Guide to the Bertram Rodney Bertramson Papers 1933-1979

Creator:	Bertramson, Bertram Rodney
Title:	Bertram Rodney Bertramson Papers
Dates:	1933-1979 ( inclusive )
Quantity:	5 containers. (5 linear feet of shelf space.) (4520 items.)
Collection Number:	Cage 458
Summary:	Correspondence, reports, minutes, speeches, articles and other papers principally relating to his editorial and executive positions with the American Society of Agronomy, including correspondence with Executive Secretary Mathias Stelly; recognition awards for Orville A. Vogel; and material, 1960-1971, on the Pullman beautification project.
Repository:	Washington State University Libraries: Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections New Holland Library Pullman, WA 99164-5610 USA (509) 335-6691 http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/holland/masc/masc.htm
Languages:	Collection materials are in English
Sponsor:	Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical Note

Bertram Rodney ("Rod") Bertramson was born on a livestock and grain farm near Potter, Nebraska on January 25, 1914, to James W. and Gladys Nelson Bertramson. He received his B.S. in agronomy and M.S. in soils from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1933 and 1937 respectively. In 1938 he married Eleanor Maloney of Omaha, Nebraska. Bertramson went on to further graduate study at Oregon State University where he earned his doctorate in soils in 1941.

After working with the Soil Conservation Service in Rapid City, South Dakota and teaching at Colorado State University (then Colorado A & M) for a short time Bertramson was drafted in 1942 as a first lieutenant. He served with the Tank Destroyer Officer Candidate School in Fort Hood, Texas. Later Bertramson was promoted to Food and Agriculture Officer for the Rhineland and Gross Hessen regions in Germany. His job was to set up an administrative organization for food and general agriculture.

At the end of World War II, Bertramson reestablished his teaching career. Initially after his discharge in 1946 he was employed by the University of Wisconsin as an assistant soils scientist, but later that year moved to Purdue University as an associate soil chemist and assistant soils scientist.

In 1949 Bertramson became the Chairman of the Agronomy Department at Washington State University and served in this capacity for eighteen years. He was appointed Director of Resident Instruction of the College of Agriculture in 1967. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1979. During his thirty years at Washington State University Bertramson worked closely with a number of agriculture associations within the state and region. His administration was also identified with several historically significant events, including the release of high yielding Gaines wheat developed by Dr. Orville A. Vogel.

Bertramson authored or co-authored numerous articles published in various trade magazines such as Soil Scientist and Agronomy Journal. He was an active member of many professional and honorary agricultural organizations: Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, Soil Conservation Society of America and others. In 1960 he was elected Vice-President of the American Society of Agronomy and in 1961 served as President of the Society. Later, Bertramson was elected a Fellow of the ASA. He also served as the President of the Agronomic Science Foundation and editor of the Journal of Agronomic Education. In 1978, Bertramson was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Not all of Bertramson's activities centered around agronomy. He was active in civic affairs and the Pullman beautification projects of the mid-1960's. He also served as President of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, President of the Pullman Community Hospital Corporation, and a member of the Pullman City Council. For more information see "Biographical Sketch, 1967-1979," box 4, folder 107; and "Correspondence, 1946-1967," box 4, folder 110.

Content Description

The papers of Bertram Rodney ("Rod") Bertramson are cover five series: American Society of Agronomy, 1952-1979; Journal of Agronomic Education, 1967-1976; Biographical Information Writings and Speeches, 1933-1979; Civic Services, 1960-1977; and Washington State University, 1942-1979.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access :

This collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation :

[Item Description]. Cage 458, Bertram Rodney Bertramson Papers . Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative Information

Arrangement :

The first series, American Society of Agronomy, 1952-1979, has been divided into three subseries. Subseries one, Agronomy Advisory Board, 1952-1962, contains materials collected when Bertramson was Vice- President of the ASA. It includes general papers, an index of information, minutes, reports, and material concerning the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. The second subseries, Presidency of the ASA, is made up of Bertramson's presidential papers. Items such as Board of Directors' records, Committee Manual materials, correspondence, Executive Committee records, handbooks, headquarters building plans, news releases, notes on presidential addresses, luncheons, and publicity are part of this second subseries. Subseries three, General ASA Material, includes later papers pertaining to the ASA. It includes Agronomic Administrators Roundtable Committee records, an headquarters expansion study, fellow nominations, and Orville A. Vogel materials. All folders in this series have been arranged alphabetically by subject within their respective subseries.

Series II, Journal of Agronomic Education, 1967-1976, contains papers concerning meetings of the ASA Educational Board, correspondence, editorials and letters to the editor, information about professionalism, promotion, publishing policy and the Society, and work lists and files. All folders are arranged alphabetically by subject.

