Search Results

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Container:

Box 145

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1908-1920

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.9: Burpee Library/Reference Materials / 2.9.A: Competitors' Catalogs and Trade Literature

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref505

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Container:

Box 145

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1899-1905

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.9: Burpee Library/Reference Materials / 2.9.A: Competitors' Catalogs and Trade Literature

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref576

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Container:

Box 12

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1902

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.9: Burpee Library/Reference Materials / 2.9.A: Competitors' Catalogs and Trade Literature

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref926

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Container:

Box 276, Folder 18

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

circa 1870-1900

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.9: Burpee Library/Reference Materials / 2.9.A: Competitors' Catalogs and Trade Literature

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref933

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Container:

Box 12

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

circa 1910-1930

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.9: Burpee Library/Reference Materials / 2.9.A: Competitors' Catalogs and Trade Literature

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref869

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Container:

Box 12

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1894

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.9: Burpee Library/Reference Materials / 2.9.A: Competitors' Catalogs and Trade Literature

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref870

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Extent:

1 Trade catalog

Container:

Box 12

Type:

Archival materials

Trade catalogs

Date:

1926-1927

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.6: Burpee Subsidiaries / Luther Burbank Seed Company

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref875

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Container:

Box 12

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

circa 1943-1948

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.9: Burpee Library/Reference Materials / 2.9.A: Competitors' Catalogs and Trade Literature

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref884

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Container:

Box 12

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1896

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.9: Burpee Library/Reference Materials / 2.9.A: Competitors' Catalogs and Trade Literature

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref917

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Container:

Box 12

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1910

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.9: Burpee Library/Reference Materials / 2.9.A: Competitors' Catalogs and Trade Literature

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref982

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Extent:

1 Volume

Container:

Box 207

Type:

Archival materials

Volumes

Date:

1939

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.8: Materials Published by the Burpee Company / 2.8.D: Ads

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref1244

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Extent:

1 Volume

Container:

Box 207

Type:

Archival materials

Volumes

Date:

1940

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.8: Materials Published by the Burpee Company / 2.8.D: Ads

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref1245

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Extent:

1 Volume

Container:

Box 207

Type:

Archival materials

Volumes

Date:

1942

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.8: Materials Published by the Burpee Company / 2.8.D: Ads

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref1246

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Extent:

1 Volume

Container:

Box 207

Type:

Archival materials

Volumes

Date:

1943

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.8: Materials Published by the Burpee Company / 2.8.D: Ads

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref1247

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Extent:

1 Volume

Container:

Box 207

Type:

Archival materials

Volumes

Date:

1938

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.8: Materials Published by the Burpee Company / 2.8.D: Ads

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref581

Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Extent:

201 Cubic feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Advertising

Business records

Correspondence

Account books

Pamphlets

Trade catalogs

Date:

circa 1873-1986

bulk 1890-1930

Summary:

The W. Atlee Burpee & Company records, dated circa 1873-1986, document the firm's business activities developing plant varieties and marketing and selling seeds. They include accounting records, seed trial records, seed contracts, sales records, inventories, office correspondence, seed catalogs, promotional and instructional materials, advertisements and advertising reports, contest letters, daybooks, photographs, reference materials, and other items relating to the company and some of its competitors.

Scope and Contents:

This collection documents W. Atlee Burpee & Co., a mail-order seed company based in Philadelphia, from its early beginnings in 1876 when its founder, W. Atlee Burpee, started in the agricultural business, to the 1970s when his son, David Burpee, sold the family's then-global company. The collection also includes personal papers of the Burpee family dating back to the mid-nineteenth century.

Business-related content in the collection consists of crop propagation and management records; company correspondence; administrative and personnel records; advertising files; legal papers; property records and plans; reports, studies, and technical data; notes and drafts; files on professional outreach activities and events; trade literature (published by both the Burpee company and a number of its competitors); and awards and certificates received by the company. Significant topics documented in these files include the development of notable flower and vegetable novelties introduced by the company; the impact of World Wars I and II on gardening and the global seed trade; advertising strategies, technology, and innovation; and David Burpee's involvement in the national floral emblem congressional debate.

