USDA history

Content Description The Cooperative Extension Service Farm Labor Program Collection contains reports of the Information Service in the Cooperative Extension Farm Labor Program during the years 1943 to 1947. The reports are illustrated with photographs and include recruitment information, sample recruitment materials such as posters and brochures, and farm labor stories from and about various volunteer farm labor groups during World War II. These groups include the Women's Land Army, the U.S. Crop Corps, the...

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The Cornelius Lott Shear Papers contain certificates given to botanist and plant pathologist Shear, who traveled to foreign countries to research agriculture. Many of the certificates serve as introduction letters or statements of purpose presenting Shear’s credentials for official travel. An addition of two reprinted articles about Shear and a few personal photographs was made to the collection in 2011.

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The Dean Howard Mayberry Papers include research records of the Northern Regional Research Laboratory, as well as press releases, correspondence, publications, and papers on research relating to the transformation of agricultural products into commercial commodities. Some topics of research include oils, cereals, antibiotics, starch, polysaccharides, amylose, corn, and alcohol.

Content Description The Deborah Griscom Passmore Watercolors consist of an original manuscript titled, Flowers in Water Color: Wildflowers of America, by Deborah G. Passmore. The collection contains 61 original watercolor paintings signed Passmore, as well as several signed sketches, unsigned works, and two watercolors signed by another artist, Dora Paxon. In the front of the volume, there is an anonymous, typescript biography of Passmore, which is immediately followed by a brief, handwritten note detailing...

Content Description The Dorsett-Morse Oriental Agricultural Exploration Expedition Collection consists of seven photograph albums of the 1929-1931 Oriental Agricultural Exploration Expedition illustrating plant varieties and uses, landscapes, and Asian cultural practices. In addition to the photographs, the collection contains diaries written by P. H. (Palemon Howard) Dorsett and W. J. (William Joseph) Morse as a complete report of their work. Combining memoranda, expense reports, itineraries, maps,...

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The Douglas Helms Collection contains articles, books, reports, correspondence, photographs, films, oral histories, speeches, and research materials related to the history of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Conservation Service, and its successor agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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The Early USDA Extension Service Miscellaneous Materials contain reference materials from the early U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extension services, including publications, glass slides, photographs, and film.

Content Description The Eduoard Horace Siegler Collection of Entomology Lantern Slides consists of slides that may have been used by travelling extension agents for instructional sessions. The title of one set of slides is "How Insects Attack Garden Vegetables and Methods of Control." It was a joint contribution of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Bureau of Entomology and the Extension Service, cooperating with the State Agricultural Colleges in extension work in agriculture and home economics. Some...

Content Description The Edward B. Knipling Memorabilia Collection consists of objects collected by or awarded to Knipling during his career with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), chiefly during the years that he served as administrator of ARS. Artifacts include plaques, plates, books, medallions, and other items. Most of the items were displayed at one time in Knipling's office in Washington, D.C. Additional items include two batons of authority presented to...

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The Edward Everett Terrell Papers consist mainly of photographs, micrographs, negatives, and illustrations of the plant specimens featured in Dr. Terrell's research and publications. There are also plant species distribution maps, journal article reprints, and personal files and correspondence relating to publications, reviews, and specimen collections.