The third series, Biographical Information, Writings, and Speeches, 1933-1979, includes papers on agronomy, biographical sketches and personal correspondence, dedications, publications and various speeches on a wide variety of topics. All folders have been arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series IV, Civic Services, 1960-1977, is made up of papers collected during Bertramson's community work in Pullman on a number of projects centering around city beautification. The series includes records of clean-up projects, mass transit studies, shopping centers, and environmental quality. All folders are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series V, Washington State University, 1942-1979, contains various material which Bertramson collected in his association with the College of Agriculture at Washington State University. The material spans the period from 1942 through 1979 and includes such things as reports (e.g., from the Seed Laboratory), a history of the Department of Plant Pathology, correspondence regarding WSU short courses, College of Agriculture Awards, committee work, and a file called "Archives" which consists of material relating to agriculture. This series has been arranged alphabetically by subject.

Acquisition Information :

The papers of Bertram Rodney ("Rod") Bertramson were donated to Washington State University in 1979 by Dr. Bertramson in two groups (MS 79-26 and UA 79-9) which were later combined.

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series I. American Society of Agronomy, 1952-1979

Container(s)		Description
		Agronomy Advisory Board, 1952-1962
Box	Folder
1	1-5	General Correspondence, 1959-1962 339 items.
1	6	Index of Information for Agronomy Advisory Board, 1952 1 item.
		Minutes:
Box	Folder
1	7-9	General, 1952-l960 275
1	10-11	Meetings, 1959-1960 55 items.
1	12	Report on Research for Meeting, 1952 1 item.
1	13	Washington Association of Wheat Growers, 1956-1958 22 items.
		Presidency of ASA, 1959-1966
Box	Folder
1	14	Award for Industrial Agronomists, 1960-1962 50 items.
1	15	Banquet Program and Other Details, 1961 35 items.
		Board of Directors:
Box	Folder
1	16	Bylaws: Revisions, 1960 15 items.
1	17	Committee Reports, 1962 30 items.
1	18-19	Directors--General Correspondence, 1959-1961 81 items.
1	20	Meeting Session I, 1961 150
1	21	Minutes, 1950-1962 50 items.
		Committee Manual:
Box	Folder
2	22	Comments on, 1961 31 items.
2	23	Manual, 1961 1 item.
2	24	Supplements, 1961 2 items.
		Correspondence:
Box	Folder
2	25	Bertramson as President, ASA, 1961 35 items.
		Congratulations to Bertramson:
Box	Folder
2	26	President of ASA, 1960-1961 30
2	27	Vice-President of ASA, 1959-1960 19
2	28	Matt Stelly, 1961 50 items.
2	29	Early Daze, 1960 8 items.
		Executive Committee:
Box	Folder
2	30-32	General Correspondence, 1960-1962 91 items.
2	33	Meetings, 1961-1962 81 items.
2	34-35	Reports, 1960-1961 40 items.
2	36-37	Secretary, 1960-1963 91 items.
2	38	General Big Meeting Program, 1961 21 items.
2	39	Handbook for President and Vice-President, 1961 6 items.
		Headquarters Building:
Box	Folder
2	40-42	General Correspondence, 1959-1962 195
2	43	Site and Plans, 1961 18 items.
		Tjog Case:
Box	Folder
2	44	Correspondence, 1961 36
2	45	Replies for Material, 1961 26
2	46	News Releases, 1960-1961 15 items.
2	47	Option Number Four--ASA Dues, 1960-1961 35 items.
		President:
Box	Folder
2	48	Address, 1961-1964 34 items.
2	49	Luncheons, 1954-1961 7 items.
2	50	Publicity on, 1961 12 items.
2	51	Welcome to Students, 1961 4 items.
2	52	Programs, 1960 46 items.
2	53	Regional Branch Officers' Handbook, 1962-1966 1 item.
		Stelly, Matthias:
Box	Folder
2	54	Employment as Executive Secretary, 1960-1961 42 items.
2	55	Personal, 1961 3 items.
2	56	Tax Exemption/ASA and Legal XXXII, 1960-1961 11 items.
		General ASA Material, 1968-1979
Box	Folder
3	57	Agronomic Administrators Roundtable Committee, 1969 11 items.
		American Society of Agronomy:
Box	Folder
3	58-69	ASA General Correspondence, 1968-1979 348
3	70	Council for Agricultural. Science and Technology, 1972-1978 38 items.
3	71	Feasibility of Headquarters Expansion Committee, 1974-1975 17 items.
3	72	Fellow Nominations, 1977-1979 25 items.
3	73-74	Journal of Agronomic Education, 1978 33 items.
3	75-76	Meetings, 1973-1974 41 items.
		Dr. Orville A. Vogel:
Box	Folder
3	77	Browing Award, 1971-1972 33 items.
3	78	General File, 1972-1977 6 items.
3	79	National Medal of Science Award, 1975-1976 21 items.
3	80	Wolfe Prize, 1978 14 items.