The Burpee family papers consist of personal files unrelated to the company's business operations. This includes records generated by W. Atlee's father (David Burpee, 1827-1882) and grandfather (Washington L. Atlee, 1808-1878), as well as W. Atlee's wife, Blanche (1863-1948); David Burpee (1893-1980) and his wife, Lois (1912-1984); and W. Atlee Burpee II (1894-1966). There are genealogical surveys conducted on both the Atlee and Burpee families as well as clippings about family members. W. Atlee and David Burpee's series are the most extensive and cover their involvement with numerous clubs and societies such as the Canadian Society of Philadelphia, the Union League of Philadelphia, and, for David Burpee, his involvement with Pearl S. Buck's Welcome House charity. The series include personal correspondence; financial, accounting, and tax records; files generated during vacations; reference material; and will and estate papers.

The Burpee collection also has a large number of images related to the Burpee business and family in a variety of formats including photographs, film and glass plate negatives, and advertisement mock-ups. Other formats include architectural and site plans, original artwork for advertisements, films, cassettes, audio tapes, and ephemera.

Arrangement:

Collection is arranged into six series:

Series 1: Plant/Farm Related Material

Series 2: Business Records

Series 3: Material Published About the Burpee Company

Series 4: Awards and Certificates

Series 5: Photographic and A/V Materials

Series 6: Burpee Family Papers

Biographical / Historical:

Washington Atlee Burpee (1858-1915) began a mail-order poultry and livestock business in 1876 in Philadelpia, which he soon expanded to include corn seed for chicken feed. In 1878, he founded W. Atlee Burpee & Co., the primary focus of which was to sell vegetable, fruit, and flower seeds through the mail. This company would go on to become one of the most notable seed distributors in the United States.

By 1888, Burpee's family home, Fordhook Farms, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, was established as an experimental farm to test and evaluate new varieties of vegetables and flowers, and to produce seeds. Burpee spent many summers traveling throughout the United States and Europe, visiting farms and searching for the best flowers and vegetables; certain plants he found were shipped to Fordhook Farms for testing. Plants that survived were bred with healthier specimens to produce heartier hybrids that were more resistant to disease. Other Burpee trial gardens were established in Lompoc, California and near Swedesboro, New Jersey.

Burpee's son David took over the family business upon his father's death in 1915. At that time, the Burpee Company had 300 employees and was the largest mail order seed company in the world. It distributed over one million catalogs a year and received as many as 10,000 orders a day. In response to food shortages caused by World War I, the Burpee Company helped promote a "war gardens" campaign that evolved into a "victory gardens" campaign during World War II. Both were aimed at city dwellers and instructed them on how to grow vegetables for their own consumption to aid in the war effort.

Sometime in the 1930s, the Burpee Company entered into a business relationship with the James Vick's Company of Rochester, New York. In 1947, Burpee purchased the assets of and rights to the use of the name of the Wm. Henry Maule Co. In 1970, Burpee was sold to General Foods; the corporate headquarters moved from Philadelphia to Warminster, Pennsylvania in 1974. David Burpee remained a consultant for the company until his death in 1981. In 1991, the Burpee Company was acquired by George J. Ball, Inc.

Related Materials:

Burpee seed catalogs donated to the Smithsonian in 1982 by the W. Atlee Burpee Company can be found in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History Branch Library Trade Literature Collection.

Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Topic:

Seed industry and trade  Search this

Mail-order business  Search this

Gardens -- United States  Search this

Business  Search this

Agriculture  Search this

Horticulture  Search this

Vegetables  Search this

Flowers  Search this

Trial gardens  Search this

Victory gardens  Search this

Contests  Search this

Genre/Form:

Advertising

Business records

Correspondence

Account books -- 19th century

Account books -- 20th century

Pamphlets

Trade catalogs

Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

Identifier:

AAG.BUR

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aag-bur

Owner:

Weems, Katharine Lane, 1899-  Search this

Lane, Emma Gildersleeve  Search this

Lane, Gardiner M., 1859-1914  Search this

Landscape architect:

Olmsted Brothers  Search this

Olmsted, Frederick Law, Jr., 1870-1957  Search this

Whiting, Edward Clark  Search this

Creator:

Massachusetts Horticultural Society  Search this

North Shore Horticultural Society  Search this

New York Florists Club  Search this

Names:

Dana, Rich H.  Search this

Mullen, James X.  Search this

Watson, B. M. (gardener)  Search this

Architect:

