Pioneer Minced Sea Clams album, between 1910 and 1920?

Overview of the Collection

Title
Pioneer Minced Sea Clams album
Dates
between 1910 and 1920? (inclusive)
Quantity
1 album of 11 photographs (1 folder) ; 6.25 x 10.25 in.
Collection Number
PH0721
Summary
Photograph album including images of razor clams and clam digging
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

Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

The business of canning razor clams began during the financial panic of 1893, in a small beach town near Warrenton, Oregon. Peter F. Halferty 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. 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, 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 also began to introduce his then unknown delicacy to a wider circle by going to offices, banks and businesses to demonstrate his product's value. Once he was even arrested for distributing food without a license. Through his efforts, a demand was created and the expansion of his company began. He named his business, Sea Beach Packing Company, and named his product, Pioneer Minced Sea Clams.

No one else was quite sure how to can clams and Peter Halferty was very secretive about his canning process, which helped to eliminate competition in the industry for some time. In time, however, his secrets leaked out and other companies began canning clams under different brands. Thus, the coastal clam canning industry was established.

In 1900, the Sea Beach Packing Company relocated to Grays Harbor, Washington and established the cannery at Markham in Grays Harbor, Washington. Other canneries were built at Westport, Aberdeen, Copalis, and Moclips, Washington, and Cordova, Alaska. Management of the company was later passed on to Peter's sons, Guy P. Halferty (1882-1960) and Damon James Halferty (1888-1939).

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains photographs of the clamming industry in Washington State including cars parked on the beach, people digging for razor clams, cleaned clams, and a weigh-in station.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View 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.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donor: Halferty family, November 8, 1960.

Processing Note

Processed by Anna Siedzik, 2005, and Solveig Ekenes, 2006.

The album was relocated from the Guy Peter Halferty Papers, Acc. No. 0133-001, in the repository. Two duplicate albums remain in the Halferty Papers.

Related Materials

For more information on the Sea Beach Packing Company and Pioneer Minced Sea Clams, please refer to the .

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Pioneer Minced Sea Clams Album, between 1910 and 1920?Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Page item
1 1 between 1910 and 1920?
1 2 between 1910 and 1920?
1 3 between 1910 and 1920?
1 4-6 between 1910 and 1920?
1 7 between 1910 and 1920?
1 8 between 1910 and 1920?
1 9 between 1910 and 1920?
1 10 between 1910 and 1920?
1 11 between 1910 and 1920?

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Clam fisheries--Washington (State)--Photographs
  • Clam industry--Washington (State)
  • Clamming--Washington (State)--Photographs
  • Razor clams
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Halferty, Guy Peter, 1882-1960 (collector)