Bertram Rodney Bertramson Papers, 1933-1993

The Bertram Rodney Bertramson Papers consist of materials documenting three specific endeavors in which Bertramson was an active member: the development of the Pioneer Heights addition to Pullman, Washington, post-World War II food production and distribution in Germany, and a U.S. Aid project in Morocco to improve dryland farming techniques. Bertramson was a professor of agronomy at Washington State University and an involved member of his community in Pullman.

The contents of this collection pertain to the life and work of former Washington State University Professor of Agronomy, Bertram Rodney (B. R.) Bertramson. Materials, which include letters, diaries, pictures, correspondences, and legal and military documents fall under four categories: documents relating to Bertramson role in the construction and maintenance of the Pioneer Heights neighborhood in Pullman, Washington from the 1950s-1980s, documents relating to Bertramson’s time in the Second World War and the Military Government in Allied Occupied Germany after the war, documents relating to Bertramson’s academic research, and documents relating to Bertramson’s time in the U.S. Aid Morocco Dryland Farming Project in 1981-1982. Included are both personal materials, many of which are handwritten, and published documents.

Series 1: Pioneer Heights History, 1955-1993. This series contains materials on the creation of the Pioneer Heights addition to the city of Pullman. This series includes architectural blueprints, legal documents, purchasing contracts, pictures, and financing materials. Many of the blueprints and drawings have been separated from their original folder and placed in the oversized folder.

Series 2: Research Files, 1933-1991. This series contains a variety of materials from Bertramson’s academic career, and includes published works and articles, public speeches, and recorded oral histories by himself, his mother, and several colleagues at Washington State University.

Series 3: World War II and Postwar, 1942-1948. This series consists of materials relating to Bertramson’s officer training, service in Europe during World War II, and time in the military government in Germany following the war. It consists of 3 subseries: Officer Training and Tank Destroyer Camp and Food, Agricultural Studies Administration for Germany, and Scrapbooks and Diaries.

Subseries 1: Officer Training and Tank Destroyer School, Camp Hood, Texas, 1942-1943. This subseries consists of materials from Bertramson’s training as an officer in the United States Army, specifically with the Tank Destroyers, in preparation for deployment in the European Theater of the Second World War. Included are military documents, training materials, and personal documents and correspondences.

Subseries 2: Food and Agricultural Studies and Administration for Germany, 1944-1948. This subseries consists of materials from Bertramson’s time in the Food and Agriculture Administration of the military government of Allied Occupied Germany during and following the conclusion of the Second World War. Bertramson specifically worked with food distribution and food rationing in the Rhineland and Gross Hessen. Included are military documents and orders, personal correspondences with family members and German civilians, collected ephemera, and images. Within these materials is also information on denazification (capitalization?) and postwar American policy in Europe.

Subseries 3: Scrapbooks and Diaries, 1942-1946. This subseries consists of a variety of personal documents from Bertramson’s time in the United States Army, including officer training, combat experiences, and his time in the military government. Included are scrapbooks with annotated pictures and collected ephemera, diaries, joke books, collections of personal correspondences and personal reflections.

Series 4: University of Nebraska – U.S. Aid Morocco Dryland Farming Project, 1981-1983. This series consists of materials from Bertramson’s participation in the U.S. Aid Morocco Dryland Farming Project through the University of Nebraska. Much of this collection is currently restricted, though Bertramson's reflections on his experiences in Morocco and general notes and correspondences are available.