World's Poultry Science Association U.S.A. Branch Records

Collection

Identifier: MS0205

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The USA Branch of the World's Poultry Science Association (WPSA) Records contain materials collected by the branch archivist as well as other officers. The earliest material is from 1937 for the planning of the Seventh World's Poultry Congress and the latest material, a voting announcement and ballot, from 2002. The bulk of the materials pertain to the Branch's participation in the World's Poultry Congresses. Materials within the collection are correspondence, constitution and by-laws, financial materials, membership materials, Board of Director and officer files, meeting materials, publications, congress materials, branch history, awards materials, and information on partnerships with different organizations.

The bulk of the materials relate to the USA Branch's participation in the various congresses (Series VIII). Most of the files were created by the U.S. Participation Committee and its subcommittees for the promotion of the World's Poultry Congresses. Within the materials there are correspondences, committee files, travel information, tour information, exhibit information, clippings, programs, proposals, press releases, photographs, meeting minutes, budget materials, grant materials, award materials, and ephemera. There are planning files from when the USA Branch hosted the 7th World's Poultry Congress in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1939, and the 15th World's Poultry Congress in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1974. One can find recipes presented during programs from the 7th and 15th World's Poultry Congresses.

The USA Branch's governing documents, by-laws and incorporation papers can be found in Series I. Series II contains correspondence from the various officers and committees of the USA Branch. The Committee Records (Series III) contain the meeting minutes of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Annual Membership Meeting along with materials pertaining to the various youth programs sponsored by the USA Branch. Information on awards presented to individual members of the association can be found in Series IV. Series V contains a history of the USA Branch. The photographs (Series VI) depict USA Branch activities from meetings to exhibit displays to scenes from the World's Poultry Congresses. Financial materials can be found in Series VII; however, it should be noted that there are restrictions placed on these materials.

It is important to note that the collection contains few materials prior to the establishment of the national branch in 1965. There are no materials for the 1st- 6th, the 9th, and the 21st World's Poultry Congresses.

Abbreviations are World's Poultry Science Association (WPSA), World's Poultry Congress (WPC), Pacific Egg and Poultry Association (PePa), Poultry Science Association (PSA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Oversize (OS).

Dates

Creation: 1937-1996

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are in good condition. Due to the sensitive nature of some of the financial materials, restrictions have been placed upon their use. Contact Special Collections for access.

Organizational History

The World's Poultry Science Association (WPSA) began with the formation of the International Association of Poultry Instructors in 1912. Its purpose was to advance knowledge and understanding of all aspects of poultry science and the poultry industry. The first national branch of the association was formed in 1946 in the United Kingdom and the U.S.A. Branch was formed in 1965. The U.S.A. Branch's objectives were to provide for the participation of the United States in World's Poultry Congresses by maintaining a standing Participation Committee with rotating membership; to increase the membership of the World's Poultry Science Association of the U.S.A.; to cooperate with trade associations in promoting better understanding between the poultry industry in this country and industries in other parts of the world; to cooperate with the Poultry Science Association (U.S. and Canada) in promoting participation of poultry scientists in all international efforts related to poultry science and industry; and to promote the exchange of knowledge in all fields of the poultry industry.

Total Size of Collection

37 legal_document_box

1 half_legal_document_box

1 boxes (1 box, 24 x 20 x 1)

19.5 Linear Feet (39 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Content Description

The World's Poultry Science Association U.S.A. Branch Records contain materials pertaining to the organization of the World's Poultry Science Association (WPSA) U.S.A. Branch, the Branch constitution and bylaws, and lists of members, including the officers and members of the Council and Board of Directors. There are minutes of the Board meetings and annual membership meetings. Detailed financial records cover years 1966 through 1993. Correspondence includes exchanges between the U.S. and Canadian branches and the Poultry Science Association regarding speakers at the Poultry Science Annual Meetings (1966-1991). Part of the collection is concerned with the U.S. Branch participation in the World's Poultry Congresses, covering topics such as publicity, travel and tours, scientific papers, travel grants, youth programs, and others. Records of the U.S. Branch committees describe organizing activities of the U.S. hosted 1939 and 1974 congresses. Details of the Branch activities for congresses held in Mexico (1958), Australia (1962), USSR (1966), Spain (1970), and Brazil (1978) are also included.

Custodial History

Various officers collected the materials and the USA Branch archivist transferred the collection to the Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1992.

Accruals

This is a growing collection.

Bibliography

World's Poultry Science Association Records, 1912-present. Special Collections, National Agricultural Library.
USA Branch of the World's Poultry Science Association Records, 1937-1998. Special Collections, National Agricultural Library.
Jasper, A. William. "The World's Poultry Science Association." World's Poultry Science Journal 34, no. 1 (February 1978): 9-21.
Shaklee, William E. "Association History: The United States of America Branch of The World's Poultry Science Association." World's Poultry Science Journal 37, no. 2 (June 1981): 111-118.
World's Poultry Science Association. "WPSA." Accessed June 6, 2005 from http://www.wpsa.com/.
--_____. "News 2004." Accessed June 6, 2005 from http://www.wpsa.com/.
Poultry Science Association. "October 2004 Newsletter." Accessed June 6, 2005 from https://poultryscience.org/.
--_____. "Constitution." Accessed June 6, 2005 from https://poultryscience.org/.

Processing Information

The materials were partially processed by poultry volunteers Ray Schar and Cam Calvert, long time NAL volunteers, in 2003. The arrangement and description was completed by Kate Richards, while she was a graduate student in College of Information Studies at University of Maryland, June 2005.