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State College of Washington College of Agriculture Dean Records, 1893-1948

Overview of the Collection

Creator
State College of Washington. College of Agriculture
Title
State College of Washington College of Agriculture Dean Records
Dates
1893-1948 (inclusive)
Quantity
121 Linear feet of shelf space, (104 Boxes)
Collection Number
Archives 15 (collection)
Summary
The records of the Dean of the College of Agriculture of the State College of Washington consist of correspondence and administrative materials, including reports, budgets, press releases, and special projects of the various departments, committees, and personnel of the College.
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
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Historical Note

The College of Agriculture began as one of six divisions of the Washington Agricultural College, Experiment Station, and School of Science in 1892. The Division of Agriculture became the Department of Agriculture in 1894 when the departmental system was organized. In 1917, the departmental system was reformed into a system of schools and colleges, one of which was the College of Agriculture.

In an attempt to better coordinate agricultural work and research at the College, the experiment stations, and throughout the state, the Institute of Agricultural Sciences was formed at the State College of Washington in 1946. The Institute included the College of Agriculture, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Washington Agricultural Experiment Stations, and the Agricultural Extension Service. This administrative arrangement existed until September, 1965, when a revised version of the previous system was adopted by Washington State University.

Directors of the Experiment Station:

*George Lilley, 1891-1892

*John W. Heston, 1892-1893

*E. A. Bryan, 1893-1907

R. W. Thatcher, 1907-1913

Ira D. Cardiff, 1913-1917

George Severance, 1917-1919 (acting)

Edward C. Johnson, 1919-1945

Mark T. Buchanan, 1945-1956, 1958-1966

J. S. Carver, 1956-1957 (acting)

Louis L. Madsen, 1957-1958 (acting)

John S. Robbins, 1966-1970

Lowell Rasmussen, 1970-1971 (interim)

James Nielson, 1971-1977

Dennis L. Oldenstadt, 1977-1978, 1985-1986 (acting)

Landis L. Boyd, 1978-1985

James J. Zuiches, 1986-1995

James R. Carlson, 1994-2000

Ralph P. Cavalieri, 2000-2013

James W. Moyer. 2013-

*Served as Director while president of WSU. The directorship was separated from the presidency in 1907.

Heads of the Department of Agriculture:

W. J. Spillman, 1894-1901

E. E. Elliot, 1901-1908

George Severance, 1908-1910

R. W. Thatcher, 1910-1913

George Severance, 1913-1917

Deans of the College of Agriculture:

E. C. Johnson, 1919-1948

S. P. Swenson, 1949-1958

G. W. Fischer, 1958-1965

L. L. Madsen, 1965-1973

John S. Robbins, 1973-1981

C. Alan Pettibone (acting), 1981-1982

James L. Ozbun, 1982-1988

LeRoy F. Rogers (acting), 1988-1989

Lawrence E. Schrader, 1989-1994

Larry James (interim), 1994-1995

James J. Zuiches, 1995-2003

R. James Cook (interim), 2003-2005

Daniel J. Bernardo, 2005-

Directors of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences:

J. C. Knott, 1946-1955

L. L. Madsen, 1955-1965

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Content Description

The records of the Dean of the College of Agriculture of the State College of Washington consist of approximately 226,000 items of correspondence and administrative materials, including reports, budgets, press releases, and special projects of the various departments, committees, and personnel of the College. Edward Carl Johnson (1880-1962), Dean of the College from 1919 to 1949 and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station from 1919 to 1945, generated a great deal of the material. As a result of Johnson's dual responsibilities, the collection contains correspondence and other materials relating to the Experiment Station and subordinate branch stations, and also to the Agricultural Extension Service. The collection spans the years from 1893 to 1948, with the bulk falling in the period 1914 to 1948.

The annual correspondence series comprises an overwhelming percentage of the collection. Dating from 1914 to 1948, it consists of the correspondence of significant committees, organizations, and personnel of the College. A separate "Committee Correspondence" series reflects the separate filing done by the College.) Not surprisingly, Johnson's presence is either overtly or subtly evident virtually throughout the material from 1919 to 1948. Most of the correspondence deals with official business, although some is of a personal nature.

