Reed, Harry J. (Harry James), 1887-1960

Biographical Information

Harry James Reed was born on a farm near Paris, Illinois. For forty years he aggressively led and promoted farming for Indiana. His interest in Hoosier agriculture began when he registered at Purdue University in 1909. From 1911 to 1913 he operated a farm in Harrison County. Appointed county agricultural agent in Parke County in 1913, he was the third person to hold that position in Indiana. Three years later he joined the horticulture staff, and in 1917 became assistant director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. He was placed in charge of Purdue's outlying farms, moved on up as associate director and acting director, until in 1939 he was named dean of the School of Agriculture and director of the Experiment Station and Extension Service. For three years he was president of the Purdue Ag Alumni, and is credited with having started that group on its program to improve agriculture in this state. Reed held membership on many state committees, nationally he was a member of the Agricultural Research Policy Committee, and was on the board of the International Livestock Exposition and the International Dairy Exposition. He was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Besides his degree from Purdue University, he was an honorary D. Sc. from North Carolina State.