Gildersleeve, Raleigh C.  Search this

Extent:

15 Cubic feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Diaries

Photocopies

Plans (drawings)

Books

Medals

Negatives

Correspondence

Trade catalogs

Place:

Massachusetts -- Manchester

The Chimneys (Manchester, Massachusetts)

Date:

1903-1985

Summary:

Correspondence, invoices, nursery and seed catalogs, estimates, planting plans, photocopies of blueprints, photographs, negatives, autochromes, and drawings relating to the gardens of The Chimneys, the home of Emma and Gardiner Martin Lane and their daughter Katharine Lane Weems in Manchester, Massachusetts. Also included are four garden journals (1903-1928), garden-related medals awarded to Emma Lane, index files of plant materials, photocopies of garden related library cards belonging to Gardiner M. Lane, a diascope and nursery and seed catalogs. The collection also includes architectural plans, invoices and specifications from, and a framed photograph of, Raleigh C. Gildersleeve, architect of The Chimneys and brother of Emma Lane.

Scope and Contents Note:

The Chimneys Collection includes extensive documentation relating to the gardens and grounds of "The Chimneys" estate in Manchester, Massachusetts, the home of Katharine Lane Weems and her parents in Manchester, Massachusetts. There is also some documentation on the residence designed by Raleigh Gildersleeve. The collection includes photographs, negatives, autochromes, a stereograph viewer, plant lists and index files of plant materials, garden journals, correspondence, nursery and seed catalogs, estimates, invoices, design specifications and plans and drawings. There are also three horticultural medals. The images focus primarily on the gardens at The Chimneys, though there are also numerous images showing the beachfront adjoining the property and images of family, friends, Weems' studio, the vicinity around Manchester, Massachusetts, and interiors of Beverwyck Manor in Rensselaer, New York. A copy of Katharine Lane Weems' autobiography, Odds Were Against Me, is also included in the collection.

Arrangement Note:

The collection is arranged into 6 series:

1) Design and Planting Records 2) Photographic images 3) Correspondence 4) Garden Journals 5) Printed Matter 6) Artifacts

Biographical/Historical note:

The property on which this estate in Manchester, Massachusetts sits was originally owned by the father of Richard Henry Dana, Jr., the author of Two Years Before the Mast. The estate was subdivided after the elder Dana's death in 1879. Gardiner Martin Lane purchased the land and had his brother-in-law, Raleigh Gildersleeve, design a large Georgian Colonial Revival summer house for him known as "The Chimneys." The Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm was hired in 1902 to help with the overall siting of the house and to plan a number of garden areas. During the next ten years, the Olmsted firm designed a number of areas including an approach road, formal terraced gardens, a water garden, and a variety of outdoor structures such as an arbor, tea house, and greenhouse.

Katharine Lane Weems (1899-1989), the daughter of Emma and Gardiner M. Lane, spent her childhood summers at "The Chimneys." She later attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and went on to specialize in sculpting animals. "The Chimneys" served as her principal studio after the stable was remodeled in 1930; later it became her primary residence. She married F. Carrington Weems in 1947 and published an autobiography, Odds Were Against Me, in 1985. She died at her family estate in 1989.

Related Archival Materials Note:

Records related to this site can be found at the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Olmsted Job Number 00273 Gardiner M. Lane / Richard H. Dana Estate.

The Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America at Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts has the Papers of Katharine Lane Weems (MC406) which include various files and images relating to The Chimneys.

The Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Art in Washington, D.C. has the Katharine Lane Weems Papers, 1865-1989 which include images of The Chimneys.

Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Topic:

Sculptors -- United States  Search this

Gardens -- Massachusetts -- Manchester  Search this

Water gardens  Search this

Women sculptors  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographs

Diaries

Photocopies

Plans (drawings)

Books

Medals

Negatives

Correspondence

Trade catalogs

Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Chimneys collection.