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Series II. Journal of Agronomic Education, 1967-1976

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
3	81	ASA Meetings of Educational Board, JAE, 1972 24 items.
3	82	Bertramson Expenses, 1972 6 items.
		Correspondence:
Box	Folder
3	83	Authors, 1972-1974 35 items.
3	84	Beatty, Marvin T., 1971-1972 5 items.
3	85	Carson, E. W., 1971 9 items.
3	86	Cuyno, Rogelio V., 1971 6 items.
3	87	Forward and Editorial, 1971-1972 14 items.
3	88	Form Letter to Association Editors, undated 1 item.
3	89-90	General, 1970-1976 55 items.
3	91	"Getting Started,", 1971-1972 21 items.
3	92	Larson, K. L., 1971 5 items.
3	93	Reviewers, 1971-1973 32 items.
4	94	Editorials and Letters to the Editor, 1973 26 items.
4	95	Materials Concerning Professionalism and Promotion, 1967 45 items.
4	96	Publishing Policy and the Society, 1970-1971 150 items.
4	97-99	Work Files, 1969-1974 87 items.
4	100	Work Lists, 1972-1973 8 items.

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Series III. Biographical Information, Writings and Speeches, 1933-1979

Container(s)		Description
		Agronomy:
Box	Folder
4	101-102	Agronomy, 1951-1956 27 items.
4	103	Farm, 1952-1956 53 items.
4	103.1	Nebraska (thesis), 1936-1937 1 item. Added to collection, 2004
4	104	Program and Facilities, 1950-1964 38 items.
4	105	Publications, 1965-1970 6 items.
Box	Folder
4	106	Appreciation of Dr. O. A. Vogel's Forty Years of Plant Breeding and Testing Program, 1970 1 item.
4	107	Biographical Sketch, 1967-1979 14 items.
4	108	"The Challenge to Students in Agriculture,", 1975 1 item.
4	109	Columbia Plateau Resource Council, 1965-1968 30 items.
4	110	Correspondence, 1946-1967 28 items.
4	111	Dedication of Compton Union Building, 1969 25 items.
4	112	Growth of WSCIA Pure Seed Project, 1978 15 items.
4	113	Kennewick Plant Dedication, 1969 20 items.
4	114	Making the Most of Seminars, 1948-1960 17 items.
4	115	Outlying Testing, 1952-1954 20 items.
4	116-119	Publications, 1938-1979 101 items.
4	120	Pullman Herald, 1972 3 items.
4	121	Remarks for Beef Center Dedication, 1974 1 item.
4	122	Salute to Paul Abendroth, 1973 2 items.
4	123	Studies on Phosphorus Assimilation of Higher Plants, 1933; , 1946 2 items.
4	124	Twenty-five Years: Retrospect and Predictions-- Regional Fertilizer Conference, 1974 35 items.
4	125	"What the Industry Looks for at Washington State University in Teaching,", 1970 9 items.

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Series IV. Civic Services, 1960-1977

Container(s)		Description
		Environment:
Box	Folder
5	126	Environment and Ecology, 1970-1973 22 items.
5	127	Environment Quality Commission, 1970-1973 37 items.
5	128	Miracle on the Land, 1971 20 items.
5	129	Role of Agriculture in a Quality Environment, 1971 1 item.
		Pullman:
Box	Folder
5	130	Chamber of Commerce, 1971-1977 16 items.
		City Beautification:
Box	Folder
5	131	1964-1966 22 items.
5	132	1969-1971 200
5	133-135	Clean-Up Project, 1964-1965 186 items.
5	136	Community Beautification, 1960 3 items.
5	137	Community Development, 1968-1969 6 items.
5	138	Mass Transit Feasibility Project, 1974-1976 100 items.
5	139	Shopping Centers, 1971 25 items.
Box	Folder
5	140	Steptoe Canyon and Harry Sever, 1967-1975 41 items.

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Series V. Washington State University, 1942-1979

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
5	141	Agriculture Awards, 1964-1979 11 items.
5	142	The Agriculturalist, 1942-1966 34 items.
5	143	"Archives File,", 1968-1979 25 items.
5	144	Plant Pathology Department, History of, 1949 2 items.
5	145	Recognition Assembly, College of Agriculture, 1950-1951 18 items.
5	146	Seed Laboratory Report, 1950-1951 9 items.
5	147-148	Short Course, 1951-1955 17 items.
5	149	Soils Seminar, 1952 11 items.
5	150	Space Priorities Committee, 1951-1953 8 items.

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Subjects

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Personal Names :
Bertramson, Bertram Rodney --Archives ( creator)
Stelly, Matthias
Vogel, Orville Alvin, 1907-

Corporate Names :
American Society of Agronomy

Subject Terms :
Civic improvement--Washington (State)--Pullman

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Guide to the Bertram Rodney Bertramson Papers
1933-1979

Overview of the Collection

Biographical Note

Content Description

Use of the Collection

Administrative Information

Detailed Description of the Collection

Subjects

Finding aid prepared by Barbara Kovarik Gahl
© 1982

Guide to the Bertram Rodney Bertramson Papers 1933-1979

Overview of the Collection

Biographical Note

Content Description

Use of the Collection

Administrative Information

Detailed Description of the Collection

Subjects

Finding aid prepared by Barbara Kovarik Gahl© 1982

Guide to the Bertram Rodney Bertramson Papers
1933-1979

Finding aid prepared by Barbara Kovarik Gahl
© 1982