NC State University Libraries Research and Study Collection of Seed Catalogs 1905-1975

Burpee's Seeds, Henry A. Dreer Company, and D.M. Ferry & Co. began publishing seed catalogs starting in the 19th Century. Seed catalogs provide photos and information on various seeds for sale including flowers, vegetables, fruits, and other plants.

Burpee's Seeds is a plant and seed company was founded in 1876 in Philadelphia by W. Atlee Burpee (1858-1915). It was the first American research-based seed company. Initially, the company was more concentrated on offering high quality vegetable seeds. For example, Burpee introduced a high-performing new cabbage variety called “Surehead,” an improved carrot called “Long Orange” new and improved garden and Lima bean, celery and sweet pepper varieties, as well as the now world-famous “Iceberg.” An important factor in Barpee’s success was the use of a new retail idea, the mail-order catalogue that allowed him to deliver seeds all over the United States. After the death of W. Atlee Burpee in 1915, his son David continued the legacy of the largest seed company in the world. Under the leadership of David Burpee, the company developed various ornamental hybrid flowers. Although David Burpee sold the company in 1970, however, it continues to operate to the present and occupies an important place in American seed market.

Henry A. Dreer Seed Store was founded by Henry A. Dreer in Philadelphia in 1838. In the following decades, this business expanded due to growing popularity. An important factor in their success was conditioned by the successful distribution of seed, plant, and bulb catalogs all over the United States. In 1865, Dreer introduced on a yearly publication – seed packet and bulb catalog that featured a six-color illustration that presented best flowers. Dreer also advertised vegetables, fruits, tools for plant maintenance, garden and farm implements.

D.M. Ferry Seed Company originated in 1856 in Detroit, after Dexter Mason Ferry, Sr. joined M.T. Gardner & Co. a seed growing and packing firm. After Gardner’s retirement in 1867, Ferry bought his partners shares and renamed the company the D.M. Ferry Company. In the following years, he expended the business. Not only did he offer products at the most affordable price, but also the distinctive art published by their company for seeds advertising attracted millions of people. By early twentieth century, D.M. Ferry Seed Company was one of the largest American seed businesses.

NC State University Libraries Research and Study Collection of Seed Catalogs contains publications from seed companies and garden stores, including Burpee's Seeds, Henry A. Dreer Seed Store, and D. M. Ferry and Co. These publications are seed catalogs and garden books. The date span is 1905 to 1975. ns are seed catalogs and garden books. The date span is 1905 to 1975.

This collection is arranged alphabetically.

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.

[Identification of item], NC State University Libraries Research and Study Collection of Seed Catalogs, MC 00728, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Related Materials

• Dennis Werner Collection of Seed Catalogs (MC 00573)

Purchased by the Acquisitions and Discovery Department of the NSCU Libraries (Accession 2023.0055)

Processed by: Gevorg Vardanyan, 2023 April; Finding aid written by Gevorg Vardanyan, 2023 April.