
of farmland in his native state of Tennessee before selling it in 1875. That same
year, Rice moved with his wife to Saratoga, California, where he purchased a farm of
190 acres. Rice eventually sold much of the acreage and settled with a smaller farm
consisting of thirty acres of prune and pear orchards.
Located at University and Cypress Avenues in Los Gatos, the Crandall & Rice
fruit-drying business was in close proximity to local fruit farms such as the F.H.
Hume Ranch and the A.P. Chrisman orchards. An 1880s print advertisement describes
the business as a “Big Orchard Drying Establishment, Dealers in Green and Dried
Fruits, and Contractors for Drying,” and lists Crandall & Rice as the
proprietors. The Crandall & Rice establishment included a fruit dryer, a drying
yard, a packing house, employed approximately twenty-five employees, and produced
twenty-five tons of dried prunes per day.
Around 1890, Fred Crandall married Nebraska native Josephine West, and the couple had
two sons, Thomas Eugene Crandall in 1890 and Harold Fred Crandall in 1893. Three
years later, Crandall became manager of the Sorosis Fruit Farm, located in Saratoga,
where he worked for over ten years. From 1896 to 1906, the Crandall family lived in
the farm’s stately main residence, built in 1881 by wealthy mine owner William
Farrington. During the heyday of Santa Clara County’s prune growing industry in the
late 1800s and early 1900s, the Sorosis Fruit Farm was recognized as a farm and
business par excellence. Comprised of nearly 250 acres, much of which was devoted to
prune orchards, the Sorosis Fruit Farm was well-known for the production and
processing of the petite prune, a fruit popular across the United States and
Europe.
During Crandall’s time as manager, the Sorosis Fruit Farm was highly regarded for the
decent working conditions and generous wages the business provided its employees. In
addition, the farm became a place of social interaction and fellowship: tours of the
farm were given and banquets were held on a regular basis for visiting professional
organizations; and, under Crandall’s direction, the second level of the Sorosis
fruit evaporator was converted into a community hall which was used by local
residents as a gathering space. After a successful tenure as manager, Fred Crandall
resigned from the Sorosis Fruit Farm in 1907, with the intention of going into
business for himself.
By 1930, the Crandall family made their home in Santa Cruz. Fred W. Crandall died
September 4, 1941, and Josephine passed away December 3, 1952, both in Santa Cruz
County.
Indexing Terms
The following terms may be used to index this collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Agriculture
Crandall, Fred W.,
1858-1941
Farrington,
William
Fruit -- Drying
Fruit growers
Fruit trade
Orchards
Prune -- History
Ranch houses
Rice, William T.,
1821-1900
Scope and Content
The Fred W. Crandall Photographs consist of twenty-nine images, grouped by subject
matter, and chronicle approximately thirty years of Northern California agricultural
history, circa 1883-1911. The photographs include such images as: Fred W. Crandall
and William T. Rice’s Fruit Drying Establishment located in Los Gatos, the Sorosis
Fruit Farm located in Saratoga, G.S. Rawling’s farm located in Santa Clara County,
and several photographs depicting turn-of-the-century life in the town of Los Gatos,
particularly those related to agriculture, commerce, and politics.
Although the creator of the majority of the photographs is unknown, some images are
identified as the product of the Pacific Coast Photo and View Company of Los Gatos,
and Andrew P. Hill of San Jose. In addition, many of the photographs include
handwritten or typed captions describing the people, places and events captured
therein.
Arrangement of the Fred W. Crandall Photographs
This collection is arranged by photograph number and photograph subject.