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College of Agriculture, Short and Winter Course records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 70

Scope and Contents

The College of Agriculture, Short and Winter Courses, records (1889-1974; 12.2 cubic feet) consists of administrative files (including correspondence, directories, financial records, newsletters, publicity materials, questionnaires, scholarship information and records, etc.), 1948-1967; correspondence, 1917-1920, 1942-1950; programs, announcements, etc., 1900s-1940s; and other materials documenting the history, activities, and administration of agricultural Short and Winter Courses at Purdue University.

Dates

  • 1889 - 1974

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Access Information

Collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Some material in this collection are in the public domain, while other material copyrights are held by Purdue University. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.

Historical Information

Purdue’s agricultural faculty started offering special classes in agriculture during the winter of 1887-88.  Held annually in January and February, the eight-week “Winter School of Agriculture” offered Agriculture and Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy and Creamery classes to non-Purdue students.  Taught by regular staff members in the College of Agriculture, the Winter Courses, according to a 1953 article in the Purdue Agriculturist, emphasized “current information on modern agriculture and the increasing complexity of farm operation due to more mechanization, larger capital investments, greater management skills, use of improved varieties of grains and pasture crops, conservation of soil fertility, use of improved feeding practices, and control of livestock and plant diseases and pests.” The Winter Course program was especially tailored for young male farmers who could not attend a four year college because of insufficient time, money, preparation, or desire.  The Agriculturist estimated that over 10,000 individuals participated in the program between the late-1880s and early-1960s. The College of Agriculture also offered various Farmers Short Courses, which were much shorter in duration than the two-month-long Winter Courses.  The Farmers Short Course held January 14-19, 1907, featured talks, discussions, and lectures by Agriculture and Home Economics faculty concerning such topics as: horticulture, corn growing, baking, insects and insecticides, animal parasites, bacteria and home sanitation, cattle and hog feeding, home planning and furnishing, fertilizers, milk testing and creaming, and horse, hog, and corn judging.  The February 1907 issue of Purdue Agriculturist informed its readers that the purpose of the course was “to get the practical farmers of this state together and lead them out along such courses of instruction as would tend to make them more interested in their business and make them better able to solve the agricultural problems that are constantly arising.”

Note written by John Michael Foster

Extent

12.282 Cubic Feet (Nine cubic foot boxes, seven letter-size full-width manuscript boxes, and two letter-size half-width manuscript boxes)

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

The Records are organized into single series largely arranged chronologically by material type.  Please see the attached finidng for box and folder listings.

Custodial History

Chris Sigurdson, Agricultural Communication, to ASC; Purdue University Libraries to ASC; College of Agriculture to ASC

Acquisition Information

Records transfer by Chris Sigurdson, Agricultural Communication; Purdue University Libraries; College of Agriculture.

Related Materials

UA 44, College of Agriculture, Administration of the College of Agriculture records, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

Processing Information

All materials are housed in acid-free manuscript boxes. Some materials have been placed in acid-free folders. Others remain in their original folders.

Subjects

Collecting Areas

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
College of Agriculture, Short and Winter Course records
Status
In Progress
Author
John Michael Foster
Date
2014-11-07
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Edition statement
Third edition

Revision Statements

  • 09099999: Collection identifier updated from UA 14.20 to UA 70 as of February 22, 2017.
  • 2020-05-13: Collection description updated by Adelle Rogers.
  • 2024-02-08: Extents updated by William Niner.

Physical Storage Information

Links

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository

http://www.lib.purdue.edu/spcol
Contact:
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839