Arranged by topic, as follows: business papers for the offices in New Orleans and New York; papers dealing with business partners, organized geographically by foreign country; a section on steamships arranged alphabetically by name of ship; and minutes of internal divisions.

The collection consists of 17 boxes and 44 volumes. It is 30 linear feet.

Date Acquired: 00/00/1981. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Fruit trade -- Latin America -- History., Fruit trade -- Louisiana -- New Orleans., Latin America -- Commerce -- North America -- History., Louisiana -- History -- 20th century., New Orleans (La.) -- Commerce., Standard Fruit & Steamship Co., Steamboat lines -- History -- 20th century., Steamboats -- History -- 20th century.

Forms of Material: Annual reports., Certificates of incorporation., Clippings (information artifacts), Contracts., Correspondence., Financial records., Minute books., Minutes., Reports., Tax records.

Languages: English, Spanish;Castilian

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection is composed of the business records of Standard Fruit & Steamship Co. and related bodies, including the files of Salvador D'Antoni as well as administrative records throughout the corporate evolution of the company. Items include business papers, blueprints, newspapers, correspondence, minute books, articles of agreement, financial papers, minutes, contracts, telegrams, reports, clippings, and pamphlets.

Biographical Note

The history of the Standard Fruit and Steamship Company traces the success of two Italian immigrant families in building a small fruit stand into a large trading conglomerate, chiefly the efforts of the four Vaccaro Brothers and Salvador D'Antoni in developing a fruit-export business from Honduras. This New Orleans-based firm united with Fruit and Steamship Company, Bragman's Bluff Lumber Company, Standard Navigation Company, Bluefields Lumber Company, Eastern Seaboard Corporation, and Southern Banana Corporation. The company owned plantations, railroads and lumber camps in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Islands, as well as a fleet of steamships. The family businesses continued to extend and combine until 1926 when the company was reorganized with a group of bankers into the Standard Fruit & Steamship Corporation. In earlier and later years it was also known as the Standard Fruit & Steamship Company.

Subject/Index Terms

Fruit trade -- Latin America -- History.
Fruit trade -- Louisiana -- New Orleans.
Latin America -- Commerce -- North America -- History.
Louisiana -- History -- 20th century.
New Orleans (La.) -- Commerce.
Standard Fruit & Steamship Co.
Steamboat lines -- History -- 20th century.
Steamboats -- History -- 20th century.

Administrative Information

Repository: Louisiana Research Collection

Accruals: Additional records donated in 1984 by Thomas L. Karnes.

Alternate Extent Statement: 30 linear feet

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

Use Restrictions: Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Acquisition Source: Standard Fruit & Steamship Company.

Acquisition Method: Gift.

Preferred Citation: Standard Fruit & Steamship Company records, Manuscripts Collection 653, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118

Processing Information: Collection processed in 1986 by Sue McGrady Woodward.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid information entered in Archon by LAC Group in 2011. Revised by LAC Group 4/21/11.

