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Damon and Barbara Halferty photograph collection, approximately 1912-1916
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- Halferty, Barbara
- Title
- Damon and Barbara Halferty photograph collection
- Dates
- approximately
1912-1916 (inclusive)19071921
- Quantity
- 19 black and white photographic prints and 3 color photographic prints (2 folders) ; various sizes
- Collection Number
- PH0724
- Summary
- Photographs of Peter Halferty's clam canning company, Sea Beach Packing Company, and its operations at Grayland and Copalis, Washington and at Cordova, Alaska
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Peter F. Halferty began his business of canning razor clams during the financial panic of 1893, in a small beach town near Warrington, Oregon. He conceived the idea of mincing, canning, and selling the clams that were extremely plentiful along the beach as a means of supporting his sick wife and five children. By 1900, Halferty had relocated his business, the Sea Beach Packing Company, to Markham in Grays Harbour, Washington. He soon opened additional plants in Westport, Aberdeen, Copalis, Moclips, Washington and Cordova, Alaska. Management of the company was later passed to his sons, Guy P. Halferty (1882-1960) and Damon James Halferty (1888-1939).
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
Peter F. Halferty started selling clams to the residents of Astoria, Oregon in 1893, and over the next ten years developed new canning processes and distribution models, as he moved from glass jars to tin cans. He began by processing four dozen jars in a wash boiler and peddling them from house to house in Astoria, the nearest large town. His success there was encouraging at first, but he encountered some difficulties when it became apparent that his clams would not keep. He remedied the problem by adding salt to the water, creating a denser liquid that boiled at a higher temperature. This allowed the clams to keep in their jars.
Once he had perfected his canning process, Halferty began to expand his business. He bought larger equipment, hired diggers and cannery helpers, and began to can in tins. He named his business the Sea Beach Packing Company, and the name of his product Pioneer Minced Sea Clams. In 1900 the Sea Beach Packing Company relocated to Grays Harbour, Washington and established its cannery at Markham. Other canneries were built at Westport, Aberdeen, Copalis, and Moclips, Washington, and Cordova, Alaska.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Photographs of the clam canning company, Sea Beach Packing Company, and its operations at Grayland and Copalis, Washington and at Cordova, Alaska. Includes 3 color photographs of the company's crate and can labels. The company was started by Peter Halferty and some Halferty family members are pictured in some of the photos.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View selections from the collection in digital format .
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Preferred Citation
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Canneries--Washington (State)--Photographs
- Cannery workers--Washington (State)--Photographs
- Clam fisheries--Washington (State)--Photographs
- Clam industry--Washington (State)--Photographs
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Geographical Names
- Copalis Beach (Wash.)--Photographs
- Cordova (Alaska)--Photographs
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Halferty, Barbara (creator)
- Halferty, Damon (creator)
