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Edgar Ross Wells Papers, 1921-1958

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Wells, Edgar Ross
Title
Edgar Ross Wells Papers
Dates
1921-1958 (inclusive)
Quantity
8 containers., (4 linear feet of shelf space.), (3000 items.)
Collection Number
Cage 201
Summary
Correspondence, minutes, reports, circulars, membership rosters, and working papers principally related to Wells' active role in several reclamation associations, including the National Reclamation and the Pacific Northwest Development Association, and which especially concern water-use policies, and controversies in the Pacific Northwest during the decade 1945-1955. The papers also reflect Wells' advocacy of the agricultural experiment stations of Washington State University, especially those programs concerned with poultry disease research.
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 for research use.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

Edgar Ross Wells was born in Ohio and came west in his youth. During the 1920s he established a hatchery known as "Henacres" at Prosser, Washington, adjacent to his fruit farm. In the later 1930s he became active in poultry and reclamation trade associations. His poultry interests involved him in the promotion of poultry disease research being conducted by Washington State University. Ultimately his lobbying efforts resulted in the creation of an University Experiment Station for poultry research at Prosser and an appointment to the University's Advisory Board for agricultural sciences. By 1952 he was a candidate for a regent's appointment, which he did not receive being unable to secure the favor of Governor Arthur Langlie. Wells' activities in reclamation associations also intensified in the 1940s and 1950s as he became an official of various regional reclamation organizations and a director of the National Reclamation Association. The major thrust of Wells' efforts in these organizations was to preserve the Columbia, Yakima and Snake River water resources for use in reclamation and irrigation, forestalling the efforts to develop electrical generating stations which would compete for utilization of the water of these rivers. He was also active in the Northwest, especially under the plan envisioned in the proposal for a Columbia Valley Authority. Due to increasing age and declining health, Wells curtailed his public activities in the later 1950s.

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Content Description

The papers of Edgar R. Wells at the Washington State University Library consist of the correspondence, reports, minutes, enclosures and related material which emanated from Wells' most active period as a public figure in reclamation and agricultural research.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 201, Edgar Ross Wells Papers. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The papers are arranged into five series. Three series are concerned with reclamation - National Reclamation Association, regional reclamation matters and reclamation politics. A fourth series consists of papers relating to Washington State University and the Washington State Poultry and Turkey Industry Disease Control Commission. The fifth series contains papers regarding irrigation and reclamation matters which concerned Wells as a water user or water district member.

Acquisition Information

The reclamation and agricultural research papers of Edgar R. Wells (b. 1883), a poultryman of Prosser, Washington, who was involved in several reclamation trade associations and in the promotion of agricultural research, especially at Washington State University, were donated to the Washington State University Library by Wells' son, Edward Wells in 1964.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

  • Series 1: National Reclamation Association

    Correspondence, reports, minutes, circulars, news letters and working papers relating principally to Wells' activities as a director and member of the resolutions and legislative committees of the National Reclamation Association. Materials relating to the political activities of the NRA and to NRA publicity efforts are also to be found among these papers.

