Montana State University Library, Archives and Special Collections, Manuscript Collections
Arthur H. Post Papers
Post, Arthur H. (Arthur Herman), 1899-1982
2316
2.6 linear feet
1920-1982
The Arthur H. Post Papers consist of letters, research notes and lecture materials, printed materials, memorabilia, and photographs pertaining primarily to his career work. Topics discussed include his selection of a Ph.D. program, his lectures through the Agriculture Extension Service, his own research.
Collection materials are in English
This collection is open for research.
Personal and professional papers created or collected by Dr. Arthur H. Post relating to the fields of agronomy, and crop and soil science, and to his career at Montana State University were donated to Special Collections by Arthur Post Jr. on January 17, 1995.
Series 1 Correspondence, 1920-1982
Series 2 Biographical Materials, 1931-1982
Series 3 Printed Materials, 1925-1971
Series 4 Course Work and Lecture Materials, 1931-1964
Series 5 Memorabilia, 1921-circa 1982
Series 6 Photographs, circa 1921-circa 1970
Arthur H. Post was born March 24, 1899 in Dunsmuir, California and was raised on a farm in the Spokane Valley. He married Margaret Campbell in 1927. Post attended Washington State University and received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in 1922 and 1923 respectively. In 1924 he joined the faculty at Montana State College (Montana State University). Post taught courses in crop and soil sciences, and with the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station he gave lectures throughout the state of Montana geared towards soil and crop improvement. Post then served as head of the Plant and Soil Department from 1937 to 1962. While teaching at M.S.U., Post received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1948. In 1962, his research was nationally recognized when he was elected Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy. He retired from M.S.U. in 1964. In 1980, M.S.U. presented him with the Blue and Gold award in recognition of distinguished services, and in 1981, M.S.U. named the field research laboratory west of Bozeman "The Arthur H. Post Field Research Laboratory" in his honor. Post was also a member of a number of community organizations and national societies, among those were: Phi Kappa Phi, American Society of Agronomy, Alpha Gamma Rho, Bozeman Lodge 18, and Western Societies of Crop and Soil Science. Dr. Post died in Bozeman on January 11, 1982.
This collection was processed 2009 May 11
The Arthur H. Post papers consist of letters, research notes and lecture materials, printed materials, memorabilia, and photographs pertaining primarily to his career work. Materials are arranged in 6 series according to document type. Correspondence refers to work and studies while at M.S.U., specifically his selection of a Ph.D. program, his lectures through the Agriculture Extension Service, and his own research. Incoming letters of a more personal nature can be found in Post's retirement scrapbook in the Memorabilia series. Biographical Materials pertain to Post's life from 1931-1982. Again, the focus of these materials is primarily on his professional life. Printed Materials refer to publications either created or collected by Post. Post's own course work from the University of Wisconsin and some of his teaching materials are found in Series 4, Course Work and Lecture Notes. Also within this series are Post's lectures prepared for the Extension Service. Memorabilia consists of items collected by Post of both a personal and professional nature. These documents indicate his civic and community involvement as well as his achievements in the fields of soil science and agronomy. The final series, Photographs, contains black and white photos of Post from 1921 to circa 1970. The retirement photo album corresponds with the retirement scrapbook in the Memorabilia series.
Montana Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Economics
Montana State College. Faculty
Agricultural extension work--Montana
Agronomy-Montana
Agronomy-Study and teaching (Higher)-Montana-Bozeman
Soil science-Montana
Soil science-Study and teaching (Higher)-Montana-Bozeman
Agriculturists-Montana-Bozeman
Soil scientists-Montana-Bozeman
Agriculture
Colleges and Universities
Montana
Bozeman
Photographs
Correspondence
Series 1
Series 1
1920-1982
Correspondence pertains primarily to Post's academic career. Incoming letters are arranged alphabetically according to sender and contain information regarding his selection of a Ph.D. program, his lectures given in connection with M.S.U.'s Agriculture Extension service and his own research. Outgoing letters often correspond with the incoming and are arranged chronologically. A scrapbook of letters given as a retirement gift from faculty and students can be found in the memorabilia series, Box 5, file 1.
