Cooperative Extension Service Agronomy Specialist (Morrison) Records, 1955-1969

Overview of the Collection

Title
Cooperative Extension Service Agronomy Specialist (Morrison) Records
Dates
1955-1969 (inclusive)
Quantity
approximate 3200 items, ( 4 linear feet), ( 4 containers)
Collection Number
Archives 30
Summary
Consists mainly of the correspondence of Kenneth Morrison, relating to communication with other County Extension agents, as well as home gardeners and farmers.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

The Collection is open for research use.

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 origin of the Co-operative Extension Service can be traced to a 1913 act by the Washington State Legislature which created the Bureau of Farm Development and provided for agricultural experts to assist farmers. The federal Smith-Lever Act of 1914 lent financial support to the state's program and placed the director of Extension Services directly under the auspices of the land grant college.

In 1917 President E.O. Holland appointed the first agronomy extension specialist whose duties were to act as disseminator of agricultural research data to the county agents and the public. In 1950 the present incumbent, Kenneth J. Morrison, came to Washington State University to fill the position of agronomy extension specialist. Born in 1921, Morrison received his BA in 1948 from Kansas State University, and his MA and PhD from Purdue in 1950 and 1967 respectively.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The records of the Agronomy Specialist consist almost entirely of the correspondence of Kenneth J. Morrison. Although there are only two series, the first (general correspondence) contains the bulk of the material. Of the two subseries within series one, the first is organized alphabetically by correspondent for each year 1961 through 1969. The second subseries is a subject file of correspondence and memoranda arranged alphabetically by topic which spans the years 1955 through 1969. The second series, consisting of correspondence between Morrison and county agents throughout Washington State, is arranged by county within annual groupings from 1961 through 1968. Correspondents, while including media and industry representatives, county agents, and agricultural specialists, consist principally of home gardeners and farmers concerned with plant identification and extension publications.

Acquisition Information

The records of the Washington State University Extension Agronomy Specialist were placed in the Washington State University Libraries by Kenneth J. Morrison in June 1978 (UA 78-17).

Processing Note

The collection was processed in March 1979 by Pat Graham Pidcock.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

1:  General Correspondence Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1-23
A-Z
365 items
1962
1 24-46
A-Z
225 items
1963
1 47-70
A-Z
230 items
1964
2 71-92
A-Z
480 items
1965-1966
2 93-116
A-Z
530 items
1967-1968
3 117-138
A-Z
255 items
1969
3 139
Bertramson, B.R.
25 items
1965-1967
3 140
Correspondence
10 items
1967-1969
3 141
Cosgriffe, H.A.
12 items
1964-1966
3 142
Cytogenetics
1 item
1955
3 143-144
Duplicates
55 items
1963-1964
3 145
Fertilizer Conference
1 item
1963
3 146
Genetics
15 items
1958-1963
3 147
Herbicide Advisory Council
2 items
1963
3 148
Isotopes
3 items
1959-1960
3 149
Land File
5 items
1963-1964
3 150-151
Memoranda
15 items
1962-1963
3 152-155
Memoranda to Agents
80 items
1965-1969
3 156
Outlying Testing- Central Washington
5 items
1963
3 157
Outlying Testing- Western Washington
10 items
1963
3 158
Plant Materials Center
2 items
1963
3 159
Seed House
5 items
1963
3 160
Storage Space
5 items
1963
3 161
Scholarships
25 items
1963
3 162-163
Soil Improvement Committee
25 items
1963
3 164
Tri-State Wheat Researchers Conference
1 item
1963
3 165
Washington State Crop Improvement Association
5 items
1963
3 166
Wheat Plotland Exemptions
15 items
1962-1963
3 167
Wheat Quality
10 items
1963

2:  County Agent Correspondence (by county) Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
3 168-201
185 items
1962
4 202-239
160 items
1963
4 236-266
175 items
1964
4 267-297
215 items
1965-1966
4 298-323
235 items
1967-1968

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Agricultural extension work--Washington (State)--Archives
  • Agriculture--Washington (State)--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Washington State University. Cooperative Extension Service. Agronomy Specialist--Archives (creator)
  • Washington State University. Cooperative Extension Service. Agronomy Specialist--Records and correspondence

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Morrison, Kenneth J.--Archives (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • State College of Washington. Extension Service. (creator)
    • Washington State University. Extension Service. (creator)