Bioresource Engineering Department Records

Bioresource Engineering Department Records, 1924-1983

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Oregon State University. Dept. of Bioresource Engineering.
Title: Bioresource Engineering Department Records
Dates: 1924-1983 (inclusive)
19241983
Quantity: 12 cubic ft.
6 microfilm reels
Collection Number: RG 001
Summary: The Bioeresource Engineering Department Records document the research and extension activities of the department; the design, development, and use of agricultural equipment; and the architectural design of structures primarily for agricultural use. The Records also include extensive materials pertaining to the flax industry in Oregon from 1938 to 1954.
Repository: Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Department of Agricultural Engineering was created in 1916 when the Department of Agronomy was subdivided, and was placed within the School of Agriculture. It was originally housed in the Farm Mechanics Building (now Gilmore Hall). The first department chair was William James Gilmore. In 1947 the department became jointly administered by the Schools of Agriculture and Engineering. The department's name was changed to Bioresource Engineering in 1991.

Fiber flax processing investigations were conducted at Oregon State College from from the late 1930s through mid 1950s through a joint USDA/Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station project. Engineering research led to the development and introduction of improved equipment for pulling, deseeding, scutching, and cleaning flax. Also, improved designs for flax mills were developed and recommendations made for prevention and control of flax mill fires. Researchers involved in this project included W. M. Hurst, L. M. Klein, J. E. Harmond, and M. C. Widger.

Fiber flax had been grown in the Willamette Valley since 1915, but prior to World War II the acreage was small and production and processing methods were based largely on European practices. When European flax supplies were cut off by World War II the acreage of flax and number of mills increased significantly and research results were available so that improved equipment could be installed in all the flax mills.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Series 4 documents the research activities of the department. Series 7 consists primarily of correspondence of faculty member John Wolfe, much of it concerning irrigation. Series 8 consists of reports and short features broadcast over radio station KOAC in the 1930s and 1940s. Series 9, annual reports of research, spans the years 1970 to 1983.

Series 10 consists of materials pertaining to the flax industry in Oregon from 1938 to 1954: references, reports, design specifications, and building and equipment plans and drawings. These materials resulted from state and federal fiber flax processing investigations between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Engineering Department of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station.

Series 11 consists of plans and drawings for homes; farm structures and equipment; selected campus buildings and structures including buildings at some Branch Experiment Stations; and plans for non-OSU buildings and/or sites designed by Agricultural Engineering Department faculty, primarily H. R. Sinnard. Most of the farm structures and equipment plans and drawings were published and distributed by the Extension Service.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Bioresource Engineering Department Records (RG 1), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 11 series: I. Monthly Reports; II. Staff Meeting Minutes; III. Correspondence, Robert M. Alexander; IV. Projects and Reports; V. Patents; VI. Agricultural Engineering Personnel; VII. Correspondence; VIII. Radio Talks and Reports; IX. Annual Reports; X. Flax Industry Materials; and XI. Plans and Drawings.

Related Materials

Materials related to the Bioresource Engineering Department can be found in the College of Agricultural Sciences, Dean's Office Records (RG 158); Agricultural Experiment Station Records (RG 25); Extension Service Records (RG 111); Bioresource Engineering Department Photograph Collection (P106); and publications in PUB 10-11a.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I: Monthly Reports, 1959-1960Return to Top

