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National Agricultural Library
U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Special Collections at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Library houses manuscripts and archival records documenting the history of agriculture and the USDA from the 19th through the 21st centuries. These collections include correspondence, field notes, journals, photographs, publications, posters, and other items of individuals who worked for or were associated with the USDA, individuals involved in non-USDA agricultural activities, and organizations related to agriculture. For more information or to schedule a visit, please contact Special Collections.

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Displaying 151 - 175 of 469 Collections

William Woolford Skinner Diary

The William Woolford Skinner Diary is a four-volume, typewritten diary consisting of daily entries from December 1942 to March 1944 about Skinner’s work as chief of the Bureau of Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
William Woolford Skinner (1874-1953) was a chemist at the University of Maryland from 1895-1899 and at the University of Arizona from 1899-1904. He held various positions with U.S. Department of Agriculture, including Chief of the Water and Beverage Lab, Bureau of Chemistry, 1914-1921; Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Chemistry, 1921-1927; Assistant Chief of chemistry and technical research, Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, 1927-1935; Assistant Chief, Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, 1935-1939; Associate Chief, Bureau of Agricultural Chemistry and Engineering, 1939-1942; and Chief, Bureau of Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry, 1942-1944.
Collection Number: 154
Earliest Date: 1942
Latest Date: 1944
Linear Feet: 0.5
Processed: Yes, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Physical Sciences; USDA History
Digitization Status: None

USDA Small Fruit Improvement Programs Records

The USDA Small Fruit Improvement Programs Records contain numerous items. Donald H. Scott’s strawberry, blueberry, and blackberry field notebooks (1950-78), Scott’s work notes (1941-70), Scott’s and George M. Darrow’s photographs for illustrations of USDA bulletins, and blackberry records of John Hull (1961-69). Files from the office of Gene Galletta include: Strawberry records (1953-1969), grape papers (1946-1967), correspondence files (1947-72), and raspberry/blackberry files (1917-52). Photographs, artwork, and negatives used for plates in various USDA publications (1949-83) Drafts of publications and final copies of bulletins. Miscellanous photographs, slides, and acetate and glass negatives of fruit, 1914-85. Both black and white and color included.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
Scott, Donald H. (b. 1911) received a B.S. in Agriculture from North Dakota Agricultural College and became an assistant horticulturist there from 1936-37. His first position with USDA was as a junior geneticist for the Bureau of Plant Industry’s Fruit and Vegetable Crops and Diseases in Beltsville, Maryland, in 1937. From 1937-41, he worked on breeding investigations with stone fruit, mainly peach breeding and production problems and supervision of those operations at the U.S. Horticultural Station. In 1942 he moved from Beltsville to headquarters in Cheyenne, Wyoming. As an associate geneticist, he assisted in planning and conducted an extensive program of fruit and breeding work with tomatoes, squashes, strawberries, and other fruits and vegetables. By 1946, Scott relocated to Beltsville and as geneticist, he planned and conducted extensive investigations on the breeding and production of small fruit crops, particularly grapes, strawberries, and blueberries. Scott continued working for USDA as a horticulturist and research horticulturist until his retirement in 1975. George M. Darrow (1889-1983), who was known as one of the foremost American authorities on strawberries, worked for the United States Department of Agriculture for 46 years (1911- 1957) as a pomologist and small fruits breeder. Dr. Gene J. Galletta was research geneticist and leader of the Small Fruit Improvement and Disease Biology Project of the USDA Fruit Laboratory at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center upon his retirement in 1997. He contributed 22 years of his career with the federal government, including 18 years as the North Carolina State Cooperator with the Small Fruit Improvement Program led by Scott. He and his cooperators introduced over 50 new strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, and raspberry cultivars.
Collection Number: 155
Earliest Date: 1914
Latest Date: 1978
Bulk Dates: 1941-85
Linear Feet: 21
Processed: No, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Plant Science; USDA History
Formats: Photographs
Digitization Status: None

Erwin Frink Smith Papers

The Erwin Frink Smith Papers contain Smith's notes, writings, letters, and publications. Notable writings include his first paper on bacteria as a plant pathogen, his first paper on the fungus infestation of soils, material on the Fischer-Smith polemic, the results of his studies on crown gall in plants and its relation to cancer in animals, and his Bibliography of Peach Yellows.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
Chief of Plant Pathology in the Bureau of Plant Industry, U.S. Department of Agriculture, for almost four decades, from 1889-1927, Smith (1854-1927) is recognized as the "father of bacterial plant pathology." The author of more than 240 articles, he was elected president of the Society of Cancer Research in 1924.
Collection Number: 156
Earliest Date: 1880
Latest Date: 1930
Linear Feet: 5.5
Processed: Yes, view the finding aid online.
Subjects: Physical Sciences; Plant Science
Digitization Status: Portion of collection digitized