Incoming Letters: Alpha Gamma Rho
1
1
American Crystal Sugar Company
1
2
American Society of Agronomy
1
3
Calcite Products Company
1
4
Canadian Dept. of Ag.--Lethbridge Experimental Station
1
5
Cornell University
1
6
Floyd
1
7
Grand Hotel
1
8
Iowa State College
1
9
Michigan State College
1
10
Montana Ranch-Farm and Business Opportunities Multiple Listing Service
1
11
Montana State College--Extension Services
1
12
Montana State University--College of Ag., Dept. of Plant and Soil Science
1
13
Montana State University--Office of the Dean
1
14
Montana State University--Renne Inaugural Committee
1
15
McKee, Clyde
1
16
Ohio State University
1
17
Pennsylvania State College
1
18
Phi Beta Phi
1
19
Purdue University
1
20
Renne, R. and P.
1
21
Rutgers University
1
22
State College of Washington
1
23
State College of Washington--U.S. Naval Unit
1
24
True, Louis and Mae
1
25
University of Idaho
1
26
University of Illinois
1
27
University of Minnesota
1
28
University of Missouri
1
29
University of Montana--Agriculture Experiment Station
1
30
University of Wisconsin--College of Ag., E. Truog
1
31
University of Wisconsin--Regent and College of Agriculture
1
32
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture--Bureau of Plant Industry
1
33
U.S. Dept. of the Interior--Office of Indian Affairs
1
34
Veterans Administration
1
35
Winn, Lora E.
1
36
Outgoing
1929
1
37
Outgoing
1931
1
38
Outgoing
1932-1934
1
39
Outgoing
1935-1936
1
40
Outgoing
1946-1952
1
41
Outgoing
1970-1981
1
42
Biographical Materials
Series 2
Series 2
1931-1982
Newspaper clippings and M.S.U. documents pertaining to Post's life and academic career. Materials are arranged according to document type. Published works discussing Dr. Post are in files 43 and 44. Biographical information found in M.S.U. Plant and Soils Dept. papers are arranged in files 45 and 46.
Newspaper clippings re: Post and Funeral Announcement
1
43
Newsletters/Publications re: Post
1
44
Appointment to Head of Agronomy Dept.
1
45
Arthur H. Post Field Research Lab Proposal
1
46
Printed Materials
Series 3
Series 3
1925-1971
Published materials created or collected by Post have been arranged according to document type and then alphabetized. Materials collected by Post are in Box 1, files 48-51. Post's published research has been placed in Box 2.
Alpha Gamma Rho Newsletters
1
47
Commencement Programs--Washington State University, 1972 & The University of Wisconsin
1948
1
48
Newspaper clippings and Advertisements
1
49
Newspaper clippings and Advertisements
1
50
Post, A. H., "The Field Error Obtained in Sampling Plots for Nitrogen," B.S. Thesis, State College of Washington
1922
2
Post, A. H., "Fertilizer Investigations in Montana in 1940" (Bozeman: M.S.C. Ag. Exp. Station)
1941
2
Post, A. H., "Phosphorus and Iron Availability in Calcareous Soils as Measured by Chemical and Plant Culture Methods," Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wisconsin
1948
2
Summaries of Doctoral Dissertations University of Wisconsin, 1947-1949, vol. 10, (Madison: Univ. of Wisconsin Press
1950
2
Soil Science, vol. 63, no. 1 (Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Company)
1947 January
2
Truog, E., et. al., "Soils: Nature and Management," (Madison: Soils Dept. University of Wisconsin)
1947
2
Course Work and Lecture Notes
Series 4
Series 4
1931-1964
Course Work and Lecture Notes examining primarily crops and soils are arranged chronologically, with the exception of Post's university transcripts and his civic or non-academic speeches which have been placed in Box 4, file 2 and Box 4, file 9 respectively. The notebook titles are those given by Post and overwhelmingly refer to his Ph.D. work. His lectures prepared for the M.S.U. Agriculture Experiment Station are in Box 4, files 3-7 and are arranged chronologically.