Container(s): Reel 1

Series II: Staff Meeting Minutes, 1959-1960Return to Top

Container(s): Reel 1

Series III: Correspondence, Robert M. AlexanderReturn to Top

Container(s): Reel 4

Series IV: Projects & Reports, 1924-1957Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Reel	Folder
2	1	Projects See also inventory of paper records, Series VII - Correspondence.	1924-1925
2	2	Experiment Station Projects
2	3	The Dalles Co-operative Growers
2	4	Prune Projects
2	5	Strawberry Projects
2	6	Eugene Fruit Growers - Plums
2	7	Apple Growers Association
2	8	U.S. Frozen Pack Lab Reports	1936-1937
2	9	Hoerner - Hop Project
2	10	Corn Products Reports	1936-1938
2	11	Agricultural Research Foundation - Contracts for New Projects
2	12	Biennial Reports for the Experiment Station
2	13	Bear Creek Orchard Reports	1939
2	14	Progress Report - Dextrose Investigation
2	15	Fish Projects
2	16	Progress Report of Fish and Vegetable Preservation Studies	1940-1941
2	17	Strawberries	1941
2	18	Blackberries
2	19	Raspberries
2	20	Cherry and Tomato Investigations for Starr Fruit Products Company	1941
3	21	Air Pollution - Technical Information Survey
3	22	Apple Washing - Acid Heating
3	23	Arnold Dryer Company
3	24	Summary of Drying Tests on Arnold Dryer
3	25	Bulb Testing
3	26	" Cattle Squeeze"
3	27	Soil and Water Conservation
3	28	Boiler Feedwater and Boiler Water Conditions of Dairy Coop. Association
3	29	Drying - General
3	30	Artificial Drying of Corn
3	31	Walnut Drying
3	32	Egg Room Humidifier
3	33	Insulate Egg Room
3	34	Rural Electrification - Electric Fence Project
3	35	Official Tests of Electric Fence Units
3	36	Electric Sterilizer Project
3	37	Soil Erosion
3	38	Rural Electrification - Farm Freezer Units
3	39	Farm Machinery, Secretary of Agriculture, Engineering Research Branch, Annual Report	1953-1954
3	40	USDA Agriculture Research Service, Agriculture Engineering Research, Farm Machinery, Annual Report	1954-1955
3	41	Fiber Flax - Annual Reports	1950-1951
3	42	Feed Grinding Study Project
3	43	Brownell Floor Heating Experiment
3	44	Poultry Floor Heating - OSC Experiment Station
3	45	Harvesting and Farm Seed Cleaning and Handling - Annual Report	1956
3	46	Harvesting Forage Crops in Western Oregon and Progress Report, on 4-6 Combins	1957
3	47	Irrigation
3	48	Irrigation Research on Willamette Valley Soils
3	49	Sprinkler Irrigation - General
3	50	Kitchen Hooks
3	51	Milkrooms - Construction of Milkhouses
3	52	Poultry Housing and Ventilation
3	53	Third National Potato Conference
3	54	Purnell Reports and Miscellaneous Project Reports
3	55	Refrigeration
3	56	Reports - Relation of Electricity to Agriculture
3	57	Biennial and Progress Reports
3	58	Reports and Lectures - Miscellaneous
3	59	Research Projects - Filbert Harvester
3	60	Research Projects - Filbert Drying
3	61	Research Projects - Farm Building Projects
3	62	Research Projects - Symphalid Control
3	63	Research Projects - Pea Weevil - Aphis Program
3	64	Research Projects - Hop Drying
3	65	Rural Electrification
3	66	Seed Cleaning
3	67	" Service to Electrical Equipment"
3	68	Semi-Scalder Turkeys
3	69	Electric Soil Sterilizer
3	70	Soil Sterilization
3	71	Squaw Butte Experiment Station
3	72	Water Resources
3	73	Water Supply Information
4	74	Small Seed Harvesting and Processing Investigation - Annual Reports
Box
1		Fiber Flax Processing Investigations	1947
1		Irrigation of Vegetable Crops, Multnomah County	1952
Reel	Folder
5	1	Balsam Wooly Aphid
5	2	Insect Lab - Rudinsky
5	3	Regional Research
5	4	Seed Lab
5	5	Soils - Youngberg
5	6	Genetics - B.L.M.
5	7	Hill Projects
5	8	Forest Research Division - Administration Project 200
5	9	Forest Research Division - Technical Project 342
5	10	USDA Research
5	11	Thesis - Application of Western Hemlock Yield Tables
5	12	B.L.M. - Animals
5	13	Forest Research Division - Technical Project 341
5	14	Genetics Project
5	15	Agricultural Experiment Station

Series V: PatentsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description
Reel	Folder
4	75	Pear Blight Patents
4	76	Patents - Material from Dr. Johnson
4	77	Insecticide Patent Material for B.G. Thompson
4	78	Disinfectant Patent by H.P. Barss
4	79	Pear Blight Patent
4	80	Scale Beam Patent by Dr. Wilster
4	81	Miscellaneous Patents

Series VI: Agricultural Engineering PersonnelReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Reel	Folder
5	1	Agricultural Engineering Staff
5	2	Agricultural Engineering Staff Seminars	1961
5	3	Graduate Students and Graduate School
5	4	Irrigation Research Review Conference
5	5	Staff - Rogers
5	6	Radiation Safety Committee

Series VII: CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Reel
5		1958-1965
		1925-1970
Box
1	Documents from microfilm reels 5-6	1925-1965
1	Joint administration of department	1929-1947
1	Western Agricultural Engineering Center, Memorandum of Understanding	1970

