Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections & Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-4501
Phone: 541-737-2165
Email: archives@oregonstate.edu
Web:
http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/archives
RG
001
Oregon State University. Dept. of Bioresource
Engineering.
Bioresource Engineering Department
Records
1924-1983
12 cubic ft.
6 microfilm
reels
The Bioeresource Engineering Department
Records document the research and extension activities of the department; the
design, development, and use of agricultural equipment; and the architectural
design of structures primarily for agricultural use. The Records also include
extensive materials pertaining to the flax industry in Oregon from 1938 to
1954.
Materials in English.
Historical Note:
The Department of Agricultural Engineering was created in 1916 when the
Department of Agronomy was subdivided, and was placed within the School of
Agriculture. It was originally housed in the Farm Mechanics Building (now
Gilmore Hall). The first department chair was William James Gilmore. In 1947
the department became jointly administered by the Schools of Agriculture and
Engineering. The department's name was changed to Bioresource Engineering in
1991.
Fiber flax processing investigations were conducted at Oregon State
College from from the late 1930s through mid 1950s through a joint USDA/Oregon
Agricultural Experiment Station project. Engineering research led to the
development and introduction of improved equipment for pulling, deseeding,
scutching, and cleaning flax. Also, improved designs for flax mills were
developed and recommendations made for prevention and control of flax mill
fires. Researchers involved in this project included W. M. Hurst, L. M. Klein,
J. E. Harmond, and M. C. Widger.
Fiber flax had been grown in the Willamette Valley since 1915, but prior
to World War II the acreage was small and production and processing methods
were based largely on European practices. When European flax supplies were cut
off by World War II the acreage of flax and number of mills increased
significantly and research results were available so that improved equipment
could be installed in all the flax mills.
Series 4 documents the research activities of the department. Series 7
consists primarily of correspondence of faculty member John Wolfe, much of it
concerning irrigation. Series 8 consists of reports and short features
broadcast over radio station KOAC in the 1930s and 1940s. Series 9, annual
reports of research, spans the years 1970 to 1983.
Series 10 consists of materials pertaining to the flax industry in
Oregon from 1938 to 1954: references, reports, design specifications, and
building and equipment plans and drawings. These materials resulted from state
and federal fiber flax processing investigations between the U.S. Department of
Agriculture and the Agricultural Engineering Department of the Oregon
Agricultural Experiment Station.
Series 11 consists of plans and drawings for homes; farm structures and
equipment; selected campus buildings and structures including buildings at some
Branch Experiment Stations; and plans for non-OSU buildings and/or sites
designed by Agricultural Engineering Department faculty, primarily H. R.
Sinnard. Most of the farm structures and equipment plans and drawings were
published and distributed by the Extension Service.
Organized into 11 series: I. Monthly Reports; II. Staff Meeting Minutes;
III. Correspondence, Robert M. Alexander; IV. Projects and Reports; V. Patents;
VI. Agricultural Engineering Personnel; VII. Correspondence; VIII. Radio Talks
and Reports; IX. Annual Reports; X. Flax Industry Materials; and XI. Plans and
Drawings.
Bioresource Engineering Department Records (RG 1), Oregon State
University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.
Materials related to the Bioresource Engineering Department can be found
in the College of Agricultural Sciences, Dean's Office Records (RG 158);
Agricultural Experiment Station Records (RG 25); Extension Service Records (RG
111); Bioresource Engineering Department Photograph Collection (P106); and
publications in PUB 10-11a.
Alexander, Robert M.
Sinnard, H. R. (Herbert Reeves), 1904-
Wolfe,
John W. (John William), 1917-
KOAC (Radio station : Corvallis, Or.)
Oregon
State College. Agricultural Experiment Station.
Oregon State College. Dept. of Agricultural
Engineering.
Oregon
State University. Agricultural Engineering Dept.
Oregon
State College. Federal Cooperative Extension Service.
Architecture--Oregon--Designs and plans.
Farm
buildings--Oregon.