Other Note: OCLC Number: 298132161

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: History and business papers, undated, 1901-1928],
[Box 2: Business papers, 1929-1938],
[Box 3: Business papers, 1939-1945 August],
[Box 4: Business papers and Cuba, 1945 September-1957, 1906-1927],
[Box 5: Cuba and Haiti, 1928-1947, 1939-1945],
[Box 6: Haiti, 1946-1948 August],
[Box 7: Honduras, 1906-1932],
[Box 8: Honduras and Jamaica, 1933-1963, 1925-1947],
[Box 9: Mexico, 1910-1947],
[Box 10: Nicaragua, 1923-1931],
[Box 11: Nicaragua and Panama, 1932-1947, 1920-1928 August],
[Box 12: Panama and steamships: Amapala to Kosmos],
[Box 13: Steamships: Louis Geraci to Worden],
[Box 14: Steamships Yoro-Yuma, other blueprints, Castle and Cook, United Fruit Company, Newspapers and printed material],
[Box 15: Haiti diplomatic correspondence],
[Box 16: Vaccaro minute books, 1918-1920, 1927-1935],
[Box 17: Serials],
[Volume 1: Abbott Motors, Incorporated, minute book, 1923-1927],
[Volume 2: Alonzo Church and Company, Incorporated, 1928-1931],
[Volume 3: American Fruit and Steamship Corporation, minute book number 4, 1929-1932],
[Volume 4: American Fruit and Steamship Corporation, minute book 5, 1933],
[Volume 5: Banana Distributing Company and Gulf Banana Dispatch Company, 1926-1930],
[Volume 6: Bluefields Lumber Company minute book, 1921-1922],
[Volume 7: Bluefields Lumber Company minute book, 1921-1927],
[Volume 8: Bragman's Bluff Lumber Company, Incorporated, minute book, 1921-1926],
[Volume 9: Bragman's Bluff Lumber Company, Incorporated, board of directors minutes, 1926-1934],
[Volume 10: Bragman's Bluff Lumber Company, Incorporated, corporate records, 1935-1942],
[Volume 11: Bragman's Bluff Lumber Company, Incorporated, minute book, 1935],
[Volume 12: Ceiba Steamship Company, corporate records, 1915-1921],
[Volume 13: Cerveceria Hondurena, Sociedad Anónima, a history, 1916-1966],
[Volume 14: S. DiGiorgio and Company, Incorporated, 1918-1922],
[Volume 15: Eastern Seaboard Corporation, number 1, 1930],
[Volume 16: Eastern Seaboard Corporation, finance committee, 1930-1933],
[Volume 17: Eastern Seaboard Corporation, collateral trust indenture, 1930],
[Volume 18: Gravier Realty Company minute book, 1912-1923],
[Volume 19: The Grunewald Hotel minute book, 1917-1923],
[Volume 20: Mexican-American Fruit and Steamship Corporation, executive committee minutes, 1924-1926],
[Volume 21: Mexican-American Fruit and Steamship Corporation, executive committee minutes, 1925-1928],
[Volume 22: Mexican-American Fruit and Steamship Corporation, board of directors and stockholders minutes, 1923-1924],
[Volume 23: Mexican-American Fruit and Steamship Corporation, board of directors and stockholders minutes, book 2, 1924-1926],
[Volume 24: Mexican-American Fruit and Steamship Corporation, board of directors and stockholders minutes, book 3, 1927-1930],
[Volume 25: New Orleans Independent Laundries, Incorporated, board of directors minutes, 1929-1940],
[Volume 26: Seaboard Steamship Corporation, board of directors minutes, 1933-1941],
[Volume 27: Southern Banana Corporation, number 1, 1923-1925],
[Volume 28: Southern Banana Corporation, number 2-A, 1926-1927],
[Volume 29: Southern Banana Corporation, number 3, 1927-1934],
[Volume 30: Southern Banana Corporation, number 4, 1935-1941],
[Volume 31: Southern Steamship and Banana Company, 1910-1924],
[Volume 32: Southern Steamship and Banana Company, 1926-1938],
[Volume 39: Standard Fruit and Steamship Company Banana Handling Committee, 1953-1955],
[Volume 40: Standard Fruit and Steamship of Mexico, board of directors and stockholders minutes, 1932-1941],
[Volume 41: Standard Navigation Corporation, 1936-1949],
[Volume 42: United States Development Company, minutes of directors and stockholders, number 2, 1923-1931],
[Volume 43: Wawa Boom, Incorporated, 1927-1932],
[Volume 44: Winship Fuel Oil Service, Incorporated, 1922-1932],
[Volume 45: Yoro Steamship Company, 1915-1921],
[Volume 46: Zito Trading Company, Incorporated, 1917-1925],
[Volume 47: Castle and Cook, Incorporated, annual report, 1969-1977],
[Volume 48: Castle and Cook, Incorporated, report, 1970s],
[All]

Box 4: Business papers and Cuba, 1945 September-1957, 1906-1927

Joseph DiGiorgio began his export business in Cuba after learning the export trade in New York and growing citrus in Florida. He developed the DiGiorgio Fruit Company which incorporated in 1922. In a merger with the Vaccaro Brothers to create Mexican-American Fruit in 1923 DiGiorgio Cuban Fruit became a subsidary. Joseph DiGiorgio also was part owner in DiGiorgio Huarte Cuban Fruit Company from 1928-1932. Also doing business in Cuba was Compania de Almancenes Atares in which Standard had varying interests.

At first Kingsbury and Company/ Branon and Company represented Standard Fruit as shipping agents in Cuba, but Standard Fruit became more committed in Cuba, and by 1927 they had set up their own agency.

