Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction .

Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Geneva Preserving Company Photograph Album, c. 1911, Ms2024-048, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The collection was purchased by Special Collections in July 2021.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Geneva Preserving Company Photograph Album was completed in April 2024.

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

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Food Technology and Production
• History of Food and Drink
• Photographs

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Geneva Preserving Company Photograph Album by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).