Fruit--Research--Oregon.
Flax
industry--Oregon.
Agricultural
machinery.
Irrigation--Research--Oregon.
Radio
programs--Oregon.
Agricultural
engineering--Research--Oregon.
Agricultural
education--Oregon.
Flax--Processing--Oregon--Willamette River Valley.
Harvesting
machinery--Research--Oregon.
College
buildings--Oregon--Corvallis.
Agricultural experiment
stations--Oregon.
Radio scripts.
Architectural
drawings.
Patents.
Technical
drawings.
Oregon
Architectural
Drawings
Architecture
Colleges and
Universities
Agriculture
Irrigation
1
Series I
Monthly Reports
1959-1960
1
Series II
Staff Meeting Minutes
1959-1960
4
Series III
Correspondence, Robert M.
Alexander
Series IV
Projects &
Reports
1924-1957
2
1
Projects
1924-1925
See also inventory of paper records, Series VII -
Correspondence.
2
2
Experiment Station
Projects
2
3
The Dalles Co-operative
Growers
2
4
Prune Projects
2
5
Strawberry
Projects
2
6
Eugene Fruit Growers -
Plums
2
7
Apple Growers
Association
2
8
U.S. Frozen Pack Lab
Reports
1936-1937
2
9
Hoerner - Hop
Project
2
10
Corn Products
Reports
1936-1938
2
11
Agricultural Research
Foundation - Contracts for New Projects
2
12
Biennial Reports for the
Experiment Station
2
13
Bear Creek Orchard
Reports
1939
2
14
Progress Report - Dextrose
Investigation
2
15
Fish Projects
2
16
Progress Report of Fish and
Vegetable Preservation Studies
1940-1941
2
17
Strawberries
1941
2
18
Blackberries
2
19
Raspberries
2
20
Cherry and Tomato
Investigations for Starr Fruit Products Company
1941
3
21
Air Pollution - Technical
Information Survey
3
22
Apple Washing - Acid
Heating
3
23
Arnold Dryer
Company
3
24
Summary of Drying Tests on
Arnold Dryer
3
25
Bulb Testing
3
26
Cattle
Squeeze
3
27
Soil and Water
Conservation
3
28
Boiler Feedwater and Boiler
Water Conditions of Dairy Coop. Association
3
29
Drying - General
3
30
Artificial Drying of
Corn
3
31
Walnut Drying
3
32
Egg Room
Humidifier
3
33
Insulate Egg Room
3
34
Rural Electrification -
Electric Fence Project
3
35
Official Tests of Electric
Fence Units
3
36
Electric Sterilizer
Project
3
37
Soil Erosion
3
38
Rural Electrification - Farm
Freezer Units
3
39
Farm Machinery, Secretary of
Agriculture, Engineering Research Branch, Annual Report
1953-1954
3
40
USDA Agriculture Research
Service, Agriculture Engineering Research, Farm Machinery, Annual
Report
1954-1955
3
41
Fiber Flax - Annual
Reports
1950-1951
3
42
Feed Grinding Study
Project
3
43
Brownell Floor Heating
Experiment
3
44
Poultry Floor Heating - OSC
Experiment Station
3
45
Harvesting and Farm Seed
Cleaning and Handling - Annual Report
1956
3
46
Harvesting Forage Crops in
Western Oregon and Progress Report, on 4-6 Combins
1957
3
47
Irrigation
3
48
Irrigation Research on
Willamette Valley Soils
3
49
Sprinkler Irrigation -
General
3
50
Kitchen Hooks
3
51
Milkrooms - Construction of
Milkhouses
3
52
Poultry Housing and
Ventilation
3
53
Third National Potato
Conference
3
54
Purnell Reports and
Miscellaneous Project Reports
3
55
Refrigeration
3
56
Reports - Relation of
Electricity to Agriculture
3
57
Biennial and Progress
Reports
3
58
Reports and Lectures -
Miscellaneous
3
59
Research Projects - Filbert
Harvester
3
60
Research Projects - Filbert
Drying
3
61
Research Projects - Farm
Building Projects
3
62
Research Projects - Symphalid
Control
3
63
Research Projects - Pea
Weevil - Aphis Program
3
64
Research Projects - Hop
Drying
3
65
Rural
Electrification
3
66
Seed Cleaning
3
67
Service to Electrical
Equipment
3
68
Semi-Scalder
Turkeys
3
69
Electric Soil
Sterilizer
3
70
Soil
Sterilization
3
71
Squaw Butte Experiment
Station
3
72
Water Resources
3
73
Water Supply
Information
4
74
Small Seed Harvesting and
Processing Investigation - Annual Reports
1
Fiber Flax Processing
Investigations
1947
1
Irrigation of Vegetable
Crops, Multnomah County
1952
5
1
Balsam Wooly
Aphid
5
2
Insect Lab -
Rudinsky
5
3
Regional Research
5
4
Seed Lab
5
5
Soils - Youngberg
5
6
Genetics - B.L.M.
