The business records of the Haven Seed Go. (1873-1946-1962) and the personal and business papers of its officers and the larger family 1853-1980 were given to the Orange County Historical Society in the fall, 1978 by Mr. Randy Ema of Anaheim, California with the consent of his step-father, Arch B. Haven Jr. of Oxnard California.

In life, the Haven Seed Co. passed through, six rather distinct phases in five different locations:

G.W Haven and Sons (1873-1875) and "Bloomingdale Seed Farms" (1875-1891), both in Bloomingdale, Michigan

Haven Seed Co. (1891-1903) in South Haven., Michigan

The Haven Seed Co. of California (Nov. 30, 1903-July 6 1905) in Arroyo Grande, California

The Haven Seed Co. (1905-1910) in Lodi, California

Haven Seed Co. (1910-1946) in Santa Ana., California

Twenty-nine boxes of records relate to the Michigan years; eleven boxes relate to central California; and fifteen relate to Santa Ana- Orange County. Two boxes hold oversized materials from the various locations; one box holds photographs.

The business records (1873-1946-1962) were generated by the activities of the founder, Edwin M. Haven, his son Arch B. Haven, his daughter Lucia G. Haven (Taylor), members of the board of directors of the company when it was located in Arroyo Grande, California, and various other officers and sales agents (some family members) in both Michigan and California. There is a large collection of correspondence with other seed merchants dating from 1873 to 1933 in addition to Haven Co. financial records, documents, seed company activities, and ephemera from 1873-1946. The personal and business papers of Haven family members 1853-1980 offer another, more unique and intimate perspective on the business records. Church activities., involvement in local school affairs, political persuasions, as well as California description and travel are reflected in correspondence from both family and friends, some over the course of many years.

A related collection, Edwin M. Haven's accumulation of seed trade catalogs, was presented to the Arboretum on the grounds of the California State University, Fullerton campus.

Duplicate ephemera and photographs from the Haven Seed Company records have been added to the collections of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum, 903 Bailey Avenue, South Haven, Michigan in May 1981.

Duplicate ephemeral items and copies of genealogical materials relating to Haven family members living in Orange County were presented to the Santa Ana History Room of the Santa Ana Public Library in September 1981.

Please note: As a result of a gift of additional family letters and papers in the spring of 1981, the adjusted dates for the personal and business papers of Haven family members are 1849 - 1980.

Business record dates were CIO expanded to 1962 as the result of a gift from Eleanor Armstrong in 1987.