The Washington Potato Association was established in 1952 as the Washington Potato and Onion Shippers Association, Inc. The organization was created in the early days of the Korean War when OPS prices controlled the potatoes, onions, and packing shed service without adequate consultation with the industry. It was dedicated to promoting the general welfare of the shippers. In 1958 the organization expanded to include both growers and shippers.
One of the primary tasks of the organization was traffic management, which involved both rates and forms of transporatation for the produce. Advertising and promoting the sale of potatoes, onions, fruits, and vegetables were also important functions. The association acted as a spokesman for the industry when dealing with government agencies and also supported, sponsored, and developed agricultural research project. The organization encouraged discussions and understanding of mutual problems within the industry, promoted reduced insurance rates for members, and offered a variety of social functions at which members could get better acquainted.
In a special meeting on May 8, 1969, the name of the organization was changed to the Washington Potato Association and the by-laws and Articles of Incorporation were amended. This step insured that potato shippers and processors would be working together as part of one organization.
The records of the Washington Potato Association and its predecessors, the Washington Potato and Onion Shipper's Association and the Washington Potato and Onion Grower's and Shipper's Association, are divided into two series: the Organizational Records Series, which includes material on the internal organization of the Association; and the Business and Professional Relations Series, which contains information about related organizations, associations, and institutions.
Organizational Records include the general records of the organization. Part of these files are arranged chronologically by year and part by general subject area. In general, the original order of the collection was maintained. General Records include correspondence, memoranda, financial information, meeting agendas and minutes, reports, committee lists, and Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws from 1952-1972. Bound volumes previously assembled by Association personnel have been treated as individual items.
Financial information, arranged chronologically, consists of material from 1959 through 1970 with the exception of fiscal year 1965-1966. Included in the financial information files are general ledgers, assessments received, accounts received, trial balances, processors' reports, reports of examination, income tax returns, and bills.
Correspondence is arranged chronologically from 1962-1966. The only named correspondence files were those of Don Trimble, the Association Manager; these are arranged by fiscal year. These files include memoranda and correspondence as well as financial information, minutes, reports, photographs, and meeting agendas.
The Social Activities files are arranged chronologically by year from 1962-1969. They include memoranda, correspondence, financial information, ticketing information, and reports about the preparation and execution of Potato Night, golf activities, Ladies' Luncheons, and other functions.
The Washington Potato Commission and the Washington Potato Association share many members and some documentation of the Commission's activities is included in the records of the Association. This information includes advertising and promotion campaigns sponsored by the Commission as well as information about the basic organization of the Commission, such as a description of its organization, lists of potato growers, and the rules and regulations of the Commission from 1953-1963. A file containing documents on the suit brought by the Idaho Potato Commission against the Washington Potato Commission includes court proceedings and preliminary findings from the 1975 case. Other records concerning the Washington Potato Commission include correspondence, employee income tax information, financial data, shipping orders and invoices, Annual Reports, and meeting minutes and agendas arranged chronologically by year from 1957-1972. Copies of "Spud Topics", a publication of the Washington Potato Commission, are also included for the period from 1959 to 1971.
The State of Washington Potato Committee's Annual Reports are arranged by fiscal year from 1964-1975. A Committee Book from 1968-1969 includes that year's financial reports, correspondence, memoranda, and minutes. The Potato Committee's Disposition Reports from 1954-1977 are arranged chronologically by year.
The National Potato Council file contains memoranda, correspondence, reports, and copies of the "Potato Digest" from 1965-1966.
Papers and reports from Washington State University are filed chronologically by year from 1958-1977. These include reports on research activities and the Othello Seed Lot Trials. Potato Advisory Council Meetings at WSU from 1958-1963 consist of personal memoranda, schedules, reports and related correspondence.
Several Federal agencies have been involved with potato development and research and records of their activities are arranged chronologically within subject areas. Newspaper clippings, court proceedings, charges, and related correspondence about the Enabling Act of 1955 are included as well as Annual Reports and Summaries of Work performed by the USDA at Union Gap,WA from 1957-1960.
The proceedings of the Washington State Potato Conference and Trade Fair, 1962-1977 inclusive with the exception of 1967, are arranged chronologically by year. General reports submitted to the Association as well as to and from other industries related to the growing, shipping, and processing of potatoes are arranged chronologically by year from 1955-1968
This collection is open for research use.
[Item Description]. Cage 365, Washington Potato Association Records. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
The records of the Washington Potato Association were donated by the Association through George O'Leary in September 1977 (77-52).
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.