Series VIII: Radio Talks & Reports, 1938-1949Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Reel	Folder
5	1	" Research in Rural Electrification"	March 18, 1939
5	2	" Power and Agricultural Development of the Northwest"	July 7, 1938
5	3	" Planning a Dairy Barn"	December 11, 1939
5	4	" How Statistics Improves Physical, Chemical, and Engineering Measurements"	December 14, 1949
5	5	" How Electricity is Being Used on Oregon Farms"	March 25, 1940
5	6	" The Pneumatic Tired Tractor"	February 17, 1940
5	7	" The Effect of Tire Wear on Tractor Performance"	January 27, 1940
5	8	" Land Development in the State of Oregon"	January 24, 1940
5	9	" Rubber Tires for Farm Equipment"	April 10, 1940
5	10	" New Developments in Farm Tractors"	October 11, 1939
5	11	" Engineering Evolution and its Relation to Agriculture"	February 14, 1940
5	12	" Explosives - An Instrument of Industrial and Agricultural Progress"	January 10, 1940
5	13	" Studies of Barn Dried Hay"
5	14	" Engineering Aspects of Rodent Control"
5	15	" Aids to Judgement in Irrigation"
5	16	" Planning a Small Farm Walnut or Filbert Drier"	May 20, 1939
5	17	" Labor-Saving Devices Used on Oregon Farms"	October 19, 1942
5	18	" Repairing Farm Machinery Now for Spring and Summer Needs"	February 1, 1943
5	19	" Electrical Hotbeds and Propagating Beds"	January 26, 1942
5	20	" Dairy Barns"	January 10, 1947
5	21	" Adequate Wiring"	February 14
5	22	" Farm Safety"
5	23	" Farm Building Insulation"	November 22, 1946
5	24	" Pumping Molasses When Adding it to Grass Silage"	October 25, 1946
5	25	" Servicing the Cooling System for Anti-Freeze"	November 8, 1946
5	26	" Who Ever Heard of a Half Horse?"	June 13, 1947
5	27	" The Second Home on the Farm"	May 16, 1947
5	28	" Farm Fire Protection"
5	29	" Hydraulic Power Controls for Farm Machines"	April 4, 1947
5	30	" Roof Coverings on Farm Buildings"	April 18, 1947
5	31	" Hay Driers for Western Oregon"	May 2, 1947
5	32	" Electric Hotbeds"
5	33	" Mechanical Means of Weed Control"	February 24, 1940
5	34	" Low Pressure Sprinkler Irrigation"	January 13, 1940
5	35	" A Comparison of Two Types of Cylinders"	January 20, 1940
5	36	" Wood Hoop Granaries"	February 10, 1940
5	37	" Mechanization of Sugar Beet Production"	March 2, 1940
5	38	" The Policies of Creditors in Relation to Soil Conservation"	February 3, 1940
5	39	" Electricity on the Farm"	February 28, 1940
5	40	" One Story Dairy Barn"	March 9, 1940
5	41	" The Power Companies Activities in Rural Electrification as Viewed from the Standpoint of the Public"	March 1, 1940
6		This reel consists of materials also available on reel 5 or in paper form. A detailed (item-level) inventory is available in the Archives central file.

Series IX: Annual Reports of Research, 1970-1983Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1		1970/71 to 1974/75
1		1980/81 to 1982/83

