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The College of Agriculture began as one of six divisions of the Washington Agricultural College, Experiment Station, and School of Science in 1892. The Division of Agriculture became the Department of Agriculture in 1894 when the departmental system was organized. In 1917, that departmental system was reformed into a system of schools and colleges, one of which was the College of Agriculture. WSU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences combined Agriculture, Extension, and other departments in 1946, but was dissolved into its component departments in 1965. In 1982, Agriculture and Home Economics merged to form CAHE (College of Agriculture and Home Economics). CAHE later became CAHNRS, but in keeping with archival practice, records are maintained using the name of the organization at time of the materials' donation.

Orville A. Vogel was born in Nebraska in 1907, and received his education through his Masters degree in that state. In 1931, he accepted a position in Pullman, WA, with the Agricultural Research Service under the USDA and Washington State University, and remained there until his retirement in 1973. He devoted his entire career to wheat research, and his most significant contribution was in developing semi-dwarf wheats that helped revolutionize the food-production industry. Vogel was a 1975 National Medal of Science awardee, and received many other awards. He passed away in 1991.