Floyd Franklin Smith Papers

The Floyd Franklin Smith Papers include reprints of his articles, and U.S. Department of Agriculture circulars and bulletins of his writings.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
Floyd Franklin Smith (1900-1984) worked as an entomologist at the USDA for 40 years and was recognized as an international authority on the biology and control of insect pests of flowers and ornamental plants. In 1929 Smith served as an associate entomologist with the Bureau of Entomology, stationed at Arlington Farms in Rosslyn, Virginia. From 1931 until the time of his retirement in 1970, Smith served as an entomologist for the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, Truck Crop and Garden Insects Sections. He wrote and contributed to approximately 348 publications on insects and plants.
Collection Number: 157
Earliest Date: 1924
Latest Date: 1970
Linear Feet: 1
Processed: No, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Entomology; USDA History
Formats: Reprints
Digitization Status: None

Robert Morris Smith Papers: American Poultry Historical Society Papers

The Robert Morris Smith Papers contain letters and documents leading to the establishment of the National Chicken of Tomorrow Program, a notebook showing the original records of economic traits measured in the 1951 National Contest, and correspondence that established the rules and regulations governing the Arkansas Random Sample Poultry Tests.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
The National Chicken of Tomorrow contest was created by the director of the A&P Food Stores, Howard Castner Pierce (see Collection 128. In the mid-1940s, there was a beef shortage. In response to this shortage, Pierce suggested to the poultry industry that they improve chickens grown for consumption, instead of focusing on egg production. He offered a $10,000 prize for development of the best meat-type chicken. Consequently, a National Chicken of Tomorrow committee was formed and a breeding and feeding program established. Forty-four states initially participated in the program, as well as the USDA. The result of this program was an improved chicken product for the consumer and more efficient methods to raise chickens for the breeders.
Collection Number: 158
Collection Group: Poultry Science Collections
Earliest Date: 1945
Latest Date: 1959
Linear Feet: 1
Processed: Yes, view the finding aid online.
Subjects: Agricultural Organizations; Poultry
Digitization Status: None

U.S. Forest Service Smokey Bear Collection

The U.S. Forest Service Smokey Bear Collection consists of audiovisuals, posters, slides, photographs, posters and cartoons, original artwork, and a wide variety of commercial products, some of which are from around the world. In November of 2004, a retired Forest Service employee donated around 22 pieces of memorabilia from the Smokey Sports Collection. One of the Smokey Bear campaigns was to join up with college, minor league, and professional athletes to promote fire prevention awareness. Various memorabilia, such as playing cards, posters, baseball gloves and balls, hockey pucks, batting helmets, activity books, wallets, penants, wrist bands, water bottles, and rally rags, were given away to children at sporting events. In December of 2004, Lew Southard, Branch Chief of Fire Prevention in the Forest Service, donated a 60th Annivesary Smokey Bear Commemorative Doll.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
During World War II, the prevalence of human-caused forest fires and the need for wood compelled the U.S. Forest Service to organize the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Campaign. In 1944, as a means of encouraging citizens to participate in fire prevention, the campaign introduced the symbol of a bear, endowed with the evocative name of Smokey. In the spring of 1950, a real cub became a living representation of Smokey Bear when he was saved from a forest fire. The Smokey Bear fire prevention advertising campaign is the best-known character symbol in the world.
Collection Number: 159
Earliest Date: 1902
Latest Date: 1994
Linear Feet: 119.88
Processed: Yes, view the finding aid online.
Subjects: Forestry
Formats: Agricultural Art and Memorabilia; Audiovisuals; Photographs; Posters
Digitization Status: Portion of collection digitized

Ramsay Spillman Manuscript

The Ramsay Spillman Manuscript is typewritten (original with author; copy prepared by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics) and is titled "A Biography of William Jasper Spillman" (453 leaves) was written by son Ramsay Spillman.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
In 1894, William Jasper Spillman (1863-1931) began his career as professor of agriculture at Washington State College, where he undertook extensive experiments to develop winter wheat varieties at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) experiment station. Among his many achievements, Spillman organized USDA’s Office of Farm Management and was instrumental in the establishment of a nationwide system of cooperative extension work. In recognition of his achievements, his associates elected him as the first president of the American Farm Economic Association.
Collection Number: 160
Earliest Date: 1940
Latest Date: 1940
Linear Feet: 0.25
Processed: Yes, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Farms and Farming Systems; USDA History