Series X: Flax Industry Materials, 1938-1954Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Baling	1942-1945
1	Costs and Yields	1938-1941
	Patents
Box
1	General Flax Processing Equipment 6 folders
1	Pullers 4 folders
1	Miscellaneous 2 folders
	Plans and Drawings
Box
2	A-C Combine Puller Deseeder	1943
	Binders
Box
2	Straw Divider and Double Needle Binder (installation at Mt. Angel)	1946-1953
	Breakers
Box
2	Ideas-LMK	1942
2	Shaker Breaker Shaker	1951
Box
2	Bundle Conveyer
2	Butter Destroyed by Fire at Silverton	1941-1942
	Deseeders
Box
2	A&B (MCW, LMK)	1939
2	Cornelius and Mt. Angel	1941-1948
2	Crank Arm Drive	1940
2	Molalla	1941-1943
2	Santiam	1951
Box
2	Dryer Building	1952
2	Feeders
2	Field Binders	1947-1953
2	Field Binder Loader	1953
2	Granger Farm Storage Sheds	1941
2	Handi Hoist	1948
2	Looms
2	Oil Burner Specifications	1952
2	Phormium Stripper Base and Drive Plan
2	Plants - Field Notes and Measurements	1941-1942
	Pullers
Box
2	Self-Propelled Puller
2	Vessot Puller
Box
2	Retting Tanks - Top Lift/Hoist Mechanism	1945-1951
	Santiam Flax Growers
Box
2	Heating Coil Installation - Tow Dryer
2	Scutching and Tow Building Layout	1943-1946
	Scutchers
Box
2	Breaker-Scutcher #1 (burned at Harrisburg)
2	Demonstration Unit	1949
2	Experimental Scutcher Installation - Santiam	1945
2	Feeder Design	1950-1951
2	Gripping Chain and Breaker-Experimental Scutcher	1944-1949
2	New Scutcher Springs	1947-1949
2	Scutcher #4
2	Scutcher Feed Table (Butting)	1945-1948
2	Scutching Breaker #1 - MCW
2	Scutching Machine - LMK	1940
2	Tow Scutching and Tow Cleaners	1942-1944
2	V.H. and V.S. Combination Scutcher Plan for Mt. Angel
Box
3	Special Patent Drawings	1953
3	String Cutter	1947-1952
3	Temperature and Humidity Controlled Room	1941
3	Tow Separator Box	1946-1950
	Tow Shakers	1940
Box
3	Tow Shaker Dryer - Benton	1942-1946
	Plans and Drawings of Equipment and Buildings - Oversize
Box
7	List of Drawings for Flax Processing Plants apx 20x24 in.	1942
7	Preliminary Sketches apx 20x24 in.
Map Case
*	Sketches and Preliminary Drawings
*	Plot Plans and Plant Layouts
*	Existing Structures Tracings
*	Belgian Retting Tanks Tracings
*	Miscellaneous Prints
*	Proposed Structures Tracings
*	Sketches and Preliminary Drawings
*	Equipment Plans Primarily original ink drawings
Box
3	Publications	1942-1945
	Reports
Box
3	Accomplishments of the Fiber Flax Processing Investigations	1946-1954
3	Deseeding Circular
3	Experimental Self-Propelled Flax Puller Progress Report	1951-1952
3	Flax Puller Circular
3	Machine Construction Monthly Reports	1941-1943
3	Performance of the Experimental Bundle Spreading Device	1946
3	Processing Fiber Flax in Oregon (write-up for Bulletin)
3	Rotary Comb Deseeder Bulletin
3	Scutching Machine for Fiber Flax (Circular)
3	Test Reports	1948-1952
	Tests
Box
3	Butting Tests	1946
3	Butting Test - Washington County	1948
3	Commercial Flax Variety Tests (Chapin Plots)	1951
3	Data	1942-1946
3	Deseeder - Mt. Angel	1948-1952
3	Field Binder Loader	1950
3	Hand and Machine Hackling Test	1951
3	Pulling Test	1946
3	Scutcher
Box
3	Experimental vs. Van Hauwaert	1946-1947
3	Experimental vs. Vansteenkiste	1950
3	Scutcher Tests - Mt. Angel	1948-1949
3	Scutcher Beater Speed Test	1951-1952
3	Scutcher Blade Modification Test	1952
3	Scutcher Feeder Tests - No. 1 and 2 - Santiam
3	Scutcher Performance Comparison Tests	1947
7	Scutching Tests apx 20x24 in.	1945
Box
3	U.S. Department of Agriculture	1940-1944
3	Want Lists	1939-1958