Immediately following the annual correspondence is the committee correspondence series, which contains correspondence, reports, memos and other material relating to specific committee functions. A broader, more encompassing series follows, concerned with a variety of subjects which are either undated or span larger than one-year increments. Some of Dean Johnson's many speeches are also contained in this collection. They include addresses to agricultural conventions., college association s, university functions, State Chamber of Commerce meetings, student gatherings, convocations, graduations granges, radio listeners, and any others deemed appropriate for promoting, strengthening, and enhancing the character and purpose of W.S.U. and its function in the state.

The reports series contains many reports of the College of Agriculture and Experiment stations, including such unpublished items as annual reports, progress reports, committee reports, Director's reports to the Regents, annual reports to government agencies, estimated expenditures, biennial reports, and financial reports. Budgets, budget materials and reports, estimates, and project assignments of the College of Agriculture make up a separate series.

The news releases, newsletters, and clippings series includes news releases, newsletters, and news clippings of general interest pertaining to the College of Agriculture and experiment stations. Correspondence, reports, memos, and surveys concerning the College, the Experiment Station, and the Washington Emergency Relief Administration comprise the succeeding series. Correspondence, reports, memos, and other material regarding research conducted by the College and experiment stations concerning the relationship of electricity to agriculture are also contained in the collection. Finally, the Selective Service file includes classifications, deferments, appeals, and correspondence regarding the draft status of faculty and staff of the College of Agriculture and experiment stations during the Second World War.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

State College of Washington College of Agriculture Dean Records, 1893-1948 (Archives 15)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The record are arranged as ten series. The correspondence series is arranged chronologically, and is alphabetized in parallel sequences, with some irregularity, reflecting a dual filing system which began in 1921. The parallel sequences are labeled simply by dates or as "Subjects." The committee correspondence series is arranged alphabetically by committee name. Correspondence and reports files which are undated or span larger than one-year increments comprise a series entitled "Subjects," and are arranged alphabetically. The addresses of E. C. Johnson, reports, budgets, news releases, and Washington Emergency Relief Administration series are all arranged chronologically. The electricity and agriculture series is alphabetized by corresp ondent. The selective service series is divided into general material, which is arranged chronologically, and selective service classifications, which are arranged alphabetically by name of faculty or staff member.

Acquisition Information

The records were transfered to the Washington State University Library prior to 1970 by the College of Agriculture (UA 76-12).

Processing Note

The records were processed by Craig Holstine and James O'Neill between June, 1977 and January, 1978. In 1998, the records were reboxed and a revised finding aid was prepared by April O'Riley. Further refinements were added by Brenda Jackson and Lawrence Stark over the course of the years 2000 and 2001.

Related Materials

Washington State University College of Agriculture Dean Records, 1944-1980 (Archives 199)

Washington State University College of Agriculture Dean Records, 1945-1979 (Archives 218)

State College of Washington College of Agriculture Assistant Dean Records, 1947-1950 (Archives 104)

Edward C. Johnson Papers, 1896-1959 (Cage 223)

Johnson Family Papers, circa 1906-1947 (Cage 853)

Edward C. Johnson Correspondence, 1907-1961 (Cage 950)

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Agricultural colleges -- Washington (State) -- Administration
  • Agricultural extension work -- Washington (State)
  • Agriculture -- Research -- Washington (State)

Corporate Names

  • Agricultural College, Experiment Station, and School of Science of the State of Washington -- Records and correspondence
  • State College of Washington. Agricultural Experiment Station -- Records and correspondence
  • State College of Washington. College of Agriculture -- Records and correspondence
  • State College of Washington. Department of Agriculture -- Records and correspondence
  • State College of Washington. Institute of Agricultural Sciences -- Records and correspondence

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Johnson, Edward C. (Edward Carl), 1880-1962 (creator)

    Corporate Names

    • Agricultural College, Experiment Station, and School of Science of the State of Washington (creator)
    • State College of Washington. Agricultural Experiment Station (creator)
    • State College of Washington. Department of Agriculture (creator)
    • State College of Washington. Institute of Agricultural Sciences (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Craig Holstine, James O'Neill, April O'Riley, Brenda Jackson, and Lawrence Stark
2022

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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