    • Description: Coles, LaSalle E. Correspondence with Oregon director of the National Reclamation Association
      3
      Dates: 1953.
      Container: Box 1, Folder 1
      Location: Series 1: National Reclamation Association
    • Description: Legislative Committee. Correspondence, reports, enclosures, drafts of bills. Correspondents include NRA President C. P. Peterson, directors LaSalle Coles, Harry Polk and others.
      250
      Dates: 1948-1956.
      Container: Box 1, Folder 2-7
      Location: Series 1: National Reclamation Association
    • Description: Long Beach Convention. Printed and mimeographed items relative to 1952 NRA meeting at Long Beach, Cal.
      15
      Dates: 1952.
      Container: Box 1, Folder 8
      Location: Series 1: National Reclamation Association
    • Description: National Reclamation Association- General. Correspondence, mainly with NRA officers and executives; minutes, transcripts, and circulars
      250
      Dates: 1950-1956.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 9-15
      Location: Series 1: National Reclamation Association
    • Description: Peterson, C. Petrus. Correspondence with NRA president
      30
      Dates: 1950-1953.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 16
      Location: Series 1: National Reclamation Association
    • Description: Polk, Harry. Correspondence with NRA director from North Dakota, some of personal nature
      320
      Dates: 1949-1957.
      Container: Box 2, Folder 17-19
      Location: Series 1: National Reclamation Association
    • Description: Portland Convention. Correspondence and printed materials relative to the 1954 NRA convention and 1954-1955 directors' meetings
      40
      Dates: 1954-1955.
      Container: Box 3, Folder 20
      Location: Series 1: National Reclamation Association
    • Description: Publications of the National Reclamation Association. Four NRA circulars: Reclamation News, The NRA Legislative Digest, President's Letters, and Secretary Manager's Letters
      250
      Dates: 1951-1955.
      Container: Box 3, Folder 21-24
      Location: Series 1: National Reclamation Association
    • Description: Resolutions of the National Reclamation Association. Resolutions adopted by the NRA
      50
      Dates: 1955.
      Container: Box 4, Folder 25
      Location: Series 1: National Reclamation Association
    • Description: Resolutions Committee- Spokane. Correspondence, minutes, and adopted resolutions
      35
      Dates: 1950.
      Container: Box 4, Folder 26
      Location: Series 1: National Reclamation Association
    • Description: Van Slyke, H. William. Correspondence relative to NRA Committee assignments
      10
      Dates: 1950.
      Container: Box 4, Folder 27
      Location: Series 1: National Reclamation Association

  • Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation

    Correspondence, reports, minutes, transcripts and working papers relating to a number of northwestern reclamation and water use organizations including the Washington State Reclamation Association, the Pacific Northwest Development Association, the Pacific Water Council and the Wahluke Slope Committee; and to a number of governmental and advisory bodies including the Bonneville Power Administration Advisory Council, The Columbia Basin Commission, the Columbia Interstate Compact and the Washington State Department of Resources; and to a number of individuals associated with reclamation in the northwest, including officials of several railroad and electric power companies. The major concerns reflected in the papers in this series are reclamation, irrigation and water use policies, principally for the Columbia and Snake rivers, electric power development on northwestern rivers and various proposals to unite northwestern water resource agencies, the most prominent proposal being the Columbia Valley Authority plan.

