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)
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.

Request at UW

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

Acquisition Information

Donor: Karen Halferty Davis; received March 5, 2006.

Processing Note

Processed by Solveig Ekenes, 2006.

Related Materials

For more information on Pioneer Minced Sea Clams, please refer to the Pioneer Minced Sea Clams Album, PH Coll 721 in the repository.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
1 1 Damon James Halferty between 1912 and 1916?
1 2 Guy P. Halferty between 1912 and 1916?
1 3 Halferty Cannery at Grayland, Washington between 1912 and 1916?
folder:oversize
XH5 4 Panoramic photograph of Sea Beach Packing Works, plant number 2, Copalis, Washington
Known locally as "Halferty Brothers Cannery on the Copalis River." Right to left: Main facility, warehouse and company boarding house. Bridge at left crosses Copalis River.
between 1912 and 1916?
XH5 5 Panoramic photograph of employees outside Sea Beach Packing Works, plant number 2, Copalis, Washington
Messegee's Studio, Aberdeen (photographer)
between 1912 and 1916?
Folder
1 6 Three cannery workmen sitting on cases of canned clams at Sea Beach Packing Works, plant number 2, Copalis, Washington between 1912 and 1916?
1 7 Three clam diggers in wagon pulled by white horses, Copalis, Washington between 1912 and 1916?
1 8 Two clam diggers beside horse-drawn wagon, Copalis, Washington between 1912 and 1916?
1 9 Weighing in clams at Sea Beach Packing Works, plant number 2, Copalis, Washington between 1912 and 1916?
1 10 Hauling clams up to cannery at Sea Beach Packing Works, plant number 2, Copalis, Washington between 1912 and 1916?
1 11 Cannery truck at Sea Beach Packing Works, plant number 2, Copalis, Washington between 1912 and 1916?
1 12 Damon Halferty and his dog "Bob" standing near horse-drawn wagon loaded with several cases of "Pioneer Minced Sea Clams" between 1912 and 1916?
1 13 Part of Sea Beach Packing Works, plant number 2, Copalis, Washington between 1912 and 1916?
1 14 Corner of Sea Beach Packing Works, plant number 2, Copalis, Washington, showing company store and post office in the background 1912?
1 15 Company store, Sea Beach Packing Works, plant number 2, Copalis, Washington between 1912 and 1916?
1 16 Company boarding house, Sea Beach Packing Works, plant number 2, Copalis, Washington, with Guy P. Halferty, Jr. on boardwalk between 1912 and 1916?
1 17 Guy Jr. and others standing in front of the pool room at Copalis, Washington 1912
1 18-19 Pioneer Packing Company, Cordova, Alaska 1916?
1 20-21 Crate label for Pioneer Minced Sea Clams, designed after the company was taken over by Guy P. Halferty between 1912 and 1916?
1 22 Pioneer Minced Sea Clams can labels, designed after the company was taken over by Guy P. Halferty between 1912 and 1916?

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)