Hiram Sibley & Co. "Squash Boston Marrow" Seed Packet, Used in the C.W. Barnes Store, 1882-1888
THF278982 / Hiram Sibley & Co. "Squash Boston Marrow" Seed Packet, Used in the C.W. Barnes Store, 1882-1888
01
Artifact Overview
Distributing seeds required sealing them into little packets or "papers" constructed like envelopes. Seed companies advertised their businesses on these packets, illustrated the vegetable with hand-colored images, and specified growing directions, sometimes in multiple languages. Hiram Sibley and Co. packaged collections of vegetable seeds in specially designed boxes and shipped them to general stores for sale to home gardeners.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Seed packet
Date Made
1882-1888
Place of Creation
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
29.1987.18.96
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Printing (Process)
Color
Dark yellow
Black-and-white (Colors)
Dimensions
Width: 2.625 in
Height: 3.875 in
Inscriptions
on front: SQUASH / BOSTON MARROW / SEND FOR OUR ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE... / HIRAM SIBLEY & CO. / ROCHESTER, N.Y. & CHICAGO, ILL.
Keywords |
|---|
02
Related Artifacts
ArtifactHiram Sibley & Co. Seed Box, Used in the C.W. Barnes Store, 1882-1888
Hiram Sibley and Co., reputedly the largest seed grower in the world, owned land in several states and foreign countries, operated test gardens to improve seed quality, and used illustrations of multistory seed-packing warehouses to impress customers. Employees packed boxes like this one with collections of seeds (described in company catalogs) and shipped them to home gardeners, farmers, and general stores owners alike.
03
Related Content
articlePumpkins and Other Cultivars of Genus Cucurbita
Celebrate autumn with a look at the many facets of pumpkins and squash through artifacts from our collections.
articleSibley Seed Box: Hidden in Plain View
Learn how much work went into digitizing a historic seed box and more than 100 seed packets from our collections — and why it was all worth it.
articleHow Does Your Vegetable Garden Grow?
Concern about food sources, an interest in healthy eating, and a DIY approach to problem solving motivate many Americans to take up the trowel and create their own backyard gardens. Learn more about this topic and the seed industry that fuels it.
articleMaking Eagle Tavern's Butternut Squash Soup
Watch Executive Chef David McGregor of The Henry Ford make Eagle Tavern's delicious butternut squash soup--and get the recipe to make at home.