Folder 1: Business papers, 1945 September

September 3. Memorandum showing assets and liabilities of Standard Fruit.

September 25. M.A. Kerwin memorandum on results of meeting on operations on the Caribbean area by shipping representatives of various shipping lines.

Correspondence concerning sale of Bunker Hill property to Mr. and Mrs. Parker W. Heath and shipbuilding by foreign shipyards.

Folder 2: Business papers, 1945 October

Correspondence concerning donation of fellowship monies for the study of tropical medicine at Tulane University and problems in acquiring documentation of the sale of the Bunker Hill property.

Folder 3: Business papers, 1945 November-December

Correspondence concerning the problems in delivery of logs to Ceiba, Honduras; sailing dates for Italy; change in assignments of Marine Department staff; problems of surtax with Tropical Ice Company; and development of new banana immune to Panama Disease.

Data furnished the Chicago Title and Trust Company for the completion of the sale of the Bunker Hill Property.

Notice of the death of Charles Leftwich.

Folder 4: Business papers, 1946 January

Correspondence concerning possible sale of Bluefields Merchantile property in Nicaragua.

List of staff and base salaries.

January 9. Lindsay P. Downer, Jamaica, memorandum to W.A. Blackmon: description of Thomas immune bananas.

Folder 5: Business papers, 1946 February

Correspondence concerning employment inquiries from foreign nationals, strike in Jamaica, profit and loss statement for Bluefield's Merchantile Company, and the Steamship Eros to return to the Atlantic service.

Folder 6: Business papers, 1946 March

Correspondence concerning redelivery of Steamship Eros by the British Ministry.

Folder 7: Business papers, 1946 April 1-9

Correspondence concerning sale of bananas to England, adjustment of wages for ship officers with figures, and ships to be used for the Jamaican service.

Folder 8: Business papers, 1946 April 10-19

Correspondence concerning the allocation of the ex-German vessel, the Pelikan and wage increases for ship crews.

Folder 9: Business papers, 1946 April 20-30

Correspondence concerning the cost of reconversion of Steamship Caloria.

Folder 10: Business papers, 1946 May

Correspondence concerning purchase price of ships, the Jamaican trade and immune bananas.

List of personnel for the New York division of Standard Fruit and salaries.

Folder 11: Business papers, 1946 June

Statement of banana handling expenses.

Folder 12: Business papers, 1946 July 1-9

Correspondence concerning salary bonuses to be paid employees and contract with the Royal Albert Dock, London.

Folder 13: Business papers, 1946 July 10-19

Observation of marketing Jamaican bananas. Recollections of Bill Collins from 1898, 1902.

Documents concerning the suit of Max. N. Kohler v. Byron C. McClellan regarding: Crescent City Laundries.

Folder 14: Business papers, 1946 July 20-31

List of Southern Division weekly import of bananas.

Correspondence concerning ship replacement of funds to be extended (Metagalpa, Amapala, Ceiba, and Masaya).

Folder 15: Business papers, 1946 August

Report on banana export and United Fruit by the All Island Banana Growers' Association, Jamaica.

Results of the May 1946 elections in Haiti.

Folder 16: Business papers, 1946 September 1-19

Correspondence concerning the Jamaica-London service.

Payroll for Standard Fruit for August.

Folder 17: Business papers, 1946 September 20-30

Correspondence concerning the Standard Fruit in Jamaica.

Folder 18: Business papers, 1946 October 1-19

Correspondence concerning adequate facilities for the supercargo and their staff aboard the banana ships.

Inspection reports on Steamship Wanks.

Drawing for addition of a dining room, office and two cabins on the Steamship Atlantida.

Folder 19: Business papers, 1946 October 21-30

Wage list for licensed personnel on foreign flag ships and reports on equipping ships.

Folder 20: Business papers, 1946 November 1-9

Expenses for the Cefalu and Atlantida. Correspondence concerning possible sale of the Montego Bay Wharf property and federal estate taxes on succession of Joseph Vaccaro.

List of wage scale for motor vessel crews.

Folder 21: Business papers, 1946 November 10-19

Correspondence concerning sale of Steamship Wanks and pay for Jamaican buying stations.

Folder 22: Business papers, 1946 November 20-30

Correspondence concerning London terminal and contract.

