approximate 8425 items ( 9.5 linear feet) ( 10 containers)
Collection Number:
Archives 61
Summary:
Includes correspondence, memoranda, minutes and proceedings of professional meetings, reports, newsletters, student and faculty information and research information, financial statements, vouchers, and reports on program progress.
Repository:
Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical Note
Agriculture has always been part of the college's curriculum; in the earliest days, all of its disciplines were taught in one department (the Department Of Agriculture). By 1918 these agricultural disciplines including farm crops, soils, etc., had expanded enough to warrant the formation of separate departments. The Department of Farm Crops and Soils were consolidated into a Department Of Agronomy in February 1928. This name was changed in November 1969 to Department of Agronomy and Soils. The present department offers a number of degrees, including B.S. in Agronomy, B.S. in Soils, M.S. in Agronomy, M.S. in Soils, and Doctor of Philosophy.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
The Collection is open for research use.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
The records of the Department of Agronomy and Soils are arranged in three series: Subject File, 1940-1972; Tennessee Valley Authority Files, 1951-1972; and Correspondence Files, 1965-1971. Series one file contains records dating from 1940 through 1972, however, the bulk of the material deals with the period after 1963. This first series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The file consists of correspondence, memoranda, minutes and proceedings of professional meetings, reports, newsletters, student and faculty information and research information. Major headings in the subject file include such topics as: Agronomy & Men (publication of the Agronomy Club), Extension Administration, annual reports of county Extension Agents, Outlying Testing Program of the Washington experimental stations, Pacific Northwest Fertilizer Conference, Pacific Northwest Crop Improvement Association, Pacific Northwest Plant Food Association, teaching and course content in the department, Washington State Crop Improvement Association, USDA correspondence, and wheat research.
Series two, Tennessee Valley Authority files, date from 1951 to 1972 and consist of correspondence, financial statements, vouchers, and reports on program progress. Through an agreement with Washington State University, the TVA sold fertilizer to Washington state farmers. These records document this agreement, the shipment of the fertilizer, and the farmers who participated in the program. The file has been arranged chronologically to be consistent with its original order.
Series three, the correspondence file, contains items dating from 1965 to 1971; these records have been arranged chronologically by year and alphabetically within each year. The file consists of correspondence to and from various agencies, including county extension agents, professional organizations, private industry, governmental departments, and individuals.
Principal correspondents are: B. Rodney Bertramson (former department chairman and Director of Resident Instruction), Harry A. Cosgriffe, Irving Dow (Extension Specialist), James C. Engibous (chairman of the department), C.B. Harston, A.G. Law (professor Of Agronomy), L.L. Madsen (Dean, College of Agriculture), C. Dawson Moodie (professor of Agronomy), Kenneth Morrison (Extension Specialist), J.S. Robins (Director of Research, College of Agriculture), Leland Streit, and R.M. Turner.
Acquisition Information :
The records of the Department of Agronomy and Soils were transferred to the University Archives, Washington State University in June 1976 and March 1979 (UA 78- 16) according to the approved records schedules.
Processing Note :
The records were processed by Michael Sampson from December 1980 to March 1981.
Detailed Description of the Collection
1: Subject File , 1940-1972
Series one file contains records dating from 1940 through 1972, however, the bulk of the material deals with the period after 1963. This first series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The file consists of correspondence, memoranda, minutes and proceedings of professional meetings, reports, newsletters, student and faculty information and research information. Major headings in the subject file include such topics as: Agronomy & Men (publication of the Agronomy Club), Extension Administration, annual reports of county Extension Agents, Outlying Testing Program of the Washington experimental stations, Pacific Northwest Fertilizer Conference, Pacific Northwest Crop Improvement Association, Pacific Northwest Plant Food Association, teaching and course content in the department, Washington State Crop Improvement Association, USDA correspondence, and wheat research.
Container(s)
Description
Box
Folder
1
1
Affirmative Action Plan , 1972
1 item
1
2-4
Agricultural Chemicals , 1969-1972
16 items
1
5
Agricultural Commodity Commissions Meeting , 1966
7 items
1
6
Agricultural Economics , 1970
4 items
1
7
Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service , 1969
Series two, Tennessee Valley Authority files, date from 1951 to 1972 and consist of correspondence, financial statements, vouchers, and reports on program progress. Through an agreement with Washington State University, the TVA sold fertilizer to Washington state farmers. These records document this agreement, the shipment of the fertilizer, and the farmers who participated in the program. The file has been arranged chronologically to be consistent with its original order.
Series three, the correspondence file, contains items dating from 1965 to 1971; these records have been arranged chronologically by year and alphabetically within each year. The file consists of correspondence to and from various agencies, including county extension agents, professional organizations, private industry, governmental departments, and individuals.
Container(s)
Description
1965:
Box
Folder
9
406-408
A-B
45 items
9
409
Buchanan, M.T.
14 items
9
410-413
C-F
30 items
9
414
Fischer, G.W. (Dean, College of Agriculture)
10 items
9
415
French, C.C. (president)
3 items
9
416-420
G-L
55 items
9
421
Ma-Mb
19 items
9
422
Madsen, L.L. (Dean, College of Agriculture)
12 items
9
423-424
Mc-Mz
21 items
9
425-428
N-R
42 items
9
429
Rasmussen, L.W.
4 items
9
430-435
S-Z
60 items
1966:
Box
Folder
9
436-437
A-B
39 items
9
438
Buchannan, M.T.
13 items
9
439-442
C-F
32 items
9
443
Fischer, G.W.
4 items
9
444
French, C.C.
2 items
9
445-451
G-M
142 items
9
452
Madsen, L.L.
20 items
9
453-462
Mc-Z
120 items
1967:
Box
Folder
9
463-464
A-B
42 items
9
465
Buchanan, M.T.
13 items
9
466-469
C-F
47 items
9
470
Fischer, G.W.
4 items
9
471-477
G-M
112 items
9
478
Madsen, L.L. (Dean, College of Agriculture)
20 items
9
479-483
Mc-R
42 items
9
484
Robins, J.S. (Director of Research, College of Agriculture)