Identifier:

AAG.CHM

See more items in:

The Chimneys collection

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aag-chm

Creator:

McFarland, J. Horace (John Horace), 1859-1948  Search this

American Rose Society  Search this

Names:

J. Horace McFarland Company  Search this

Mount Pleasant Press  Search this

Walsh, James  Search this

Extent:

30 Cubic feet (2718 photographs: black and white; 448 glass lantern slides; 41 glass negatives; color records; plant patents; publications. )

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Black-and-white photographs

Lantern slides

Photographs

Place:

Pennsylvania -- Harrisburg

Breeze Hill (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)

Date:

1899-1974

Summary:

The J. Horace McFarland Collection includes over 3,100 photographic images of private and public gardens throughout the United States, as well as some from foreign countries, dating from 1899 to 1963. Many of these images, generated for Mount Pleasant Press (later the J. Horace McFarland Company), were used to illustrate trade catalogs published by the firm as well as journal and newspaper articles. The collection also contains color records that were used as reference aids during the printing process, plant patents, and various publications of the McFarland Company.

Scope and Contents note:

The J. Horace McFarland Collection includes over 2,700 black and white mounted photographs, 448 glass lantern slides, and 41 glass plate negatives of gardens throughout the United States dating from 1899 to 1963. A small number of images show gardens in Austria, Canada, England, Mexico, Scotland and Wales. Many of the images, which were generated and used by the J. Horace McFarland Company to illustrate trade catalogs and journal and newspaper articles, indicate the publication(s) in which they appeared. A series of portraits of rosarians, many of them featured in Modern Roses 6, rounds out the image collection. The McFarland Collection also includes color records, plants patents, and miscellaneous publications. Color records are plant 'portraits' that were painted by McFarland Company staff artists in watercolor. They were referenced by the printing department in order to render illustrations of plants in colors as close to the originals as possible. The plant patents are patents for plants issued by the United States Patent Office. They include the plant name, source, filing and patent dates, patent number, and growth characteristics. Most are accompanied by a colored image of the plant identified in the patent. The miscellaneous publications are various pamphlets and booklets published by the J. Horace McFarland Company.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into 5 series:

1) Garden images (including mounted photographs, glass plate negatives, and glass lantern slides)

2) Portraits of Rosarians

3) Color Records

4) Plant Patents

5) Miscellaneous Publications

Biographical/Historical note:

Dr. J. Horace McFarland (1859-1948) was an influential civic leader, author, publisher, horticulturist, and authority on roses. His printing company, Mount Pleasant Press (later the J. Horace McFarland Company), was based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It published many of the seed and nursery trade catalogs in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century and was one of the first to apply color processes to commercial print applications. J. Horace McFarland Company staffers photographed thousands of different gardens and plant specimens throughout the United States. These images were used to illustrate numerous nursery and seed catalogs, journals and books. Among its many services, the firm sold various themed lectures illustrated by sets of hand-colored glass lantern slides.

McFarland wrote over 200 articles in popular journals as well as a dozen books on roses and gardening. He served as the first president of the American Civic Association from 1904-1924 and led several local and national campaigns to protect communities and scenic areas from urban blight and overdevelopment including the city of Harrisburg and Niagara Falls. McFarland, who served as the president of the American Rose Society (1930-1932) and helped establish a standardized rose identification and registration method, used the gardens on his own 2.5 acre property in Harrisburg, "Breeze Hill," to test hundreds of varieties of roses and plant cultivars. "Breeze Hill" was used as the backdrop for many photographs taken by McFarland's firm.

Related Materials:

The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania includes the J. Horace McFarland Company Records (Manuscript Group 453) and the J. Horace McFarland Papers (Manuscript Group 85).

The Historical Society of Dauphin County in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania includes the J. Horace McFarland Collection (MG 229).

Separated Materials note:

The Smithsonian Institution's Botany and Horticulture Library includes seed and nursery trade catalogs, books, and published materials from the J. Horace McFarland Company.

The United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Maryland has various photographic images, nursery catalogs, publications and miscellaneous records from the J. Horace McFarland Company in its J. Horace McFarland Collection.

Provenance:

Donated in 1992 by James W. Walsh, who purchased the J. Horace McFarland Company from its founder's heirs. (The business was later renamed the Roebuck Printing Company.)

Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Rights:

For information or study purposes only. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Topic:

Horticulturists  Search this

Printers -- Pennsylvania  Search this

Gardening -- Washington (D.C.)  Search this

Seeds -- Catalogs  Search this

Seed industry and trade -- United States  Search this

Gardens -- United States  Search this

Seed industry and trade -- Catalogs  Search this

Rose breeders -- United States  Search this

Printers -- United States  Search this

Genre/Form:

Black-and-white photographs

Lantern slides

Photographs

Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, J. Horace McFarland Company Collection.

