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Subseries XI.7. Elmer A. Starch Papers, 1910 - 1972
Scope and Contents
The papers of Elmer A. Starch include handwritten notes and manuscripts of Starch's writings; published articles, booklets and pamphlets used as research material for those writings; reports, correspondence, press releases and speeches; and transcripts of oral history interviews and taped discussions with other agriculturalists. The bulk of the material dates between 1930 and 1970.
The two main topics are Starch's involvement with the Great Plains Council in the 1930s and 1940s, and his international work. The Great Plains material documents Starch's and the USDA's efforts in the Great Plains to counteract the consequences of the dust bowl and to reinvigorate Great Plains agriculture at the start of World War II. There are also sections on Starch's involvement with Montana State College and the M. L. Wilson Symposium, and a large section on his development of a book, "Saga of the Sage." Some of the Great Plains material is the output of several agencies and organizations working with Great Plains agriculture, but have uncertain connections to the Great Plains Council of the USDA.
Many of Starch's writings relate to his work in foreign agricultural development during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Also among the papers are a general studies section, material on other agricultural topics such as water development, and a section of important letters and speeches by him and by other agriculturalists and researchers.
Starch's papers also contain articles and tape transcripts separated into specific folders and titles. Most of the articles are by other researchers, and many of those have handwritten comments by Starch. Some folders hold several articles, with a small "table of contents" at the beginning of the folder for reference. This material dates from the 1960s and 1970s.
There are also four reels of audiotape, books ranging in dates from 1790 to 1914, and some photographs.
Dates
- Creation: 1910 - 1972
Conditions Governing Access
Materials created by agencies or employees of the United States government are in the public domain. Unless specified otherwise, the copyright interests in materials acquired or collected by government employees from outside sources have not been transferred to NAL or to the U.S. government.
Contact Special Collections for access.
Biographical Note
Elmer A. Starch, known within the USDA as "Mr. Great Plains," was born in Minnesota, educated at the University of Minnesota Farm School, and received a degree from the University of Minnesota in 1926. He worked with M. L. Wilson at Montana State College, and was Regional Director for the Great Plains with the Resettlement Administration in the 1930s. In 1939, Starch served as the Executive Secretary for the Northern Great Plains Council, an informal organization made up of directors of agricultural and extension agencies at federal, state, and local levels. In 1946, when the Council merged with the Southern Great Plains Council, Starch became Executive Secretary of the new organization.
The Council disbanded in the latter part of 1946, and Starch worked with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in Eastern Europe until 1947. He then returned to the USDA as Coordinator for the Great Plains. Later Starch served as leader of a USDA mission to Turkey, and was Agricultural Advisor to the government of Tunisia from 1957 to 1960, involved in the food-for-work program, reforestation, and the training of village agricultural advisors.
Between 1960 and 1963, Starch traveled to areas in Africa and the Middle East as a consultant on agriculture-related programs and problems. He retired in 1963, but continued to write on the Great Plains and international development. He died in 1982.
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the National Agricultural Library Special Collections Repository
National Agricultural Library
10301 Baltimore Avenue
Room 309
Beltsville Maryland 20705 USA
301-504-5876