5
7
Hill Projects
5
8
Forest Research Division -
Administration Project 200
5
9
Forest Research Division -
Technical Project 342
5
10
USDA Research
5
11
Thesis - Application of
Western Hemlock Yield Tables
5
12
B.L.M. - Animals
5
13
Forest Research Division -
Technical Project 341
5
14
Genetics Project
5
15
Agricultural Experiment
Station
Series V
Patents
4
75
Pear Blight
Patents
4
76
Patents - Material from Dr.
Johnson
4
77
Insecticide Patent Material
for B.G. Thompson
4
78
Disinfectant Patent by H.P.
Barss
4
79
Pear Blight
Patent
4
80
Scale Beam Patent by Dr.
Wilster
4
81
Miscellaneous
Patents
Series VI
Agricultural Engineering
Personnel
5
1
Agricultural Engineering
Staff
5
2
Agricultural Engineering
Staff Seminars
1961
5
3
Graduate Students and
Graduate School
5
4
Irrigation Research Review
Conference
5
5
Staff - Rogers
5
6
Radiation Safety
Committee
Series VII
Correspondence
5
1958-1965
1925-1970
1
Documents from microfilm
reels 5-6
1925-1965
1
Joint administration of
department
1929-1947
1
Western Agricultural
Engineering Center, Memorandum of Understanding
1970
Series VIII
Radio Talks &
Reports
1938-1949
5
1
Research in Rural
Electrification
March 18, 1939
5
2
Power and Agricultural
Development of the Northwest
July 7, 1938
5
3
Planning a Dairy
Barn
December 11, 1939
5
4
How Statistics Improves
Physical, Chemical, and Engineering Measurements
December 14, 1949
5
5
How Electricity is Being Used
on Oregon Farms
March 25, 1940
5
6
The Pneumatic Tired
Tractor
February 17, 1940
5
7
The Effect of Tire Wear on
Tractor Performance
January 27, 1940
5
8
Land Development in the State
of Oregon
January 24, 1940
5
9
Rubber Tires for Farm
Equipment
April 10, 1940
5
10
New Developments in Farm
Tractors
October 11, 1939
5
11
Engineering Evolution and its
Relation to Agriculture
February 14, 1940
5
12
Explosives - An Instrument of
Industrial and Agricultural Progress
January 10, 1940
5
13
Studies of Barn Dried
Hay
5
14
Engineering Aspects of Rodent
Control
5
15
Aids to Judgement in
Irrigation
5
16
Planning a Small Farm Walnut or
Filbert Drier
May 20, 1939
5
17
Labor-Saving Devices Used on
Oregon Farms
October 19, 1942
5
18
Repairing Farm Machinery Now
for Spring and Summer Needs
February 1, 1943
5
19
Electrical Hotbeds and
Propagating Beds
January 26, 1942
5
20
Dairy Barns
January 10, 1947
5
21
Adequate
Wiring
February 14
5
22
Farm Safety
5
23
Farm Building
Insulation
November 22, 1946
5
24
Pumping Molasses When Adding it
to Grass Silage
October 25, 1946
5
25
Servicing the Cooling System
for Anti-Freeze
November 8, 1946
5
26
Who Ever Heard of a Half
Horse?
