University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
MG 426
Martin, J. W. (James
William)
James W. Martin Papers
1930-1988
1943-1973
7.5 cubic feet
Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural
Engineering at the University of Idaho. The papers reflect the professional and
educational aspects of his career and include also materials about his service in
the U.S. Navy.
This collection is
in English.
Biographical Note
James William Martin, son of James Chester Martin and Alice Winnefred Crammer, was
born in Kent, Iowa, on October 8, 1908. He served as the Head of the Department of
Agricultural Engineering at the University of Idaho from 1946 to 1966 and as
Professor from 1946 to 1973, when he retired. He is the author of over fifty
articles and technical publications, including a book co-authored with H. F.
McColly, entitled
Introduction to Agricultural Engineering, published
in 1955. He earned Bachelor degrees in Electrical Engineering in 1933 and in
Agricultural Engineering in 1938 from the Kansas State University and a M.S. in
Agricultural Engineering from Iowa State University in 1939. He joined the United
States Naval Reserve as lieutenant and served from 1943 to 1946. Besides his
teaching experience, J. W. Martin also had experience in industry, including
employment with Continental Oil Co. and John Deere Co. He was President of the Idaho
Society of Professional Engineers in 1962, Vice chairman of the Professional
Engineers in Education of the National Society of Professional Engineers in
1966-1967, and the Regional Director of the Pacific Northwest Region of the American
Society of Agricultural Engineers in 1971. In 1934 he married Beulah Louisa Callis,
born on April 26, 1908 in Chase, Kansas, the daughter of Charles Edwin Callis and
Matie Blanche Barngrover. Mrs. Martin earned a B.S. in General Science from Kansas
State College in 1930 and a M.S. in Education from the University of Idaho in 1958.
She taught in the Department of Agricultural Engineering at the University of
Idaho.
The papers of James W. Martin span the years 1930 to 1988, with the bulk of material
dating 1943-1973. The documents cover his academic career at the University of
Idaho, as Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering from 1946 to 1966 and
as Professor from 1946 to 1973. The collection also highlights his service in the
U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. Includes photographs related to practices of
agricultural engineering.
Box content list.
The collection is open to the public. Researchers must use the collection in
accordance with the policies of the University of Idaho Special Collections and
Archives.
James W. Martin Papers, MG 426. Special Collections and Archives, University of Idaho
Library, Moscow, Idaho.
The papers of James W. Martin were transferred to the University of Idaho Library
from the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering on five occasions,
between 1990 and 2007.
Processed in July 2007. The collection received basic-level processing.
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.
Martin, J. W. (James
William)--Archives
University of
Idaho--Buildings
University of Idaho.
Dept. of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
J. E. Buchanan
Engineering Laboratory (Moscow, Idaho)--Design and construction
Idaho Society of
Professional Engineers--Sources
Pacific Northwest
American Society of Agricultural Engineers--Sources
Professional Engineers
in Education of the National Society of Professional
Engineers--Sources
Moscow
(Idaho)--Climatological data
Agricultural engineering
Agricultural
engineering--photographs
Engineering Education
Farm mechanization--Idaho
Electricity in agriculture
Colleges and
Universities
Military
Moscow
1
1
Correspondence of J. W. Martin and H. F.
McColly with the publisher of their book Introduction to Agricultural
Engineering, 1954-1956
1
2
Copy of Beulah and James Martin’s birth
certificates, 1940 (both copies) and of their shared passport, 1959; booklet
with the register of their matrimony and four photographs, 1934; memorial
record of Charles E. Callis, 1952; Beulah’s unofficial grade report from the
University of Idaho, 1955, a membership certificate from the Order of the
Eastern Star, 1934, and her teacher’s contract, 1930 and certificate, 1933
from the Department of Education of the State of Kansas
1
3
Letter of congratulations to J. W. Martin for
being named Inland Empire Agricultural Engineer of the Year, 1970 and
Certificate of Recognition to J. W. Martin from the State of Idaho,
1973
1
4
Sabbatical leave report, 1959-1960
1
5
J.W. Martin’s U. S. Navy records,
1943-1950
1
6
Personal photographs, c. 1950-1970
1
7
James W. and Beulah L. Martin ASAE Educational
Trust Fund, c. 1988
1
8
Tiles from University of Massachusetts, 1966
and from Kansas State University, 1975
2
1-6
Miscellaneous materials related to the Idaho
Society of Professional Engineers, which includes programs of Annual Meeting
and Convention, 1961-1964, 1970, 1973 and to the Professional Engineers in
Education, such as Rules of Government and Operation, 1965 and a report to
the board of directors, 1967
2
7-9
Materials related to the program in
Agricultural Engineering at the University of Idaho, such as a report, 1965;
students enrolment in the program, 1959
2
10
Correspondence with Gilbert L. Corey and
Delbert W. Fitzsimmons, 1963-1965
2
11
Copy of some articles authored or co-authored
by J. W. Martin, c. 1940-1951
3
Materials related to the construction and
dedication of the J. E. Buchanan Engineering Laboratory, including reports
of the planning committee, sketches by Bill Oyen and dedication program,
speeches, guests book, photographs, and news clippings,
1944-1970
3
Materials related to the Pacific Northwest
American Society of Agricultural Engineers, including correspondence and
awards, c. 1970-1975
3
Miscellaneous folders about water resources,
1963; alcohol, c. 1937-1978; Kansas State dynamometer, 1953; climatological
data collected on the campus of the University of Idaho from 1892 to 1970;
Idaho Farm Electrification Program, 1970; and correspondence with Russell L.
Perry (University of California, Riverside), which includes the articles
"Engineering Applications of Electro-Physiological Properties of Plants," by
Joseph Molitorisz, 1966 and "Electricity and Plant Growth," by Chandler P.
North, 1967
4
J. W. Martin's class notes and reports
presented to professors at Kansas States College, Iowa State College, and
University of Illinois, 1938-1940
5
Photo album depicting University of Idaho
buildings, the Moscow area, clam digging, among others
5
Scrapbook about James W. Martin's service in
the U.S. Naval Air Navigation School at Hollywood, Florida,
1942-1945
5
Scrapbook about James W. Martin's career at
the University of Idaho. Includes photographs, 1963-1974
6-7
Photograph prints of practices of the
agricultural engineering
8
Slides. Boxes are identified as 1-Chicago,
Iowa City, Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, clam digging, Oregon, Mount Shasta,
etc, 1954; 2-Nelson (Victoria), Mount Rainier; 3-Alaska, Prince Rupert,
Chief Joseph, 1979; 4-Teton, Yellowstone, Canada, 1979; 5-Glacier Columbia
R. timberline, Washington D.C., 1979
9
Slides. Boxes are identified as 1-Seattle,
Kansas, Colorado, family, Nez Perce Indians, Historic Oregon Trail;
2-Machines Little International, 1951 and others, 1979; 3-Idaho
miscellaneous; 4-Crate Lake, Mount Shasta, Lava Butte, McNary Dam, Moscow
(ID), Dean Hungerford, etc; 5-American Society of Agricultural
Engineers-ASAE Pittsburgh, 1953 and NSPE