View XML QR Code

Palouse Conservation Field Station Photographs of Soil Conservation, 1929-1965

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Palouse Conservation Field Station
Title
Palouse Conservation Field Station Photographs of Soil Conservation
Dates
1929-1965 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.75 Linear feet of shelf space, (3 Boxes)
Collection Number
PC 113 (collection)
Summary
The collection contains images showing the results of environmental change on farm land especially due to erosion from 1930 into the 1960s. Though focused on that change in the Palouse region, the collection includes images from other agricultural regions in the U.S. and some from other countries.
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

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English
Return to Top

Historical Note

Founded in 1930 as one of ten USDA-established erosion experiment stations, the Palouse Conservation Field Station began as a joint venture between the United States Department of Agriculture and the State College of Washington (later Washington State University) and was located east of the campus in Pullman, Washington on a 200+ acre farm that also includes offices, laboratories, a machine shop, greenhouse, and other equipment buildings. Its name quickly changed from the initial Pacific Northwest Soil Erosion and Moisture Conservation Experiment Station to Pacific Northwest Soil Erosion Experiment Station Scientists to Pacific Northwest Soil Conservation Experiment Station to Soil and Water Conservation Research Station and many derivations thereof before becoming the Palouse Conservation Field Station in 1961. Throughout its long tenure, the station sponsored the cooperative efforts of USDA and Washington State University scientists to conduct agricultural experiments, study the results of erosion on the Palouse landscape, and develop better farming techniques.

Return to Top

Content Description

The collection includes 1200 images, labeled negatives, nitrate negatives, prints, unidentified images, and scrapbooks, showing the results of environmental change on farm land especially due to erosion from 1930 into the 1960s. Though focused on that change in the Palouse region, the collection includes images from other agricultural regions in the U.S. and some from other countries. Additional images of interest include some of Washington State College buildings and personnel and of the Snake River canyon in the early 1930s.

Series 1: Identified images, 1930-1965. This series consists of more than 800 images, most individually identified, with original captions and image numbers retained but then re-numbered sequentially.

Series 2: Scrapbook pages, 1930 to 1960s. This series includes scrapbook pages with mounted, captioned photographs as well as miscellaneous items including photographs of agriculture-associated buildings, activities, and students and staff at Washington State College. The scrapbook pages document activities at the Palouse Station as well as other soil erosion experiment stations in the US.

Series 3: Unidentified images by topic, [1930s-1960s]. The images in this series are identified broadly by topics and grouped accordingly in thirteen subseries with original numbers retained. Image numbers are listed for each topic, but where identifying information was available that image is itemized.

For images, the original detailed captions, when available, were retained as was the filing sequence and original print and negative numbers, though the photographs/negatives were re-numbered sequentially. In some cases, a print produced from a negative received a separate original number, but, whenever possible, prints were matched with the negative in this collection's sequential system. The scrapbooks contain many mounted prints that may match unidentified prints/negatives.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]

Palouse Conservation Field Station Photographs of Soil Conservation, 1929-1965 (PC 113)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in three series, each of which occupies exactly one box.

Acquisition Information

Photographs from the Palouse Conservation Field Station were donated to the WSU Libraries in 2001 by Donald McCool.

Processing Note

Francesca Pena, Duncan Shea, and Trevor Bond, Special Collections Librarian, processed the collection in 2002. Susan Vetter redescribed and finished the collection in December, 2009 and January, 2010.

Related Materials

United States Department of Agriculture / WSU Palouse Conservation Field Station and Agricultural Research Service Records 1931-1977 (Archives 258)

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Agricultural experiment stations -- Washington (State) -- Photographs
  • Agriculture -- Washington (State) -- Photographs
  • Soil conservation -- Washington (State) -- Photographs

Corporate Names

  • Palouse Conservation Field Station -- Photographs

Finding aid prepared by Susan Vetter
2016

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...