Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center History Collection

The Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) History Collection contains materials from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Visitor Center in Beltsville, Maryland. Materials include land surveys, building specifications, blueprints, and reports about the Visitor Center; a photograph album compiled by Robert T. Walker, former BARC landscape architect, showing the construction of BARC buildings (Departmental Laboratory Group, Main Lab, Mansion House, Sheep Barn, Animal Husbandry Lab, Animal Disease Station, Poultry Unit, Horticultural Field Station, and the Civilian Conservation Corps at the USDA Experimental Farm); blueprints from the construction of BARC; laboratory equipment (microscopes, lab glassware, measuring devices); a silver tea set used during VIP visits; a framed certificate from the United States Secret Service; and a miniature train car that was on display at the Visitor Center.

In 2011, the ARS Visitor Center closed. At that time, the following materials were transferred to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library: ARS Visitor Center records of tours; information files on BARC history; a model of the visitor center; a framed painting of the Log Lodge by a former USDA employee (38.5" x 26.75"); a framed blueprint of the Log Lodge (dated February 23, 1934) by Louis De Laouranthys for the Animal Husbandry Division, Bureau of Animal Industry (26" x 21"); a drawing of the Log Lodge on onion skin paper, undated; a poster of the Agricultural Administrators on foam core board (post-2004); Agricultural Research Center blueprint, undated; and a microscope with case.