    • Description: Bonneville Advisory Council. Correspondence, some with William Pearl, press releases, circulars (s.a. Raver, Paul.)
      20
      Dates: 1952-1958.
      Container: Box 4, Folder 28
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Califormia Letters- Reclamation. Correspondence
      6
      Dates: 1948-1952.
      Container: Box 4, Folder 29
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Columbia Basin Account. Correspondence and enclosures relative to a proposal to unite the Columbia water agencies. Correspondents include Arthur Langlie, Francis Case and Marshall Dana.
      30
      Dates: 1951-1952.
      Container: Box 4, Folder 30
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Columbia Basin Commission. Correspondence with officials of the Commission, a Washington State agency, and with other Washington State agencies, and with Arthur Langlie
      30
      Dates: 1949-1954.
      Container: Box 4, Folder 31
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Columbia Basin Development Bill. Correspondence, enclosures, and statements, including Wells' statement in opposition to the Columbia Valley Authority, relative to legislation involving Columbia Basin Project funding
      20
      Dates: 1949-1952.
      Container: Box 4, Folder 32
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Dana, Marshall. Correspondence with Dana, a Portland, Ore., newsman, civic leader, exponent of water resource development and past president of the National Reclamation Association
      20
      Dates: 1951-1956.
      Container: Box 4, Folder 33
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Haw, John. Correspondence with the agricultural and land development agent of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company
      100
      Dates: 1949-1958.
      Container: Box 4, Folder 34-35
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Hells Canyon. Letter and packet of materials from Idaho Power Company explaining its position on dams in Hells Canyon
      15
      Dates: 1951-1952.
      Container: Box 5, Folder 36
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Interstate Compact. Correspondence primarily with Washington State conservation and resources agencies
      30
      Dates: 1952-1954.
      Container: Box 5, Folder 37
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Jordan, Len. Correspondence with Idaho Governor Len Jordan's assistant relative to Hells Canyon
      15
      Dates: 1951-1952.
      Container: Box 5, Folder 38
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Oregon Letters- Reclamation. Correspondence, mainly with Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railroad Company officials
      10
      Dates: 1951-1953.
      Container: Box 5, Folder 39
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Pacific Northwest Development Association. Correspondence, mainly with Daniel Noble (s.a. Washington State Development Association)
      Dates: 1953-1956.
      Container: Box 5, Folder 40
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Pacific Water Council. Correspondence and minutes relative to formation of new organization
      3
      Dates: 1952-53.
      Container: Box 10, Folder 41
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Public Utility District and Pacific Power and Light Company. Correspondence, circulars, election materials related to Public Utilities District election in Benton County
      30
      Dates: 1946.
      Container: Box 10, Folder 42-43
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Raver, Paul. Correspondence, enclosures, minutes and transcripts of meetings of the Bonneville Advisory Council (s.a. Bonneville Advisory Council)
      120
      Dates: 1947-1953.
      Container: Box 10, Folder 44-46
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Stapleton, W.P. Correspondence with Northern Pacific Railroad Company official relative to reclamation organizations
      30
      Dates: 1949-1955.
      Container: Box 10, Folder 47
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Wahluke Slope Committee. Correspondence and minutes
      5
      Dates: 1953.
      Container: Box 10, Folder 48
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Washington State Development Committee. Correspondence, working papers, membership lists, donation records (s.a. Pacific Northwest Development Association)
      90
      Dates: 1950-1952.
      Container: Box 6, Folder 49
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Washington State Power Commission. Correspondence, copy of act creating commission
      2
      Dates: 1953.
      Container: Box 6, Folder 50
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Washington State Reclamation Association. Correspondence, minutes, membership lists, statements and resolutions. Correspondents include S. I. Olson, Harold Stassen, Lew Garbutt and Loren Markham
      175
      Dates: 1949-1956.
      Container: Box 6, Folder 51-52
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation
    • Description: Washington Water Power Company. Correspondence with A. G. Meyer, Kinsey Robinson, C. Rea Moore relative to reclamation organizations
      20
      Dates: 1949-1953.
      Container: Box 6, Folder 53
      Location: Series 2: Northwestern Reclamation

  • Series 3: Political

    Correspondence and reports relative to water policies of the Truman and Eisenhower administrations, to reclamation-related legislation before the United States Congress, to appointments in the Eisenhower administration, especially that of Secretary of Interior Douglas McKay, and to the President's Water Resources Policy Commission.

    • Description: Bills- Congress. Copies of bills relating to water resources and reclamation
      15
      Dates: 1953-1954.
      Container: Box 6, Folder 54
      Location: Series 3: Political
    • Description: McKay, Douglas. Correspondence relative to McKay's appointment as Secretary of Interior; statements by McKay
      20
      Dates: 1952-1953.
      Container: Box 6, Folder 55
      Location: Series 3: Political
    • Description: Rising, E.W. (National Water Conservation). Letter and report relative to water conservation lobby
      2
      Dates: 1953.
      Container: Box 6, Folder 56
      Location: Series 3: Political
    • Description: Sawyer, Ken (Farmers' Home Administration). Correspondence relative to Sawyer's appointment as FHA Administrator
      6
      Dates: 1954.
      Container: Box 6, Folder 57
      Location: Series 3: Political
    • Description: Truman, Harry. Copies of correspondence of Truman and Congressman Walter Norblad explaining Truman's views of the Columbia Valley Authority proposal
      2
      Dates: 1950.
      Container: Box 6, Folder 58
      Location: Series 3: Political
    • Description: Water Resources Policies. Final reports, rebuttal statements, letter of explanation by Dwight Eisenhower relative to the President's Water Resources Policy Commission (s.a. Rising, E. W.)
      15
      Dates: 1953.
      Container: Box 6, Folder 59-60
      Location: Series 3: Political

