Guide to the Joe J. Locati Papers
1880-1998

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Overview of the Collection

Creator: Locati, Joe J.
Title: Joe J. Locati Papers
Dates: 1880-1998 ( inclusive )
Quantity: 1.5 linear feet (2 boxes: 1 oversized box)
Collection Number: HTM_WCMss44
Summary: Research materials of Joe Locati, an inspector with the US Department of Agriculture, including photographs and newspaper articles related to agriculture in Walla Walla and the history of Italian Jesuits in the Northwest
Repository: Whitman College and Northwest Archives

345 Boyer Avenue
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 527-5922
archives@whitman.edu
http://www.whitman.edu/archives

Languages: Materials are in English 

Biographical Note

Joe J. Locati was born in 1908, the fourth son of Milanese immigrants. He was the first member of his family to attend high school. After graduating, he enrolled in business school but eventually turned to gardening. His first job with the Walla Walla Gardener’s Association eventually led him to become an inspector for the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

In 1978, after his retirement, he wrote The Horticultural Heritage of Walla Walla County, 1818-1977. It has become a well-known resource for area growers and historians. He also penned a manuscript titled, "Walla Walla Sweet Onion: The French Connection."

Content Description

Photographs, newspaper articles, and other research materials Locati used in compiling his work on Walla Walla County's horticultural history, a series of articles on the history of Italian Jesuits in the Northwest, and two scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings regarding horticultural practices in Walla Walla, 1918-1981.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access :  

Collection is open for research.

Restrictions on Use :  

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. for copyright not held by Whitman College.

Preferred Citation :  

Joe J. Locati Papers, Whitman College and Northwest Archives.

Administrative Information

Arrangement :

Collection is arranged by item.

Acquisition Information :  

Donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives by Joe J. Locati between 1979 and 1995.


Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Box/Folder
1/1 Research materials for The Horticultural Heritage of Walla Walla County, 1818-1977: Photocopied pictures, notes 1978
1/2 Photo: Picking apples, Baker Langdon Orchard
2 photos
circa 1919-1920
1/3 Photo: Interior Baker-Langdon apple packing house
1 photo
circa 1920
1/4 Photo: Apple orchard of W. S. Offner
1 photo
circa 1900
1/5 Photo: Asparagus picking and packing
7 photos
Undated
1/6 Photo: Attalia Project Supply Dam on Walla Walla River
1 photo
circa 1909
1/7 Photo: Baker-Langdon Orchard, looking toward Blue Mts.
1 photo
circa 1917
1/8 Photo: Blalock Fruit Company, packing house and employees
1 photo
circa 1913
1/9 Photo: One section of the Blalock Ranch
1 photo
circa 1905
1/10 Photo: Field graded and sized onions in sacks, from the Bossini field
1 photo
circa 1955
1/11 Photo: Corn receiving area, Walla Walla
1 photo
1977
1/12 Photo: Fort Nez Perce. From A. Ross' "Fur Hunters"
1 photo
Undated
1/13 Sketch: Residence of James W. Foster and surrounding area circa 1870s
Original and 1 photocopy (enlarged)
Undated
1/14 Photo: Frazier apple tree
2 color photos
Undated
1/15 Photo: Apples from grafted Frazier apple tree grown on Locati's farm
1 color photo
Undated
1/16 Photo: Three trees grafted from Frazier apple tree, on Locati's farm
1 color photo
Undated
1/17 Photo: Frazier barn. Built in 1877, collapsed in 1982
3 color photos
Undated
1/18 Negatives: Frazier apple tree
2 strips of 4 color negatives
circa 1978
1/19 Photo: Prune warehouses at Garrett Siding; previously a unit of Blalock Fruit Co.
1 photo
Undated
1/20 Photo: Mechanical grape harvesting, Snake River Vineyards
1 photo
circa 1976
1/21 Photo: Hancock pear tree on site
1 photo
1981 August 25
1/22 Photo: Grafted sapling from Hancock pear tree at Locati's farm
2 color photos
Undated
1/23 Photo: Pears from Locati's sapling, grafted from Hancock pear tree
1 color photo
Undated
1/24 Photo: "The Horticultural Heritage of Walla Walla County 1818-1977," publicity photos Undated
1/25 Photo: Aerial view of circle irrigation near Snake River
2 photos
circa 1977
1/26 Photo: Chinese workers loading truck with sacks of onions
1 photo
circa 1918
1/27 Photo: Onions: Finishing a field, topping and filling field bins via field crates
1 photo
Undated
1/28 Photo: Onions: fall seeded onions in field, untreated for white rot
2 photos
Undated
1/29 Photo: Tarusci's onion field on Williams' place
1 photo
Undated
1/30 Photo: Onions in John Gao's field
3 photos
circa 1977
1/31 Photo: Orchard spraying demonstration in Walla Walla Valley
1 photo
circa 1912
1/32 Photo: Pasco Power and Water Co's irrigation project
1 photo
circa 1909
1/33 Photo: Pasco Power and Water Co., Wing Dam in Snake River
1 photo
circa 1900
1/34 Photo: Green pea viner station
1 photo
circa 1940
1/35 Photo: Pitchfork loading of green peas for processing
1 photo
circa 1930
1/36 Photo: Pioneer Park
4 photos
circa 1977
1/37 Photo: Seed potatoes, K2H farm
1 photo
circa 1977
1/38 Photo: Roadside stand
1 photo
circa 1920
1/39 Photo: Smith, W.D. Merchant; Lynum, Martin. Upholsterer. Alder between 1st and 2nd
1 photo
circa 1887
1/40 Photo: Giuseppe, Louis, Frank, and Royal Spagnuolo in onion field
1 photo
circa 1915
1/41 Photo: 4 row spinach cutter in field
3 photos
1977
1/42 Photo: Home of Joseph Tachi
2 photos
1977
1/43 Painting: Dave Manuel's Painting of the Whitman Mission House and Blacksmith Shop
1 photo
Undated
1/44 Photo: Walla Walla Gardeners' Association Packing Plant
1 photo
1917
1/45 Photo: Walla Walla Produce Co. loading and unloading dock
1 photo
1915
1/46 Photo: Walla Walla Produce Co. Prune Packinghouse stateline
3 photos
Undated
1/47 Photo: Joe Locati's Frazier apple tree, relocated to Whitman College
4 photos: 3 on campus shots, 1 Joe Locati's tree
Undated
1/48 Joe Locati: Clippings: Articles about The Horticultural Heritage of Walla Walla County, 1818-1977; letter to the editors of the Pacific Northwest Forum about Joe's articles 1978-1979
1/49 Joe Locati: Correspondence with Walla Walla Union Bulletin (re: Article about Columbus); Ronald B. Tukey (Re: more copies of "The Horticultural Heritage"); Lawrence Dodd (Re: donations to archive collection); Berney family (Re: Locati's speech at William Berry's funeral) Various
1/50 Joe Locati: Article about "John Hancock" Pear Tree at Reavis Station Undated
1/51 Joe Locati: Research for article about John Hancock pear tree at Reavis Station: correspondence, etc. Undated
1/52 Joe Locati: 11-part series, "Italian Jesuits in Northwest History". Written for the Walla Walla Italian Heritage News Undated
1/53 Joe Locati: Story about C.R. Frazier and his apple trees; article quoting Locati on ceremonial replanting of 3 Frazier trees Undated
1/54 Joe Locati: History of the "Whitman Campus" apple tree; 4 photos of said tree before 1972 removal; narrative of copyright issues between Locati and Larry McGraw Undated
1/55 Statue: Christopher Columbus. Article about Walla Walla Columbus Day celebrations; dedication of Columbus statue by Italian-American WW residents; full text of dedication speech by Father J.D. O'Brien; Joe Locati's article about history of Columbus Day in Walla Walla Undated
1/56 Article: "Columbus Quincentennial Snipes," by Joe Locati. Defense of Columbus' achievements in light of "recent Columbus-bashing" Undated
1/57 Article: "Origin of the word ‘wop’," by Joe Locati. Response to a Dear Abby column about the etymology of the derogatory term "wop" Undated
1/58 "Walla Walla Sweet Onion: The French Connection" - excerpt from The Horticultural Heritage of Walla Walla County, 1818-1977 by Joe Locati
3 copies
Undated
1/59 History of Walla Walla horticulture: Two articles by Joe Locati Undated
1/60 Letter to the Editor of the Walla Walla Union Bulletin by Joe Locati Re: Misconceptions and errors in article entitled "Area's Italian-American history studied" 1989 May
1/61 History of Giuseppe Tacchi in Walla Walla, 1880 to 1912; Article in Walla Walla Union Bulletin re: Death of Joe Tachi, 1912; follow-up articles about his funeral and memorial service; article, "Men who have achieved success in the Walla Walla Valley" circa 1911. All compiled by Joe Locati 1880-1912
1/62 Joe Locati: Newspaper Articles, Obituaries, and Funeral Announcement 1982-1998
Box
2 Newspaper clips regarding horticultural practices in Walla Walla, 1918-1981
2 scrap books
1918-1981

Subjects

  • Locati, Joe J.,1908- -- Archives.

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Subjects

  • Horticulture -- Washington (State) -- Walla Walla County -- History
  • Italian Americans -- Washington (State) -- Walla Walla County -- History
  • Italians -- Washington (State) -- Walla Walla County -- History
  • Walla Walla County (Wash.) -- History

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Subjects

  • The Horticultural Heritage of Walla Walla County, 1818-1977

^ Return to Top