Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Gordon Van Epps Papers, 1981-1984
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Epps, Gordon Van
- Title
- Gordon Van Epps Papers
- Dates
- 1981-1984 (inclusive)19811984
- Quantity
- 0.25 Linear feet of shelf space, (1 Box)
- Collection Number
- Cage 955 (collection)
- Summary
- Papers and photographs from the work of agronomist Gordon Van Epps in the WSU / USAID project in Lesotho.
- Repository
-
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
This collection is open and available for research use.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Gordon Almon Van Epps (1920-2016) was raised in Arizona, received undergraduate degrees in Botany and Pre-med, served in the Navy during World War II, the got his Masters in Agronomy from Utah State University. He spent most of his career as a research and teaching professor at Utah State, including USAID stints in Iran and Bolivia. His final two years before retirement were with Washington State University on a USAID stint in Lesotho.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was created in 1961, combining several existing foreign aid programs. Its initial two-fold charge was to reduce poverty and increase production in developing countries, and to help countries prosper under capitalism. Washington State University participated in agricultural development programs in numerous countries, include Lesotho, Pakistan, Jordan, and Mali.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists primarily of documents originating with or relating to the work of agronomist Gordon Van Epps on a WSU / USAID agronomy project in Lesotho. While it does contain work plans, project reports, and administrative materials, it also contains a 156 page diary of Van Epps’ time in Lesotho, correspondence from his preparations for going, and 10 photographs from the work in Lesotho.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright restrictions apply.
Preferred Citation
[Item description]
Gordon Van Epps Papers, 1981-1984 (Cage 955)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is foldered by subject, alphabetically, with the materials with in each folder organized chronologically.
Acquisition Information
Gordon’s daughter Leone Van Epps Pearce of Mesa, AZ, donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries on October 24th, 2022, where they were retained as MS.2022.24).
Processing Note
University Archivist Mark O’English processed this collection in November of 2022.
Related Materials
The MASC holds two Lesotho-focused collections, both from the International Project Support Office:
Preliminary Guide to the Washington State University International Project Support Office Lesotho Project Files, 1979-1988 (UA1988-18)
Preliminary Guide to the Washington State University International Project Support Office Lesotho Reports, 1983-1984 (UA1989-25)
Smaller folder-level Lesotho-related materials can be found in various collections.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Administrative materials. Includes CV, business cards. | 1982-1983 |
| 1 | 2 | Correspondence, pre-Lesotho, with J. Clark Ballard and Darlene Townsend-Moller. | 1982 June-August |
| 1 | 3 | Diary. 152 numbered pages. | 1982-1984 |
| 1 | 4 | Field plans and Field trial outline. Includes oversized 1981 aerial photo of Masero. | 1981-1984 |
| 1 | 5 | ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) visit. | 1984 January-March |
| 1 | 6 | Photographs. 10 images, captioned and dated. | 1982-1983 |
| 1 | 7 | Presentation. Outline. | 1983 May 26 |
| 1 | 8 | Reports. 4th quarter 1982, annual 1982-83, End of tour report. | 1982-1984 |
| 1 | 9 | Work plan. | 1983-1984, 1984-1985 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Agricultural assistance, American -- Lesotho
- Agricultural development projects -- Lesotho
- Agriculture -- Lesotho
Personal Names
- Epps, Gordon Van -- Archives
Corporate Names
- USAID-Lesotho -- Records and correspondence
- Washington State University. College of Agriculture -- Records and correspondence
Geographical Names
- Lesotho
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- USAID-Lesotho (creator)
- Washington State University. College of Agriculture (creator)
Finding aid prepared by Mark O'English
2022
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
