1800’s & 1900’s Kansas Grape Growing Documents – Listing

Still think grape growing is new in Kansas? I addition to the four grapevines that are native to Kansas, nurseries have been cultivating grapes for sale since at least 1857. Given Kansas’ first in the nation state prohibition beginning on 1/1/1881, the documentation is difficult to find. To date, we have assembled the list of nursery catalogs and documents listed below.

From this list, we have assembled a list of over 250 different grapes that were propagated here in Kansas in the 1800’s. We also have identified a grape breeder named John Burr who bred grapes in Leavenworth. We have identified at least 24 grapes attributed to his breeding program, of which only one appears to be located here in the United States. A few others appear to be held by institutions in France, Eastern Europe, and South Africa.

We are currently working with the USDA Plant Genetic Resources Unit to return as many of these historic varietals to be planted in a Heritage vineyard here on Bacchus Ranch. This includes potentially returning one or more of John Burr’s Kansas grapes here at home in Kansas. As far as we know, there are no known plantings of his vines currently in the state. We look forward to potentially bringing his grapes home!

Historic Document Copies (Print and Electronic) held at:

Prairie Fire Winery and the Kansas Wine Institute

Paxico, KS

• 1866 Catalog, A. M. Burns, Manhattan, KS (Established 1857)

• 1867-1868 Catalog, A.M. Burns, Manhattan, KS

• 1870 Price List, A.M. Burns, Manhattan, KS
• 1870-1871 Price List, Ottawa University Nursery, Ottawa, KS

• 1871 Price List, Coal Creek Fruit Farm, Lawrence, KS

• 1873 Catalog, Willis’ Nurseries, Ottawa, KS

• 1881 List and Post Office Addresses of the Nurserymen and Small Fruit Growers

• 1881-1882 Descriptive Circular and Price List, Early Victor, John Burr, Leavenworth, KS (Kansas Grape)

• 1882 Manhattan Nursery, Manhattan, KS

• 1884 Manhattan Nursery, Manhattan, KS

• 1885 Catalog, B.F. Smith, Lawrence, KS

• 1886 Catalog, B.F. Smith, Lawrence, KS
• 1886 Catalog, Pleasant View Nursery, Scandia, KS

• 1888 Catalog, B.F. Smith, Lawrence, KS

• 1889 Catalog, B.F. Smith, Lawrence, KS

• 1890 Catalog, Rose Lawn Fruit Farm, Netawaka, KS (Dixon & Son)

• 1891 Catalog, B.F. Smith, Lawrence, KS
• 1891 Catalog, J.F. Cecil, Topeka, KS

• 1895 Catalog, B.F. Smith, Lawrence, KS

• 1896 Catalog, B.F. Smith, Lawrence, KS
• 1896 Catalog, The “Seneca Nurseries”, Seneca, KS
• 1896 Constitution and Bylaws, Shawnee County Horticultural Society
• 1896 Fruit Manual, J. A. Whiteside, Girard, KS
• 1896 Price List, The Kansas Home Nursery, Lawrence, KS

• 1896-97 Price List, BF Smith, Lawrence, KS

• 1897 Catalog, B.F. Smith, Lawrence, KS
• 1897 Catalog, The Seneca Nursery, Seneca, KS
• 1897 Price List, The Kansas Home Nursery, Lawrence, KS
• 1897 Program, Shawnee County Horticultural Society

• 1897-1898 F.W. Watson & Co, Topeka, KS

• 1898 Catalog, The Seneca Nursery, Seneca, KS
• 1898 Minutes, Shawnee County Horticultural Society
• 1898 Price List, Vine Street Nursery, Abilene, KS

• 1899 Catalog, B.F. Smith, Lawrence, KS
• 1899 Catalog, Blue Valley Nursery, Blue Rapids, KS
• 1899 Price List, The Kansas Home Nursery, Lawrence, KS

• 1900 Catalog, B.F. Smith, Lawrence, KS
• 1900 Catalog, Blue Valley Nursery, Blue Rapids, KS
• 1900 Catalog, Hart Pioneer Nurseries, Fort Scott, KS
• 1900 Catalog, The Seneca Nursery, Seneca, KS
• 1900 Program, Manhattan Horticultural Society (J. C. VanEveren) ( & Chas Kimball & Albert Dickens)

• 1901 Catalog, Blue Valley Nursery, Blue Rapids, KS
• 1901 Program, Shawnee County Horticultural Society (A. H. Buckman)

• 1902 Catalog, La France Plant and Fruit Farm, F.W. Dixon, Holton, KS
• 1902 KS as a Fruit State, Kansas State Horticulture Society

• 1903 Catalog, B.F. Smith, Lawrence, KS
• 1903 Catalog, La France Plant and Fruit Farm, F.W. Dixon, Holton, KS

• 1904 Catalog, La France Plant and Fruit Farm, F.W. Dixon, Holton, KS

• 1905 Catalog, La France Plant and Fruit Farm, F.W. Dixon, Holton, KS
• 1905 Catalog, Topeka Ornamental Garden, Topeka, KS
• 1905 Catalog, Wichita Nursery, Wichita, KS

• 1906 Catalog, La France Plant and Fruit Farm, F.W. Dixon, Holton, KS
• 1906 Program, Shawnee County Horticultural Society

• 1908 Program, Shawnee County Horticultural Society

• 1909 Catalog, La France Plant and Fruit Farm, F.W. Dixon, Holton, KS
• 1909 Report, Congress, Inspection of Nursery Stock at Ports of Entry.

• 1910 Catalog, Holsinger Brothers, Rosedale, KS
• 1910 Catalog, La France Plant and Fruit Farm, F.W. Dixon, Holton, KS
• 1910 Catalog, W.L. Lux’s, Topeka, KS (One mile west of Washburn on 17^th.)

• 1913 Catalog, La France Plant and Fruit Farm, F.W. Dixon, Holton, KS

• 1916 Book, Johnny Appleseed, Indiana Apple Show Commission

• 1952 Catalog, Twin Valley Nursery, Salina, KS

• UNK Catalog, Hart Pioneer Nurseries, Fort Scott, KS (Identical printing to Sedgwick Co)
• UNK Catalog, J.F. Cecil, North Topeka, KS
• UNK Catalog, Lost Springs Nursery, Lost Springs, KS
• UNK Catalog, Mount Hope Nurseries, Lawrence, KS
• UNK Catalog, T.H. Smallwood, Fort Scott, KS
• UNK Catalog, The Sedgwick Nursery, Sedgwick, KS
• UNK Catalog, The Sedgwick Nursery Co, Sedgwick, KS (Identical printing to Hart Pioneer)
• UNK Catalog, Willis’ Nurseries, Ottawa, KS
• UNK Catalog, Willis Nurseries, Ottawa, KS
• UNK General Instructions, Ottawa Star Nurseries, Ottawa, KS
• UNK Price List, Kansas Home Nursery, Lawrence, KS
• UNK Price List, The Sedgwick Nursery, Sedgwick, KS
• UNK Prospectus, The Express and Railway Employes’ Horticultural Association
• UNK Retail Trade List, Sedgwick Nursery, Sedgwick, KS
• UNK Sales Card, Wathena Apple Growers Association, Wathena, KS