Identifier:

AAG.MCF

See more items in:

J. Horace McFarland Company collection

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aag-mcf

Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

W. Atlee Burpee Co.  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Extent:

200 Cubic feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Trade catalogs

Business records

Commercial correspondence

Instructional materials

Ledgers (account books)

Date:

circa 1873-1980

Summary:

The W. Atlee Burpee & Company records, dated circa 1873-1986, document the firm's business activities developing plant varieties, working with contract seedsmen, and marketing and selling seeds. They include seed trial records, seed contracts, sales and acccounting records, inventories, office correspondence, seed catalogs, promotional and instructional materials, advertisements and advertising reports, contest letters, daybooks, photographs, reference materials, and other items relating to the company and some of its competitors. The collection also includes Burpee family papers.

Content Description:

This collection documents W. Atlee Burpee & Co., a mail-order seed company based in Philadelphia, from its early beginnings in 1876 when its founder, W. Atlee Burpee, started in the agricultural business, to the 1970s when his son, David Burpee, sold the firm. The collection also includes personal papers of the Burpee family dating back to the mid-nineteenth century.

Business-related content in the collection consists of crop propagation and management records; company correspondence; administrative and personnel records; advertising files; legal papers; property records and plans; reports, studies, and technical data; notes and drafts; files on professional outreach activities and events; trade literature (published by both the Burpee company and a number of its competitors); and awards and certificates received by the company. Significant topics documented in these files include the development of notable flower and vegetable varieties introduced by the company; the impact of World Wars I and II on gardening and the global seed trade; advertising strategies, technology, and innovation; and David Burpee's advocacy of the marigold as the national floral emblem of the United States.

The Burpee family papers consist of personal files unrelated to the company's business operations. These include records generated by W. Atlee's father (David Burpee, 1827-1882) and grandfather (Washington L. Atlee, 1808-1878), as well as W. Atlee's wife, Blanche (1863-1948); David Burpee (1893-1980) and his wife, Lois (1912-1984); and W. Atlee Burpee II (1894-1966). There are genealogical surveys conducted on both the Atlee and Burpee families as well as clippings about family members. W. Atlee and David Burpee's series are the most extensive, and cover their involvement with numerous social and philanthropic clubs and organizations. The series include personal correspondence; financial, accounting, and tax records; travel-related files; reference material; and will and estate papers.

The Burpee collection also has a large number of images related to the Burpee business and family in a variety of formats including photographs, film and glass plate negatives, and advertisement mock-ups. Other formats include architectural and site plans, original artwork for advertisements, films, cassettes, audio tapes, and ephemera.

Arrangement:

Collection is arranged into six series:

Series 1: Plant/Farm Related Material Series 2: Business Records Series 3: Material Published About the Burpee Company Series 4: Awards and Certificates Series 5: Photographic and A/V Materials Series 6: Burpee Family Papers

The collection's original order was maintained wherever possible, though many records were found scattered throughout the collection and artificial files were necessarily created for them.

Most files are arranged chronologically or alphabetically by person or topic.

Various photographs interspersed in correspondence files were kept where they were originally found. All other photographic and audio/visual materials found on their own were grouped in Series 5 Photographic and A/V Material which documents aspects of both the Burpee company and Burpee family.

Biographical / Historical:

Washington Atlee Burpee (1858-1915) began a mail-order poultry and livestock business in 1876 in Philadelphia, which he soon expanded to include corn seed for chicken feed. In 1878, he founded W. Atlee Burpee & Co. to sell livestock and vegetable, fruit, and flower seeds through the mail. His company went on to become one of the most notable seed distributors in the world.

In 1888, W. Atlee bought a tract of land named Fordhook Farms in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. It was initially established as an experimental farm to test and evaluate new varieties of vegetables and flowers and to produce seeds for the mail-order market. Burpee spent many summers traveling throughout the United States and Europe visiting farms and searching for the best flowers and vegetables. Certain plants he found were shipped back to the firm for testing and propagation; other seeds were obtained through contracts with growers throughout the U.S., a practice common in the seed industry at that time. Promising varieties were bred with healthier specimens to produce hardier hybrids that were more resistant to disease. Other Burpee trial grounds were later established at Sunnybrook Farm near Swedesboro, New Jersey, and at Floradale Farms in Lompoc, California (1909/1910). The company went on to purchase more land for farming in California, and established sales branch headquarters in Sanford, Florida (circa 1930s), Clinton, Iowa (1942), and Riverside, California (1949).

