USDA Extension Service Plan Exchange Records

Collection

Identifier: MS0269

Staff Only

Content Description

The USDA Extension Service Plan Exchange Records consist of plans for agricultural structures and low-cost housing. The plans were the result of the collective work of plan exchange engineers at U.S. land-grant universities. Each plan has a date and a reference number.

Dates

Creation: 1933-1988

Conditions Governing Access

Contact Special Collections for access.

Organizational History

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) supported the development of farm building plans beginning in 1915. The Plan Exchange was formed in 1930 to maximize the use and sharing of building plans. Plans were housed in various USDA research offices. In 1979, management and financial responsibility for the Plan Exchange was transferred to the USDA Extension Service. In 1982, the Extension Service invited state extension services to bid on a contract to provide Plan Exchange headquarters services. The University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service won the contract and provided the service until 1988. As of 1988, the program was no longer funded by the USDA Extension Service.