1922 Armour Food Source Map of the United States

A scarce 1922 pictorial map of the United States by Armour. The map documents the early 20th-century transition to mechanized corporate farming. Armour, the publisher, then one of the country's leading meatpacking companies, was at the forefront of this movement.

A Closer Look

The 48 states are displayed with illustrations depicting their diverse agricultural production. As Armour was a leader in the meat-packing industry, livestock is emphasized. The verso includes a history of the meat-packing industry, including the growth of the Chicago stockyards, the invention of refrigerated railroad cars, the development of long-distance markets, and the integration of by-products. The increasingly mechanized nature of agriculture in the early 20th century is further evident in the text and drawings on the verso.

Publication History and Census

This map was produced by Armour and Company in 1922; no other artist or printer is named. This is the first edition of the map. Subsequent revised editions appeared in 1932 and 1960. All three editions are rare, the first two especially so. Although this edition has an OCLC identifier, it is not listed in any known institutional catalog.