Oscar Clemen Stine Papers

The Oscar Clemen Stine Papers are handwritten and typed notes on wheat history, colonial wheat culture, wheat exports and imports, insects and diseases, business and wheat crops, acreage, consumption, demand, and foreign markets. Additionally, there are publications by Stine and a manuscript of his autobiography, "Reminiscences of O.C. Stine."
Historical or Biographical Sketch
Oscar Clemen Stine (1884-1974) started working at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1916 as an economist in the Office of Farm Management. In 1921 he moved into the Division of Statistical and Historical Research of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (BAE), which he headed during the 1920s. Stine was appointed Assistant Chief of the BAE in 1946, in charge of prices, income, and marketing.
Collection Number: 161
Earliest Date: 1921
Latest Date: 1957
Linear Feet: 3
Processed: No, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Farms and Farming Systems; Plant Science
Digitization Status: Portion of collection digitized

Harold Kent Street Papers

The Harold Kent Street Papers include resumes, official correspondence related to his various positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, newspaper clippings, unpublished works, photographs, and the article "The Restless Earth" by Nigel Calder.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
Harold Kent Street (1931-1981) was an agricultural journalist who worked in both the public and private sectors. Street was employed by several agencies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the mid-1960s and late 1970s including: the Agricultural Research Service (ARS); the Farm Credit Administration; and the Farmers’ Home Administration. In the private sector, Street served as an agricultural reporter for the American Banker Newspaper, The Dakota Farmer, The Hartford Courant, Successful Farming, Agri-Finance, The Rural New Yorker, and the University of Connecticut, as well as an editor for publications at Kraft Foods and the Independent Bankers’ Association of America.
Collection Number: 162
Earliest Date: 1955
Latest Date: 1977
Linear Feet: 1
Processed: No, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: USDA History
Formats: Photographs
Digitization Status: None

Harriett Singleton Stubbs Papers

The Harriett Singleton Stubbs Papers consist of publications, brochures, reports, articles, speeches, fact sheets, bibliographies, and correspondence relating to acid rain in Canada and to United States government agencies and other organizations that dealt with acid rain.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
Harriett Singleton Stubbs was executive director of the Acid Rain Foundation, Inc., during the 1980s. The mission of the Acid Rain Foundation was to raise the level of public awareness, to publish educational materials, and to bring about resolution to global change issues.
Collection Number: 163
Earliest Date: 1982
Latest Date: 1985
Linear Feet: 2.5
Processed: No, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Natural Resources; Physical Sciences

Ralph H. Sturgeon Papers: American Poultry Historical Society Papers

The Ralph H. Sturgeon Papers include correspondence, clippings, and photographs describing the professional activities and accomplishments of Sturgeon, a hatcheryman and breeder of Barred and White Plymouth Rock chickens and bantams in Bellevue, Ohio. Included are photographs of Colonel Harlan Sanders and Sturgeon; a letter from President Richard Nixon; newsletters; and judging materials from the American Poultry Association.
Collection Number: 164
Collection Group: Poultry Science Collections
Earliest Date: 1917
Latest Date: 1988
Linear Feet: 5.25
Processed: Yes, view the finding aid online.
Subjects: Agricultural Organizations; Poultry
Formats: Photographs
Digitization Status: None

William Nicholas Sullivan Papers

The William Nicholas Sullivan Papers include research, correspondence, and publications on insect biorhythms, aircraft disinsection, and aerosols.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
William Nicholas Sullivan (1908-1979) worked primarily with the chemical and biophysical control laboratory of the Agricultural Environmental Quality Institute at the Agricultural Research Center. He was coinventor with Lyle Goodhue of the aerosol insecticide bomb, known as the “bug bomb.” In World War II, this reduced allied mosquito-vectored disease casualties in the Pacific theater and elsewhere. Sullivan won honors from the World Health Organization, which based its standards for ridding aircraft of insects on Sullivan's studies. During his lifetime, Sullivan produced 151 publications, mostly on aerosols and biological rhythms of insects, and received 23 patents.
Collection Number: 165
Earliest Date: 1945
Latest Date: 1978
Bulk Dates: 1963-1978
Linear Feet: 4.5
Processed: No, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Physical Sciences
Digitization Status: None

