College of Agriculture, Agricultural Research at Purdue, records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: UA 28

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The College of Agriculture, Agricultural Research at Purdue, Records (1888-2001; 31.6 cubic feet) documents the history, administration, and activities of Agricultural Research at Purdue and its predecessor, the Agricultural Experiment Station. In addition to many other types of materials, the collection includes correspondence (1900s-1950s), financial records (1920s-1930s), reports (1920s-2000s), circulars (1900s-1950s) and bulletins (1880s-1990s), and letter books (1890s). The collection also contains research bulletins from other universities (1920s-1960s), as well was materials pertaining to Purdue’s Experiment Farms (1910s-1930s). Nearly all of the materials in the collection are from the Experiment Station era, 1888-1993.

Dates

1888-2001
Other: Date acquired: 03/08/2008

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

Agricultural Research at Purdue began with the laying out of several plots around campus for experimental agricultural work in the 1880s. In 1887, Congress passed the Hatch Act, authorizing the creation of experiment stations at state land-grant colleges with an annual appropriation of $15,000. The U.S. Department of Agriculture created the Office of Experiment Stations in 1888 to serve as a liaison between the land-grant colleges. Purdue’s Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) was created the same year. The AES conducted research, published results of research in bulletins, and released research findings to the press. Between 1887 and 1905, the Experiment Station published 106 pamphlet bulletins and 112 newspaper bulletins pertaining to agricultural research and experiments. Hundreds of additional bulletins and circulars were published by AES over the next century. Commenting on the success of AES, Purdue historian Robert W. Topping wrote in 1988: “The payoff to Indiana agriculture has been incalculable; Indiana is one of the few states with no need for a separate state department of agriculture. Instead, the typical functions of such a department are carried on in Purdue’s agricultural complex – state inspection and control of fertilizer quality, animal feedstuffs quality control, the state cholera serum laboratory, creamery licensing, seed inspection, and, at one point in history, stallion registration – not to mention the office of the state chemist.” The name of AES was changed to Agricultural Research in the early 1990s. Today, Agricultural Research at Purdue has a number of strategic themes that guide research efforts. These themes are related to sustainable foods, molecular approach, bioeconomy, food and health enhancement, ecological and environmental integrity, and improvement of economic and social well-being.

Note written by John Michael Foster

Extent

31.60 Cubic Feet

18 c.f. boxes, 37 mss. boxes, 3 card boxes other_unmapped

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1.00 shoe_boxes

Additional Description

Abstract

Bulletins, circulars, correspondence, financial records, letter books, research bulletins, and reports documenting the history, administration, and activities of Agricultural Research at Purdue and its predecessor, the Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station. The vast majority of materials in this collection are related to the Experiment Station.

Arrangement Note

The Records are organized into single series largely arranged chronologically by type of document material.

Physical Access Requirements

Some materials are fragile within the collection.

Custodial History

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

Acquisition Information

Purdue University records transfer by Chris Sigurdson, Agricultural Communication; Purdue University Libraries; College of Agriculture on March 08, 2008.

Accruals and Additions

#20090722

Related Materials

College of Agriculture, Administration of the College of Agriculture, records

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.