Geneva Preserving Company Photograph Album, c. 1911
Scope and Content
The collection consists of a small album of photographs of the Geneva Preserving Company Factory in Geneva, New York. Photos include women working the factory line, a patient in the company infirmery, production lines, canning, tinsmiths, and a Geneva farm.
From the acquisition paperwork, the photo album book is a "limp calf 2-ring binder [and] gilt lettering stamped on front cover." The album illustrates the factory industry in Geneva, New York. Geneva is located in the New York Finger Lakes region. The images showcase women cannery workers, with them sorting food items such as nuts, beats, and corn. They show what the factory line looked like in c. 1911.
The Geneva Preserving Company opened when consumers wanted access to canned foods. In a blog post by Anne Dealy of Historic Geneva, the increase in canned items increased conspicuous consumption. The Geneva Preserving Company opened in 1889 to can food from local farms. The Company produced their own cans and all foods were processed by hand.
Sources:
Anne Dealy, "Food Preservation: From Home to Factory," Geneva Historical Society, October 31, 2013, blog post
Dates
- c. 1911
Language of Materials
Materials in this collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 0.2 Cubic Feet (1 box)
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu