USDA Agricultural Reseach Service 50th Anniversary Time Capsule

Collection

Identifier: MS0333

Staff Only

Content Description

The USDA Agricultural Research Service 50th Anniversary Time Capsule contains materials compiled by ARS offices across the United States and Puerto Rico. The materials capture the work, accomplishments, and inventions of ARS between 1953 and 2003. Types of items included in the capsule are posters, photographs, ephemera, awards, computer software, brochures, stuffed animals, training items, paperweights, miniatures of inventions, buttons, audio tapes, key chains, articles, bookmarks, pens, clothing, and food replicas.

In January 2005, DVD and VHS copies of the time capsule program videorecording were added to the collection. There is no sound on any of the recordings.

Dates

Creation: 1947-2004
Creation: Majority of material found within 2000-2004

Conditions Governing Access

Contact Special Collections for access.

Organizational History

In 1953, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) was created as the primary scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In 2003 and 2004, ARS celebrated its 50th anniversary year by compiling a time capsule from items submitted by ARS personnel. To create the time capsule, each ARS office, unit, or location was encouraged to send an item that symbolized what they contributed to the overall ARS mission, or characterized their accomplishments within the history of ARS. Collection of items was managed by Susan Fugate, Head of Special Collections at the USDA National Agricultural Library. The Special Collections staff recorded the items in a database and housed the materials in archival boxes. Materials were accepted for the time capsule collection until December 31, 2004.