In the late 1800’s, the USDA hired an artist for the USDA Division of Pomology. Her name was Debora Griscom Passmore, a watercolor artist. Many of her works are found in publications such as the USDA Bulletin No. 7, Fruit Industry and the Yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture, 1902-1992. For the time period, her artistic work was unmatched and is considered one of the USDA’s prized possessions.
Along with thousands of portraits of fruit, she also painted a collection of flowers and cacti. See the digital collection on the USDA National Agricultural Library website.
Source: Deborah Griscom Passmore Watercolors
Source:
U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705