Tayloe Family Journal

The Tayloe Family Journal is a handwritten agricultural journal primarily of the Powhatan plantation of the Tayloe family of King George County, Virginia. It is written by Edward Thornton Tayloe and contains entries on barns, beef, cattle, clover, corn, cultivators, dairying, ditching, drought, fallowing, fencing, grapes, harvesting, hogs, manure, marl, oats, pruning, and sheep, as well as some detailed maps, crop production and slave inventories, and an index. It also contains information of daily events such as births, deaths, weather, local and national politics.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
The Tayloe family was a notable family of the Virginia gentry. John Tayloe III (1770-1828) built the Octagon House in Washington DC. Edward Thorton Tayloe inherited a great deal of his father's property, most notably that in the Northern Neck of Virginia on the Rappahanock River southeast of Fredericksburg. This journal is the account book maintained by Edward Thornton Tayloe of the Powhatan plantation on the Northern Neck between the years of 1834 and 1849. It also contains the legal background of the execution of his father's will.
Collection Number: 166
Earliest Date: 1831
Latest Date: 1849
Linear Feet: 0.25
Processed: Yes, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Agricultural History; Animal Science; Farms and Farming Systems; Plant Science
Digitization Status: None

Albert Davis Taylor Manuscript

The Albert Davis Taylor Manuscript is the result of an inspection trip of landscape architecture in national forests conducted during the summer of 1936 by Taylor and R. D. Bonnet. This manuscript, the report of the trip, consists of assessments of the problems of landscape and recreational planning in the national forests, supplemented by illustrations of desirable and undesirable application of methods and principles of design to specific problems. Increasing social use of national forests made it necessary to reevaluate the standard of landscape design throughout the U.S. Forest Service in an effort to preserve the natural aspects of the forest. The typewritten manuscript is titled "Problems of Landscape Architecture in the National Forests; Report to the Chief, Forest Service, on a Trip of Inspection through Some of the National Forests in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9." Written in 1936, it consists of 223 pages, including photographs.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
Albert Davis Taylor (1883-1951), consulting landscape architect for the U.S. Forest Service and R.D. Bonnet, associate landscape architect in the Washington office of the Division of Recreation and Lands, conducted an inspection trip of landscape architecture in national forests during the summer of 1936.
Collection Number: 167
Earliest Date: 1936
Latest Date: 1936
Linear Feet: 0.3
Processed: Yes, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Forestry; Natural Resources
Digitization Status: None

William Dewey Termohlen Papers: American Poultry Historical Society Papers

The William Dewey Termohlen Papers consist of speeches, articles, notes, clippings, and reprints on poultry nutrition, diseases, marketing, quality control, prices, and statistics. There are also publications that contain information on egg quality and grading, washing market eggs, seasonal effects on egg quality, and the purchasing habits of consumers. Other items include personal correspondence with industry, academic, and government leaders.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
William Dewey Termohlen (1898-1970) was an Iowa agricultural extension economist, 1926-1933; director, Poultry Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 1933-1960; and agricultural attache to Japan.
Collection Number: 168
Collection Group: Poultry Science Collections
Earliest Date: 1900
Latest Date: 1955
Linear Feet: 8.5
Processed: Yes, view the finding aid online.
Subjects: Agricultural Organizations; Poultry
Formats: Reprints
Digitization Status: None

Manchurian Month, The: Monthly Supplement of the Manchuria Daily News Collection

The Manchurian Month: Monthly Supplement of the Manchuria Daily News Collection contains political, social, economic, and other information.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
This was a monthly newspaper published the first of each month by the government of Manchoukuo, a puppet state under the tutelage of the Japanese Imperial Army, during the 1930s.
Collection Number: 169
Earliest Date: 1932
Latest Date: 1936
Linear Feet: 2
Processed: No, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Farms and Farming Systems
Digitization Status: None

Charles Thom Papers

The Charles Thom Papers range from materials from Thom's college years to biographical memoirs published after his death. The collection includes correspondence, notes, notebooks, essays, lectures, speeches, diaries, and journals; published items including monographs, journal articles, and newspaper clippings; and lantern slides from professional trips. The majority of the collection focuses on soil microbiology, mycology, food spoilage, food poisoning, and penicillin.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
Charles Thom (1872-1956) worked in various capacities for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for over 40 years. In 1904, he began working for the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, where he remained as mycologist in charge of cheese investigations until 1913. By 1927 he was head of the Division of Soil Microbiology of the Bureau of Chemistry and Soils. After his retirement, he carried out inspections for the War Food Administration. Throughout his career, Thom was involved in important research with two genera of mold: Aspergillus and Penicillium.
Collection Number: 170
Earliest Date: 1891
Latest Date: 1968
Linear Feet: 10
Processed: No, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Human Nutrition; Physical Sciences; Plant Science; USDA History
Formats: Agricultural Art and Memorabilia
Digitization Status: None