Series XI: Plans and Drawings, 1930-1970Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
3	Plans and Specifications	1942-1945
3	Plans - Modular House
3	Plans - Potato Washers
	Homes
Box
5	Expansible Retirement House - " Casa del Manana" apx 20x24 in.
5	Farm Houses apx 20x24 in. 5 folders	1940-1942
5	Freedom House apx 20x24 in.
5	House Planning and Architectural Drawing Class Projects apx 20x24 in.
5	Housing for the Elderly apx 20x24 in.
5	Modular House apx 20x24 in.
5	Rosenstiel Residence apx 20x24 in.
5	Schoenfeld Residence (Edgewood Drive) apx 20x24 in.
	Farm Structures and Equipment
Box
6	Air Meter apx 20x24 in.
6	Bail Tie Straightener apx 20x24 in.
6	Barns, General Purpose apx 20x24 in.
6	Beef Equipment apx 20x24 in.
6	Beef Barns apx 20x24 in.
6	Breeding Crates and Chutes apx 20x24 in.
6	Camp Cabins apx 20x24 in.
6	Cattle Feeders apx 20x24 in.
6	Cattle Guards apx 20x24 in.
6	Children's Playground Merry-go-round apx 20x24 in.
6	Chutes apx 20x24 in.
6	Cone Feed Mixer apx 20x24 in.
6	Corn Cribs apx 20x24 in.
6	Corn Driers apx 20x24 in.
6	Dairy Barns apx 20x24 in.
6	Dehydrators apx 20x24 in.
6	Dipping Vats apx 20x24 in.
6	Drag Saw apx 20x24 in.
6	Dusting Equipment and Weed Sprayers apx 20x24 in.
6	Electric Pig Brooder apx 20x24 in.
6	Farm Fence apx 20x24 in.
6	Farm Labor Houses apx 20x24 in.
6	Fruit and Vegetable Storage apx 20x24 in.
6	Garages, Two-Car apx 20x24 in.
6	Garden Pea Sheller apx 20x24 in.
6	Granaries and Grain Elevators apx 20x24 in.
6	Grass Seed Thresher apx 20x24 in.
6	Hay Sheds apx 20x24 in.
6	Hay Driers apx 20x24 in.
6	Haying Equipment apx 20x24 in.
6	Hog Feeders apx 20x24 in.
6	Hog Houses apx 20x24 in.
6	Hop Driers apx 20x24 in.
6	Horse Barns apx 20x24 in.
6	Horticultural Tent House apx 20x24 in.
6	Incinerator apx 20x24 in.
6	Iron Bender Stand apx 20x24 in.
6	Machinery Sheds apx 20x24 in.
6	Manure Loader apx 20x24 in.
6	Manure Tanks and Pits apx 20x24 in.
6	Milk Houses and Equipment apx 20x24 in.
6	Nut Driers apx 20x24 in.
6	Nut Harvesters apx 20x24 in.
6	Potato Houses apx 20x24 in.
6	Poultry Houses and Equipment apx 20x24 in.
7	Refrigeration apx 20x24 in.
7	Roofs apx 20x24 in.
7	Rural Community Halls apx 20x24 in.
7	Scale and Corral Layout apx 20x24 in.
7	Septic Systems apx 20x24 in.
7	Sewing Cabinet apx 20x24 in.
7	Sheep Sheds and Equipment apx 20x24 in.
7	Silage Conveyor and Feed Bunk apx 20x24 in.
7	Silos apx 20x24 in.
7	Smokehouses apx 20x24 in.
7	Soil Sterilizer apx 20x24 in.
7	Suction Harvester for Clover Seed apx 20x24 in.
7	Trailers apx 20x24 in.
7	Troughs and Feed Bins apx 20x24 in.
7	Turkey Houses and Equipment apx 20x24 in.
7	Utility Buildings apx 20x24 in.
7	Vegetable Greenhouse apx 20x24 in.
7	Water Supply apx 20x24 in.
7	Water Wheel apx 20x24 in.
7	Wood Lift apx 20x24 in.
	Oregon State College Buildings and Structures
Box
7	Agricultural Engineering Building apx 20x24 in.
7	Beef Barn apx 20x24 in.
7	Dairy Barn apx 20x24 in.
7	Experiment Stations apx 20x24 in.
7	Fish Hatchery apx 20x24 in.
7	Laboratory/Office Building apx 20x24 in.
7	Livestock Pavilion apx 20x24 in.
7	Pasture Lands - Plans for Development apx 20x24 in.
7	Poultry Structures apx 20x24 in.
7	Sheep Barn apx 20x24 in.
	Plans for Non-OSC Buildings
Box
7	Albany City Park - Outdoor Kitchen apx 20x24 in.
7	Curtis Farm - Irrigation Pipe System apx 20x24 in.
7	Elkins Feedlot apx 20x24 in.
7	J.L. Cattle Ranch, Prairie City, Oregon - Corral and Chutes apx 20x24 in.
7	Granger Farmstead apx 20x24 in.
7	Millhollen Tract apx 20x24 in.
7	Pacific Supply Cooperative - Farm Storage apx 20x24 in.
7	State Fair and County Fair Grounds Structures apx 20x24 in.
7	W.C.T.U. Children's Farm Home - Dairy Building apx 20x24 in.

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