Folder 23: Business papers, 1946 December 1-9

Correspondence concerning Christmas bonus for Jamaican personnel.

Folder 24: Business papers, 1946 December 10-19

Correspondence concerning sale of Montego Bay Wharf and lighters and transfer of Steamship Eros to the Jamaican service.

Folder 25: Business papers, 1946 December 20-31

Statement of properties and values in Honduras, New Orleans, New York, Panama, Cuba, Steamship and Motorships, Haiti, Jamaica, Canada, Nicaragua divisions, Terminal Banana Company, Cleveland Banana Company, and Compania de Almacenes Atares.

Folder 26: Business papers, 1947 January 1-19

Correspondence concerning repairs to be made on the Steamship Atlantida and call for wage review by National Maritime Union.

Folder 27: Business papers, 1947 January 20-31

Correspondence concerning wage increase for Radio Officers and requirement of all directors to be American citizens in order to comply with the Maritime Commission (Miceli is not).

Statement of costs of the Steamship Yoro.

Folder 28: Business papers, 1947 February 1-9

Correspondence concerning retirement of Chief Engineer McChesney.

Folder 29: Business papers, 1947 February 10-28

Correspondence concerning pay scale for ship crews.

Statement of monies due from officers and employees of Standard Fruit.

Folder 30: Business papers, 1947 March

Sailing orders for the Steamship Cefalu returning to New Orleans and monies owed by officers and employees.

Folder 31: Business papers, 1947 April 1-9

Correspondence concerning cargo for the Steamship St. Mary, wages for the ship crews, and sale of Standard Fruit stock in the Hibernia Bank liquidation.

Folder 32: Business papers, 1947 April 10-30

Correspondence concerning salaries for foreign flag crewmen and ship sprinkler systems.

April 29. R.C. Rose: report on inspection trip to Honduras, Panama, and Nicaragua.

Folder 33: Business papers, 1947 May

Schedule of administrative officers of Standard Fruit.

Crew list and salaries for Steamships Cefalu and Contessa.

Memorandum regarding Standard Fruit's federal income and excess-profit taxes for 1941 and subsequent years compiled by Marvin Lyons, George Landwehr, and W.A. Blackmon.

May 12. M.A. Kerwin memorandum to Salvador D'Antoni: concerning purchase of government vessels.

May 15. John Brownson memorandum for Salvador D'Antoni: concerning United Fruit's banana development in Santo Domingo.

May 29. Richard B. Montgomery, Jr., to Salvador D'Antoni: concerns suit of Rosa Ducros Tennant's opposition to sale of Standard Fruit stock.

Folder 34: Business papers, 1947 June

Article on Standard Fruit shipping in Trade Winds, the log of International House. Suit of Max N. Kohler v. Byron C. McClellan.

Folder 35: Business papers, 1947 July

Correspondence concerning overtime pay for ship crews, Tropical Ice Company in liquidation, and pay rates for crews on various ships.

Folder 36: Business papers, 1947 August

Correspondence concerning foreign patients and the development of Ochsner Hospital and the purchase of land from the Illinois Central Railroad for the hospital.

August 19. Richard Pittini, Archbishop of Santo Domingo to Ralph C. Lally: concerning the possible colonization of Italian laborers on banana plantations in Santo Domingo.

Folder 37: Business papers, 1947 September-October

Article on Standard Fruit in New Orleans Port Record.

Folder 38: Business papers, 1947 November

Correspondence concerning companies in liquidation: Tropical Ice and Hibernia Bank.

Folder 39: Business papers, 1947 December

Correspondence concerning war-risk insurance on vessels and Standard Fruit's payroll for the month of December.

Folder 40: Business papers, 1948 January

Correspondence concerning case of Max N. Kohler v. Byron C. McClellan, shipping of immune bananas from Jamaica, and death of William Leftwich, Vice-President and Treasurer of Standard Fruit.

Folder 41: Business papers, 1948 February

Correspondence concerning British government purchase of banana crop in Jamaica.

Folder 42: Business papers, 1948 March

Standard Fruit's payroll for the month of February.

March 18. A.J. Chute to John Brownson: report on trip to Santo Domingo.

Folder 43: Business papers, 1948 April

Correspondence concerning Tropical Ice Company, wages for ship crews, and United States bonds held by Standard Fruit.

