Joseph Aloysius Becker Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS0459

Staff Only

Introduction

The Joseph Aloysius Becker Papers contain a scrapbook commemorating Becker’s career upon his retirement from USDA in 1959. The scrapbook includes congratulatory letters to him from Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson and other notable figures. There are also two award certificates, newspaper clippings, and personal photographs and records.

This collection occupies three linear feet and is housed in five containers. The materials are in fair to good condition, with some brittle paper. There are no restrictions on the use of these materials for research.

Maureen Becker, granddaughter of Joseph Becker, donated the two award certificates and the scrapbook to the National Agricultural Library’s Special Collections in 2014. In 2016, she added photographs, newspaper clippings, and documents about Becker’s career and personal life to the collection.

This collection was inventoried arranged, and partially described by Lynn Stanko in 2015. Valerie Linsinbigler completed describing the collection in 2018.

Scope and Contents

The Joseph Aloysius Becker Papers include a scrapbook dated January 31, 1959 commemorating Becker’s retirement from the United States Department of Agriculture. The scrapbook is comprised of congratulatory notes, letters, and telegrams from Becker’s colleagues and friends, Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson, and other notable figures. The collection also contains award certificates, photographs, newspaper clippings, and documents from Becker’s personal life and career. Of note are the documents from his military service during World War I.

This collection is arranged by material type: awards, newspaper clippings, photographs and records, and the scrapbook. The photographs and records are arranged chronologically.

Dates

Creation: 1957-1966
Creation: Majority of material found in 1959

Conditions Governing Access

Contact Special Collections for access.

Biographical Sketch

Joseph Aloysius Becker (1891-1975) was born in Hurley, Wisconsin. He graduated with a B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1914, and later earned his M.S. degree there. In 1918, he became a state field statistical agent for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Wisconsin, working to appraise crop prospects and analyze crop conditions from information reported by farmers. He moved to Washington, D.C. in 1922 to head research on statistical methods and to serve on the Crop Reporting Board as assistant chief of the Division of Crop and Livestock Estimates. He also served as principle statistician for the division.

Becker led efforts to adapt the division's statistical procedures to handle its growing responsibilities during the Great Depression and to administer the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933. In August 1935, he became head of the division and chairman of the Crop Reporting Board. He served in that capacity until May 1937. After a health-related leave of absence, he returned to the division as its assistant head. In 1942, he was reappointed chairman of the Crop Reporting Board. He transferred to the Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations in August 1944 to serve as chief consultant for statistical methods in foreign countries. In 1957, he received the USDA's Distinguished Service Award. Becker retired from USDA in 1959.

Total Size of Collection

1 half_letter_document_box

2 boxes (1 box, 24.5 x 21 x 2; 1 box, 14.75 x 11.75 x 1.75; 2 folders (4-flap))

3 Linear Feet (3 boxes and 2 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Content Description

The Joseph Aloysius Becker Papers include a scrapbook dated January 31, 1959 commemorating Becker's retirement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The scrapbook contains congratulatory notes, letters, and telegrams from Becker's colleagues and friends, Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson, and other notable people. The collection also contains award certificates, photographs, newspaper clippings, and documents from Becker's personal life and career. Of note are documents related to his military service during World War I.