June 13, 1947
5
27
The Second Home on the
Farm
May 16, 1947
5
28
Farm Fire
Protection
5
29
Hydraulic Power Controls for
Farm Machines
April 4, 1947
5
30
Roof Coverings on Farm
Buildings
April 18, 1947
5
31
Hay Driers for Western
Oregon
May 2, 1947
5
32
Electric
Hotbeds
5
33
Mechanical Means of Weed
Control
February 24, 1940
5
34
Low Pressure Sprinkler
Irrigation
January 13, 1940
5
35
A Comparison of Two Types of
Cylinders
January 20, 1940
5
36
Wood Hoop
Granaries
February 10, 1940
5
37
Mechanization of Sugar Beet
Production
March 2, 1940
5
38
The Policies of Creditors in
Relation to Soil Conservation
February 3, 1940
5
39
Electricity on the
Farm
February 28, 1940
5
40
One Story Dairy
Barn
March 9, 1940
5
41
The Power Companies Activities
in Rural Electrification as Viewed from the Standpoint of the
Public
March 1, 1940
6
This reel consists of materials also available on reel 5 or
in paper form. A detailed (item-level) inventory is available in the Archives
central file.
Series IX
Annual Reports of
Research
1970-1983
1
1970/71 to 1974/75
1
1980/81 to 1982/83
Series X
Flax Industry
Materials
1938-1954
1
Baling
1942-1945
1
Costs and Yields
1938-1941
Patents
1
General Flax Processing
Equipment
6 folders
1
Pullers
4 folders
1
Miscellaneous
2 folders
Plans and
Drawings
2
A-C Combine Puller
Deseeder
1943
Binders
2
Straw Divider and
Double Needle Binder (installation at Mt. Angel)
1946-1953
Breakers
2
Ideas-LMK
1942
2
Shaker Breaker
Shaker
1951
2
Bundle
Conveyer
2
Butter Destroyed by Fire
at Silverton
1941-1942
Deseeders
2
A&B (MCW,
LMK)
1939
2
Cornelius and Mt.
Angel
1941-1948
2
Crank Arm
Drive
1940
2
Molalla
1941-1943
2
Santiam
1951
2
Dryer
Building
1952
2
Feeders
2
Field Binders
1947-1953
2
Field Binder
Loader
1953
2
Granger Farm Storage
Sheds
1941
2
Handi Hoist
1948
2
Looms
2
Oil Burner
Specifications
1952
2
Phormium Stripper Base
and Drive Plan
2
Plants - Field Notes and
Measurements
1941-1942
Pullers
2
Self-Propelled
Puller
2
Vessot
Puller
2
Retting Tanks - Top
Lift/Hoist Mechanism
1945-1951
Santiam Flax
Growers
2
Heating Coil
Installation - Tow Dryer
2
Scutching and Tow
Building Layout
1943-1946
Scutchers
2
Breaker-Scutcher #1
(burned at Harrisburg)
2
Demonstration
Unit
1949
2
Experimental Scutcher
Installation - Santiam
1945
2
Feeder
Design
1950-1951
2
Gripping Chain and
Breaker-Experimental Scutcher
1944-1949
2
New Scutcher
Springs
1947-1949
2
Scutcher
#4
2
Scutcher Feed Table
(Butting)
1945-1948
2
Scutching Breaker #1
- MCW
2
Scutching Machine -
LMK
1940
2
Tow Scutching and Tow
Cleaners
1942-1944
2
V.H. and V.S.