Folder 44: Business papers, 1948 May-December

Correspondence concerning change in allowance for banana companies in Jamaica. Newspaper clippings about visit of Mayor Morrison and Blaise D'Antoni to Trujillo, Honduras, and profit and loss analysis.

Folder 45: Business papers, 1949

Folder 46: Business papers, 1950

Correspondence concerning suit of Troical Ice v. Donnelly, Internal Revenue Service.

Folder 47: Business papers, 1951

Newspaper clipping on Samuel Zemurray.

Folder 48: Business papers, 1957

Translation of article on log of Cycloop.

Folder 49: Materials, undated

List of stockholders in Standard Fruit.

Folder 50: Newspaper clippings

Clippings and pamphlets concerning shipping, bananas, and Italy.

Folder 51: Cuba, 1900

January 17. Military orders on reestablishment of 8% tax on profits. Order number 463. English.

Folder 52: Cuba, 1921

Estatutos and Reglamento. Havana Clearing House, 1921.

Folder 53: Cuba, 1922

Incorporation papers of DiGiorgio Cuban Fruit Company.

Folder 54: Cuba, 1923

Certificate of incorporation of Central Fruit Company in Delaware.

Folder 55: Cuba, 1924

Balance sheet of DiGiorgio Cuban Fruit, Baracoa, Cuba.

Folder 56: Cuba, 1925 January-April

Minutes of share holders meeting of DiGiorgio Cuban Fruit translated into English.

Folder 57: Cuba, 1925 May-December

Power of attorney of Standard Fruit for Carmelo D'Antoni for use in the Republic of Havana. Councilar stamp, Spanish, also English translation.

Folder 58: Cuba, 1926 April-August

Minutes of Board of Directors of DiGiorgio Cuban Fruit Company.

Folder 59: Cuba, 1926 April-August

Minutes of Board of Directors meeting of DiGiorgio Cuban Fruit Company.

Folder 60: Cuba, 1926 September-October

List of directors of DiGiorgio Cuban Fruit Company and share which, except for seven shares, are wholly owned by Mexican-American Fruit Company.

Folder 61: Cuba, 1926 November-December

Statements of profits and loss of DiGiorgio Cuban Fruit Company.

Folder 62: Cuba, 1927 January

Minutes of Board of Directors of DiGiorgio Cuban Fruit Company and correspondence concerning stockholders.

Folder 63: Cuba, 1927 February-April

Correspondence concerning preparation of statements and costs due to cyclone damage.

Folder 64: Cuba, 1927 May

Financial connection of Compania de Almacenes Atares to Standard Fruit.

Minutes of Board of Directors of DiGiorgio Cuban Fruit Company.

Folder 65: Cuba, 1927 June 1-20

Minutes of Board of Directors of DiGiorgio Cuban Fruit Company.

Correspondence concerning banking in Havana.

Folder 66: Cuba, 1927 June 21-30

Correspondence concerning rental of warehouse and dock property of Atares to Standard Fruit; keeping Kingsbury and Company as shipping agents, but no longer handling accounts; and establishing a branch of Standard Fruit in Cuba.

Balance sheet of Compania de Almacenes Atares.

Folder 67: Cuba, 1927 July 1-20

Documentation necessary to establish a branch of Standard Fruit in Cuba.

Folder 68: Cuba, 1927 July 21-31

Correspondence concerning lease of Standard Fruit with Atares. List of formalities to complete in order to conduct business in Cuba.

Folder 69: Cuba, 1927 August 1-15

Consular statement qualifying Standard Fruit to conduct business in Cuba.

Folder 70: Cuba, 1927 August 16-31

Correspondence concerning Standard Fruit conducting business in Cuba.

Folder 71: Cuba, 1927 September-October

Correspondence concerning documentation needed for the Cuban office of Finance and the Mercantile Registry.

Folder 72: Cuba, 1927 November

November 30, balance sheet for Standard Fruit, Cuba.

Folder 73: Cuba, 1927 December

December 28. William Leftwich memorandum to Charles Leftwich concerning establishing an agency in Havana, Cuba.

Minutes of Board Directors of DiGiorgio Cuban Fruit Company. Tax figures for Atares and Standard Fruit.

Tulane University Special Collections