Husking Collection

Sierra Leone, West Africa - Husking of Rice pestle & mortar
Sierra Leone, West Africa - The husking of rice using a pestle and mortar - common traditional domestic scene of food preparation. Date: circa 1910s

The husking bee at Yapps Crossing (social gathering to husk corn) (litho)
6001737 The husking bee at Yapps Crossing (social gathering to husk corn) (litho) by Gruelle, John B. (1880-1938); Private Collection; (add.info)

Husking cocoanuts (colour litho)
2774911 Husking cocoanuts (colour litho) by Macfarlane, J. (active 1940-1949); Private Collection; (add.info.: Husking cocoanuts)

The walnut season at Covent Garden Market, London (litho)
3627083 The walnut season at Covent Garden Market, London (litho) by Macfarlane, J. (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The walnut season at Covent Garden Market, London)

Husking, pub. 1861 (colour litho)
3468008 Husking, pub. 1861 (colour litho) by Johnson, Eastman (1824-1906) (after); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; American, out of copyright

Rice production (engraving)
6001087 Rice production (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rice production. Illustration for The Saturday Magazine, 24 August 1833.); © Look and Learn

Rice production (engraving)
6001083 Rice production (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rice production. Illustration for The Saturday Magazine, 24 August 1833.); © Look and Learn

American Husbandry, gathering Pumpkins and husking Maize (engraving)
1590655 American Husbandry, gathering Pumpkins and husking Maize (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: American Husbandry)

An old time husking frolic (engraving)
3626282 An old time husking frolic (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: An old time husking frolic)

The Puritan Corn Husker, 1941 (oil on canvas)
2653584 The Puritan Corn Husker, 1941 (oil on canvas) by Wyeth, Newell Convers (1882-1945); 274.3x439.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

African Women husking Millet on Board HMS Lynx (engraving)
1104359 African Women husking Millet on Board HMS Lynx (engraving) by Hopkins, Arthur (1848-1930) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: African Women husking Millet on Board HMS Lynx)

The Speculator, 1852. Creator: Francis William Edmonds
The Speculator, 1852

The Last Days of Harvest (Harpers Weekly, Vol. XVII), December 6, 1873. Creator: Unknown
The Last Days of Harvest (Harpers Weekly, Vol. XVII), December 6, 1873

Husking Coconuts - a Familiar Scene in the Great Coconut Country near Pagsanjan, Island of Luzon, P.I. c1930s. From " Tour of the World". [Keystone View Company, Meadville, Pa

Husking, 1861. Artist: Currier and Ives
Husking, 1861. Farm workers in a barn removing the husks from corn

Dance Husking 1858 Winslow Homer American 1836-1910
The Dance after the Husking, 1858. Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910). Wood engraving

Matches making machine, cutting machine
Machinery for making matches. There is a peeling machine, a cutting machine, a cleaning machine, a machine for arranging the matches neatly, a loading machine, and finally

Matches making machine, cleaning machine
Machinery for making matches. There is a peeling machine, a cutting machine, a cleaning machine, a machine for arranging the matches neatly, a loading machine, and finally

Coffee ranch in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. The inset image shows a native worker shelling the beans. Date: circa 1895

Matches making machine, loading machine
Machinery for making matches. There is a peeling machine, a cutting machine, a cleaning machine, a machine for arranging the matches neatly, a loading machine, and finally

Matches making machine, machine for filling a box of matches
Machinery for making matches. There is a peeling machine, a cutting machine, a cleaning machine, a machine for arranging the matches neatly, a loading machine, and finally

Matches making machine, peeling machine
Machinery for making matches. There is a peeling machine, a cutting machine, a cleaning machine, a machine for arranging the matches neatly, a loading machine, and finally

Matches making machine, machine for arranging the matches neatly
Machinery for making matches. There is a peeling machine, a cutting machine, a cleaning machine, a machine for arranging the matches neatly, a loading machine, and finally

Farmer Loads Corn Into Corn Husking Machine
An American farmer loads corn into a corn husking machine, early to mid 1880s. (Photo by Kean Collection/Getty Images)

HINE: HUSKING CORN, 1915. Two boys threshing corn during school hours on a farm near Dublin, Georgia. Photograph by Lewis Hine, March 1915

HUSKING CORN, c1905. Boys husking corn by hand. Photograph, c1905

Chinese agriculture, 1825-1835. Top: Husking rice. One person puts grain into a husker while three men move the crank mechanism. Bottom: Man filling wooden pails with water from a stream

Husked rice in woven reed basket

Person pulling back husk to reveal corn in a corn on the cob

Roman relief showing man intent on husking wheat in tent
Roman civilization. Relief showing a man intent on husking the wheat in a tent

Vietnam, Hanoi - Rice Husking
Two young girls working at the decortication (husking/hulling) of rice in Hanoi, Vietnam. Date: circa 1903

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Husking, a timeless tradition that spans across continents and cultures. From Sierra Leone in West Africa to the bustling streets of London's Covent Garden Market, it has been an integral part of agricultural practices and social gatherings. In Sierra Leone, the husking of rice takes place using traditional methods such as pestle and mortar. The rhythmic pounding echoes through the air as women skillfully remove the outer shell from each grain, ensuring a bountiful harvest for their communities. Across the globe, at Yapps Crossing, a vibrant social gathering known as the "husking bee" brings people together to husk corn. Laughter fills the air as friends and neighbors join forces to strip away nature's protective layers from golden ears of corn. The artistry of lithography captures these scenes with vivid detail. A colorful lithograph showcases individuals husking coconuts with precision and grace. Another lithograph transports us to Covent Garden Market in London during walnut season, where vendors diligently prepare this nutritious nut for eager customers. Engravings also tell tales of agricultural endeavors. In one engraving titled "American Husbandry, " farmers gather pumpkins and husk maize with determination etched on their faces. An old-time engraving depicts a lively "husking frolic, " where young men and women come together in merriment while stripping away cornstalks' protective layers. Artistic expressions take various forms too; Francis William Edmonds' painting "The Speculator" portrays a scene from 1852 America featuring men engrossed in husking activities amidst picturesque surroundings. And even aboard HMS Lynx, African women are depicted husking millet - showcasing how this practice transcends borders even on naval vessels. Through these diverse depictions emerges an appreciation for both cultural heritage and practicality intertwined within the act of husking. Whether it be rice production or pumpkin harvesting, this age-old process connects communities worldwide by celebrating the abundance of nature's gifts.