Combination Scutcher Plan for Mt. Angel
3
Special Patent
Drawings
1953
3
String Cutter
1947-1952
3
Temperature and Humidity
Controlled Room
1941
3
Tow Separator
Box
1946-1950
Tow Shakers
1940
3
Tow Shaker Dryer -
Benton
1942-1946
Plans and Drawings of
Equipment and Buildings - Oversize
7
apx 20x24 in.
List of Drawings for Flax
Processing Plants
1942
7
apx 20x24 in.
Preliminary
Sketches
*
Sketches and Preliminary
Drawings
*
Plot Plans and Plant
Layouts
*
Existing Structures
Tracings
*
Belgian Retting Tanks
Tracings
*
Miscellaneous
Prints
*
Proposed Structures
Tracings
*
Sketches and Preliminary
Drawings
*
Equipment Plans
Primarily original ink drawings
3
Publications
1942-1945
Reports
3
Accomplishments of the
Fiber Flax Processing Investigations
1946-1954
3
Deseeding
Circular
3
Experimental
Self-Propelled Flax Puller Progress Report
1951-1952
3
Flax Puller
Circular
3
Machine Construction
Monthly Reports
1941-1943
3
Performance of the
Experimental Bundle Spreading Device
1946
3
Processing Fiber Flax in
Oregon (write-up for Bulletin)
3
Rotary Comb Deseeder
Bulletin
3
Scutching Machine for
Fiber Flax (Circular)
3
Test Reports
1948-1952
Tests
3
Butting Tests
1946
3
Butting Test - Washington
County
1948
3
Commercial Flax Variety
Tests (Chapin Plots)
1951
3
Data
1942-1946
3
Deseeder - Mt.
Angel
1948-1952
3
Field Binder
Loader
1950
3
Hand and Machine Hackling
Test
1951
3
Pulling Test
1946
3
Scutcher
3
Experimental vs. Van
Hauwaert
1946-1947
3
Experimental vs.
Vansteenkiste
1950
3
Scutcher Tests - Mt.
Angel
1948-1949
3
Scutcher Beater Speed
Test
1951-1952
3
Scutcher Blade
Modification Test
1952
3
Scutcher Feeder Tests -
No. 1 and 2 - Santiam
3
Scutcher Performance
Comparison Tests
1947
7
apx 20x24 in.
Scutching
Tests
1945
3
U.S. Department of
Agriculture
1940-1944
3
Want Lists
1939-1958
Series XI
Plans and Drawings
1930-1970
3
Plans and
Specifications
1942-1945
3
Plans - Modular
House
3
Plans - Potato
Washers
Homes
5
apx 20x24 in.
Expansible Retirement
House -
Casa del
Manana
5
apx 20x24 in.
Farm Houses
1940-1942
5 folders
5
apx 20x24 in.
Freedom House
5
apx 20x24 in.
House Planning and
Architectural Drawing Class Projects
5
apx 20x24 in.
Housing for the
Elderly
5
apx 20x24 in.
Modular House
5
apx 20x24 in.
Rosenstiel
Residence
5
apx 20x24 in.
Schoenfeld Residence
(Edgewood Drive)
Farm Structures and
Equipment
6
apx 20x24 in.
Air Meter
6
apx 20x24 in.
Bail Tie
Straightener
6
apx 20x24 in.
Barns, General
Purpose
6
apx 20x24 in.
Beef
Equipment
6
apx 20x24 in.
Beef Barns
6
apx 20x24 in.
Breeding Crates and
Chutes
6
apx 20x24 in.
Camp Cabins
6
apx 20x24 in.
Cattle
Feeders
6
apx 20x24 in.
Cattle Guards
6
apx 20x24 in.
Children's Playground
Merry-go-round
6
apx 20x24 in.
Chutes
6
apx 20x24 in.
Cone Feed
Mixer
6
apx 20x24 in.
Corn Cribs
6
apx 20x24 in.
Corn Driers
6
apx 20x24 in.
Dairy Barns
6
apx 20x24 in.
Dehydrators
6
apx 20x24 in.
Dipping Vats
6
apx 20x24 in.
