Archives of American Gardens

Bedman Brothers Company records, 1859-1984

Summary

Collection ID:
AAG.BED
Creators:
Bedman, John
Bedman, James
Bedman, William
Bedman, Joseph
Bedman, Frank
Bedman, Charles
Bedman Brothers Rahway, New Jersey.
Thorburn, James
Bedman Brothers
William Bedman Seed Company (Rahway, New Jersey)
Dates:
1859 - 1984
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
8.5 Cubic feet
Repository:
The Bedman Brothers Company Records collection focuses primarily on the business and financial transactions of Bedman Brothers seed company of Rahway, New Jersey, and includes accounting ledgers, purchase orders, price lists, miscellaneous business and family correspondence, and various brochures, pamphlets and leaflets related to horticultural topics. Other holdings in the collection include World War II ration stamps and two scrapbooks, one of which contains many late nineteenth and early twentieth century chromo-lithographed trade cards (primarily from the sewing, clothing, and floral industries). The other scrapbook holds news clippings from the Civil War period. Seperated materials include seed gathering equipment used by field workers.

Historical note

Historical note
The William Bedman Seed Company of Rahway, New Jersey was established in 1843 by William Bedman with the support of James Thorburn, a Manhattan seed purveyor. The firm, later called Bedman Brothers, was principally a wholesale mail order seed company that sold to consumer-end seed houses such as Vicks, W. Atlee Burpee, and George J. Ball. Bedman Brothers became known for its production of salvias (sage), including the development of 'Bonfire' or Clara Bedman sage variety. The company continued after William Bedman's tenure under the leadership of his sons Charles, James and John. The business ended after the death of Joseph Bedman, William's grandson, in 1962.

Administration

Author
Josh Lascell
Separated Materials
Assorted nursery and trade catalogs and price lists from the Bedman Brothers records were transferred to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History Library, Horticulture Trade Catalogs Collection.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the Smithsonian Office of Horticulture (later Horticulture Services Division) in 1984 by Gladys and Florence Whitehead, great-granddaughters of William Bedman.
Processing Information
Encoded by AAA intern, Brittany Dunton, December 2011.
Processing Information
The records were processed by AAG intern Josh Lascell in 2005.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Conditions Governing Use
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Bedman Brothers Company Records.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Mail-order business Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Negatives Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brochures Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Price lists Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Account books -- 19th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Administrative records Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Artifacts Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Leaflets Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ledgers (account books) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Seed industry and trade Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Seeds -- Processing -- Equipment and supplies Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Salvia Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Flowers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Horticulture Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Account books -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Purchase orders Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pamphlets Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bedman Brothers Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives of American Gardens
P.O. Box 37012
Capital Gallery West, Suite 3300, MRC 506
Washington, DC 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-5840
Fax Number: Fax: 202-633-5697
aag@si.edu