Notebook: Physical Chemistry Laboratory
1931
3
Notebook: Soils Research
1931-1932
3
Notebook: Plant Genetics, Soil Bacteriology & Physical Chemistry
1931-1932
3
Notebook: Plant Nutrition & Soil Science, and Plant Physiology
1931-1932
3
Notebook: Zoology Lab
1932
3
Notebook: Climatology & Soil Classification
1932
3
Notebook: Structure & Development of Flowering Plants
1932
3
Notebook: Plant Physiology Experiments
1932
3
Notebook: Soil Bacteriology--Lab Work
1932
4
Notebook: Soil Analysis--Lecture & Lab Work
1932
4
Notebook: Phosphate Availability--Research Project
1934-1935
4
Notebook: Soil Science & Plant Nutrition
1947-1948
4
Notebook: Experimental Methods
1948
4
Notebook: Soil Genesis, Classification & Mapping
1948
4
Notebook: Misc. Soil & Fertilizer Notes
4
Misc. Notes on Methods Analysis and on Phosphorus
4
1
University Transcripts
4
2
Agronomy Speeches
1947-1948
4
3
Agronomy Speeches
1949
4
4
Agronomy Speeches
1950-1951
4
5
Agronomy Speeches
1952-1953
4
6
Agronomy Speeches
1954-1955
4
7
Lecture Notes re: Soil Conservation
1963-1964
4
8
Misc. Civic Organization Speeches
4
9
Memorabilia
Series 5
Series 5
1921-1982
Memorabilia collected by Post has been separated according to document type and then arranged according to document size. Paper items have been placed in files 1-4. Post's retirement scrapbook contains letters from faculty, staff and students with whom he worked during his academic career. It is detailed and comprehensive. Items relating to his wife, Margaret, have been placed in file 5. Post's yearbook and songbook collection from Washington State University are in Box 6.
Certificates and Awards
5
1
Financial Records--Alpha Gamma Rho
1926-1927
5
2
Misc. Memorabilia, Party invitations, WWII Ration Books
5
3
Retirement Scrapbook
5
4
Margaret Post's Dance Cards
1920s
5
5
Scrapbook: "The Graduate's Happy Days"
5
Plaque: Service Recognition from The Flax Institute of the United States
5
Plaque: Contribution Recognition from Montana Plant Food Association
5
Plaque: Plant and Soil Science, M.S.U.
5
Box of Pins and Mementos: 50 year reunion pin, Mason's pin, Fraternities of Alpha Zeta and Alpha Gamma Rho, etc.
5
Washington State College Favorite Songs (New York: Hinds, Hayden & Eldredge, Inc.)
1921
6
Chinook--Washington State College Yearbook
1921
6
Chinook--Washington State College Yearbook
1922
6
Chinook--Washington State College Yearbook
1923
6
Photographs
Series 6
Series 6
circa 1921-circa 1970
Photographs contains pictures, postcards, a slide, and a steel etching either created or collected by Post. Pictures have been separated according to document type and then arranged chronologically. All photographs are black and white. The titles given on file folders indicate subject matter of the photos and/or images. Post Retirement Party Photo Album was a gift and corresponds with the Retirement Scrapbook found in the series containing memorabilia.
Photographs #1-3: Post at Washington State University
1921
7
1
Photographs #4-7: Post and Friends at 16 Mile Canyon
1924
7
2
Photographs #8-21: Eastern Vacation, Logan Earthquake and Head of Dept. photos
1925-1937
7
3
Photographs #22-29: Post at M.S.U.
1961-circa 1970
7
4
Photograph Album #30: Post's Retirement Party
1964
7
5
Misc. #31-32: Research Slide & Raised Paper Image of Post
7
6
Pacific Northwest Postcards and Steel Etching of Rheims Cathedral #33-36
1912-1924
7
7