  • Series 4: Agricultural Research and Education

    Correspondence, reports, clippings, circulars and working papers relating to Washington State University, especially to its branch experiment station at Prosser, Washington; to the appointments of university presidents Wilson Compton and C. Clement French; to Wells' membership on the Institute of Agricultural Sciences Advisory Board; also included are Wells' papers relating to the Washington State Poultry and Turkey Industry Disease Control Commission, a state agency which operated in close cooperation with Washington State University.

    • Description: Compton, Wilson. Correspondence, clippings relative to agricultural research at Washington State University
      15
      Dates: 1950-1952.
      Container: Box 7, Folder 61
      Location: Series 4: Agricultural Research and Education
    • Description: Experiment Station. Correspondence, enclosures mainly related to the organization, staffing and funding of the WSU Experiment Station at Prosser, Washington
      250
      Dates: 1945-1954.
      Container: Box 7, Folder 62-67
      Location: Series 4: Agricultural Research and Education
    • Description: Frazier, Fred (Extension Service) Correspondence relative to poultry research
      10
      Dates: 1943-1948.
      Container: Box 7, Folder 68
      Location: Series 4: Agricultural Research and Education
    • Description: French, C. Clement. Correspondence with French relative to his assumption of the Presidency of WSU
      10
      Dates: 1952.
      Container: Box 7, Folder 69
      Location: Series 4: Agricultural Research and Education
    • Description: Washington State College (University) - General. Correspondence, memoranda relative to WSU, mainly to poultry research and to appointment of officials
      70
      Dates: 1944-1957.
      Container: Box 7, Folder 70
      Location: Series 4: Agricultural Research and Education
    • Description: Washington State College (University) - Advisory Council. Correspondence, minutes, relating to the Institute of Agricultural Sciences Advisory Council, a board consisting mainly of farm and trade association representatives
      75
      Dates: 1950-1952.
      Container: Box 7, Folder 71-72
      Location: Series 4: Agricultural Research and Education
    • Description: Washington State College (University) - Regent's Appointment. Correspondence relative to Wells' candidacy for a regent's post
      30
      Dates: 1953.
      Container: Box 7, Folder 73
      Location: Series 4: Agricultural Research and Education
    • Description: Washington State Poultry and Turkey Industry Disease Control Commission. Correspondence, minutes relative to the commission and its efforts to encourage poultry disease research principally at Washington State University, and its efforts to control poultry disease epidemics, especially the Pullorum and Newcastle's Disease epidemics.
      250
      Dates: 1944-1950.
      Container: Box 8, Folder 74-76
      Location: Series 4: Agricultural Research and Education

  • Series 5: Prosser Commercial Club

    Correspondence and clippings relative to the activities of the Prosser Commercial Club, principally in its role as an exponent of reclamation and agricultural development of Central Washington.

    • Description: Correspondence, clippings, enclosures relative to activities of the Prosser Commercial Club especially in the areas of agriculture and reclamation. Correspondents include Warren Magnuson, Harry Cain, Hal Holmes and officials of the Atomic Energy Commission, the Army Corps of Engineers and Washington State University.
      170
      Dates: 1946-1956.
      Container: Box 8, Folder 77-79
      Location: Series 5: Prosser Commercial Club

  • Series 6: Personal Irrigation and Reclamation Interests

    Correspondence, legal documents and receipts relating to Wells' property, water rights and activities as a member of the Sunnyside Valley and Roza Irrigation Districts.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Poultry -- Diseases -- Research
  • Water resources development -- Washington (State)

Personal Names

  • Wells, Edgar Ross, 1883- --Archives (creator)

Corporate Names

  • Pacific Northwest Development Association
  • Washington State Reclamation Association
  • Washington State University. Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center
  • National Reclamation Association

Finding aid prepared by Lawrence Stark
2012

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

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