W. Atlee Burpee married Blanche Simons (1863-1948) in 1892. They had three sons: David (1893-1980); W. Atlee Jr. ("Junior") (1894-1966); and Stuart Alexander (1901-1934). Both David and Junior attended the Blight School in Philadelphia for elementary school and Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana for preparatory school. While they both attended Cornell University as undergraduates, they left before graduating due to W. Atlee's poor health. Junior married Jeanetta Lee (1893-1981) in November, 1916, and they had two children: W. Atlee III (1917-1971) and Jeanette (1919-2002). David married Lois Torrance (1912-1984) in 1938, and they had two children: Johnathan (b. 1941) and Blanche (b. 1943). Stuart Alexander was apparently born with a disability; according to census records he worked on farms during his lifetime.

David Burpee took over the family business upon his father's death in 1915; W. Atlee Burpee, Jr. served as treasurer of the firm once he returned from serving in the military. At that time, the Burpee company had 300 employees and was the largest mail-order seed company in the world. It distributed over one million catalogs a year and received on average 10,000 orders a day. Under David's tutelage, the company adapted to contemporaneous shifts in business and advertising methods, advancements in plant science, ever-changing consumer demands, and two World Wars. In response to food shortages experienced during World War I, the Burpee company helped promote a "war gardens" campaign that evolved into a "victory gardens" campaign during World War II.

Both W. Atlee and David used their position as head of a major seed house to lobby congressional debates in regard to two topics: postage rates (W. Atlee) and the designation of a national floral emblem for the United States (David). Both men belonged to The Union League of Philadelphia and The Canadian Society of Philadelphia (which W. Atlee helped found), and served on the boards of directors for hospitals and other charitable organizations. Both father and son were politically aligned with the Republican Party.

The firm reorganized its governing structure in 1917 at which time it changed its name from W. Atlee Burpee & Co. to W. Atlee Burpee Co. Burpee's acquired three seed companies between 1878 and 1970: Luther Burbank Seed Company, James Vick's Seeds, Inc., and the William Henry Maule Company. David Burpee sold the company to the General Foods Corporation in 1970 and served as a consultant for the business until 1973. The Burpee brand was bought by its current owner, George J. Ball, Inc., in 1991.

Related Materials:

Burpee seed catalogs donated to the Smithsonian in 1982 by the W. Atlee Burpee Co. can be found in the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives' Trade Literature Collection at the National Museum of American History.

The Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Photograph Collection in the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division includes a series of images of Burpee company operations taken in 1943.

The Black Gold Cooperative Library System's Asian/Pacific - Americans on the Central Coast Collection includes images dated 1933-1939 of Japanese employees of the Burpee Co. working at Floradale Farms in Lompoc, California.

Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by the Archives of American Gardens.

Topic:

Seed industry and trade  Search this

Mail-order business -- Catalogs  Search this

Gardens -- United States  Search this

Horticulture  Search this

Vegetables  Search this

Trial gardens  Search this

Victory gardens  Search this

Prize contests in advertising  Search this

Advertising, Newspaper -- 20th century  Search this

Advertising, magazine -- 20th century  Search this

Flower shows  Search this

Genre/Form:

Trade catalogs

Business records

Commercial correspondence

Instructional materials

Ledgers (account books)

Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records

Identifier:

AAG.BUR2

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records - Accretion 2

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aag-bur2

Collection Creator:

W. Atlee Burpee Company  Search this

Burpee, W. Atlee (Washington Atlee), 1858-1915  Search this

Burpee, David, 1893-1980  Search this

James Vick's Sons (Rochester, N.Y.).  Search this

Wm. Henry Maule (Firm)  Search this

Container:

Box 9

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1898

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens.

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, W. Atlee Burpee & Company Records.

See more items in:

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records

W. Atlee Burpee & Company records / Series 2: Business Records / 2.8: Materials Published by the Burpee Company / 2.8.A: Catalogs

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-bur-ref689