Drag Saw
6
apx 20x24 in.
Dusting Equipment and
Weed Sprayers
6
apx 20x24 in.
Electric Pig
Brooder
6
apx 20x24 in.
Farm Fence
6
apx 20x24 in.
Farm Labor
Houses
6
apx 20x24 in.
Fruit and Vegetable
Storage
6
apx 20x24 in.
Garages,
Two-Car
6
apx 20x24 in.
Garden Pea
Sheller
6
apx 20x24 in.
Granaries and Grain
Elevators
6
apx 20x24 in.
Grass Seed
Thresher
6
apx 20x24 in.
Hay Sheds
6
apx 20x24 in.
Hay Driers
6
apx 20x24 in.
Haying
Equipment
6
apx 20x24 in.
Hog Feeders
6
apx 20x24 in.
Hog Houses
6
apx 20x24 in.
Hop Driers
6
apx 20x24 in.
Horse Barns
6
apx 20x24 in.
Horticultural Tent
House
6
apx 20x24 in.
Incinerator
6
apx 20x24 in.
Iron Bender
Stand
6
apx 20x24 in.
Machinery
Sheds
6
apx 20x24 in.
Manure Loader
6
apx 20x24 in.
Manure Tanks and
Pits
6
apx 20x24 in.
Milk Houses and
Equipment
6
apx 20x24 in.
Nut Driers
6
apx 20x24 in.
Nut
Harvesters
6
apx 20x24 in.
Potato Houses
6
apx 20x24 in.
Poultry Houses and
Equipment
7
apx 20x24 in.
Refrigeration
7
apx 20x24 in.
Roofs
7
apx 20x24 in.
Rural Community
Halls
7
apx 20x24 in.
Scale and Corral
Layout
7
apx 20x24 in.
Septic
Systems
7
apx 20x24 in.
Sewing
Cabinet
7
apx 20x24 in.
Sheep Sheds and
Equipment
7
apx 20x24 in.
Silage Conveyor and Feed
Bunk
7
apx 20x24 in.
Silos
7
apx 20x24 in.
Smokehouses
7
apx 20x24 in.
Soil
Sterilizer
7
apx 20x24 in.
Suction Harvester for
Clover Seed
7
apx 20x24 in.
Trailers
7
apx 20x24 in.
Troughs and Feed
Bins
7
apx 20x24 in.
Turkey Houses and
Equipment
7
apx 20x24 in.
Utility
Buildings
7
apx 20x24 in.
Vegetable
Greenhouse
7
apx 20x24 in.
Water Supply
7
apx 20x24 in.
Water Wheel
7
apx 20x24 in.
Wood Lift
Oregon State College
Buildings and Structures
7
apx 20x24 in.
Agricultural Engineering
Building
7
apx 20x24 in.
Beef Barn
7
apx 20x24 in.
Dairy Barn
7
apx 20x24 in.
Experiment
Stations
7
apx 20x24 in.
Fish Hatchery
7
apx 20x24 in.
Laboratory/Office
Building
7
apx 20x24 in.
Livestock
Pavilion
7
apx 20x24 in.
Pasture Lands - Plans for
Development
7
apx 20x24 in.
Poultry
Structures
7
apx 20x24 in.
Sheep Barn
Plans for Non-OSC
Buildings
7
apx 20x24 in.
Albany City Park -
Outdoor Kitchen
7
apx 20x24 in.
Curtis Farm - Irrigation
Pipe System
7
apx 20x24 in.
Elkins
Feedlot
7
apx 20x24 in.
J.L. Cattle Ranch,
Prairie City, Oregon - Corral and Chutes
7
apx 20x24 in.
Granger
Farmstead
7
apx 20x24 in.
Millhollen
Tract
7
apx 20x24 in.
Pacific Supply
Cooperative - Farm Storage
7
apx 20x24 in.
State Fair and County
Fair Grounds Structures
7
apx 20x24 in.
W.C.T.U. Children's Farm
Home - Dairy Building