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Tom Huston Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MC 37

Scope and Contents

The collection includes 24 photographs of his early products (tractors, dirt movers, skidders, etc.); material relating to his 1926 patent for a cellophane peanut bag; audits for Tom Huston Peanut Company, 1929 & 1930; annual reports for Tom's 1959 & 1965; promotional material for Tom's products and Huston's “Early Amber” peaches; a pamphlet, What Happened to Tom Huston? The Whole Story in a Peanut Shell, which explains how he lost financial control of Tom Huston's Peanuts; copies of Time magazine articles about Huston (August 25, 1930 & March 19, 1934); “Tom Huston – Fact or Fancy,” a typescript biography (4 p., no date); copies of a 1950 company history (31 p.) of Tom Huston Peanut Company; a biographical sketch that appeared in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Magazine, August 29 & September 5, 1965; photographs of Huston that appeared in Time magazine & one of Halawaka Lodge, his summer home on Lake Harding; examples of Tom Huston's Lens Arts which are interpretive or abstract photographs; and patent and other records relating to his later businesses.

Dates

  • Creation: 1926 - 1977

Biographical / Historical

An inventive genius, John Thomas "Tom" Huston was born on September 24, 1889 in Shelby County, Alabama and died in Miami, Florida on July 20, 1972. He is buried in Linwood Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia. He developed and manufactured farm implements before he organized Tom Huston Peanut Company (later Tom's) in 1928 and acquired several patents relating to the processing and packaging of peanuts. His pioneering venture into freezing fruit coincided with the depression and his financial reverses in that area led to his losing control of Tom's in 1932. He moved to Florida where he made several other fortunes in pet products and growing peaches.

Extent

4.5 Linear Feet (3 Cubic Foot Boxes )

Language of Materials

English

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Columbus State University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
4225 University Ave
Columbus Georgia 31907 United States