David Thomas Collection: American Poultry Historical Society Papers

The David Thomas Collection contains publications and reprints of papers dealing with various aspects of ornithology given by David Thomas. Material was written by numerous authors and published by various scientific journals and other organizations.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
David Thomas was a librarian at Cornell University.
Collection Number: 171
Collection Group: Poultry Science Collections
Earliest Date: 1872
Latest Date: 1975
Linear Feet: 3
Processed: Yes, view the finding aid online.
Subjects: Agricultural Organizations; Poultry
Formats: Reprints
Digitization Status: None

Grant Thorburn Manuscript

The Grant Thorburn Manuscript is a 50-page invoice book of flowers, trees, and seeds for Grant Thorburn & Sons.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
Grant Thorburn & Sons was one of America’s first major businesses devoted to the sale of plant and crop seeds to the public. Grant Thorburn (1773-1863), originally from Scotland, moved to New York City in 1794 as a nailmaker. He entered the seed trade in 1805, after realizing the possible market for mass-produced seeds. In addition to having created one of the early seed businesses, Thorburn first distributed a seed catalogue in 1822. Upon Grant Thorburn’s death in 1863, the company was transferred to his son James, and was incorporated in 1895.
Collection Number: 173
Earliest Date: 1830
Latest Date: 1834
Linear Feet: 0.25
Processed: Yes, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Agricultural History; Economics; Plant Science
Digitization Status: None

USDA Tobacco Market News Service Records

The USDA Tobacco Market News Service Records contain historical information on the Tobacco Market News Service (1928-1971); tobacco inspection (1927-1963); stocks, standards, and grading (pre-1929-1935); and auctions (1929-1962). There are correspondence, notes, and copies of tobacco annual reports (1932-1953); major legislation (1933-1952); and hearings and testimony (1947-1950). With the development of World War II, there are wartime regulation summaries and reports of tobacco activities (1941-1948); material related to tobacco agreements made with other countries after the war (1945-1952); and notes and reports of U.S. Department of Agriculture committees meeting after the war (1947-1951). Additional materials include correspondence of the tobacco division for the years 1949 and 1950; notes and publications relating to the main USDA Market News Service, which was the head of all of the individual agriculture commodities, including tobacco (1948-1964); files relating to the Tennessee Burley Tobacco Grower’s Association (1946-1960); black and white photographs; and various types of maps.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
In 1931 the Tobacco Market News Service started its work within the Tobacco Section of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. Employees followed sales and prices at the tobacco auctions, and talked to growers, buyers' representatives, and warehousemen to better interpret the day's markets in their reports. The different offices of the service dealt with a particular type of tobacco, compiled their statistics, and issued mimeographed market news reports daily and weekly to the public. Tobacco Market News provided tobacco growers, the tobacco trade, and other interested persons with timely information on prices, sales, and marketing conditions on the tobacco auction markets.
Collection Number: 174
Earliest Date: 1920
Latest Date: 1975
Linear Feet: 22
Processed: Yes, view the finding aid online.
Subjects: Economics; Plant Science; USDA History
Digitization Status: None

Robert Lee Tontz Papers

The Robert Lee Tontz Papers consist of statistics, clippings, and publications related to U.S. and foreign trade, including comparisons between exports and imports from 1790 through the 1970s. Also included are data about projected voting in congressional elections (farm versus nonfarm belts) dating from the 1950s to the 1970s, correspondence, reports, membership files on the Farm Bureau and the Grange, and photographs. There is a copy of Tontz’s work: The Agricultural Parity Concept--Reprints of Selected Articles and Memberships of General Farmers’ Organizations, United States 1874-1960. A bibliography of Tontz's publications is also included.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
Robert Lee Tontz was Chief of the Trade Statistics and Analysis Branch, Foreign Development and Trade Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), during the 1960s. From the 1940s-1960s, Tontz taught and researched economic problems of international agricultural trade at several universities in the United States and the USDA. He has authored over 100 publications.
Collection Number: 175
Earliest Date: 1920
Latest Date: 1993
Linear Feet: 6.5
Processed: No, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Economics; Farms and Farming Systems
Digitization Status: None

Alfred Charles True Papers

The Alfred Charles True Papers include manuscripts, notes, and drafts of works True was engaged in writing, as well as papers and documents that he accumulated for historical research between 1900 and 1929. The materials reflect his interest in agricultural history and relate especially to his trilogy histories on research, education, and extension work.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
Alfred Charles True (1853-1929) was Chief of the Office of Experiment Stations from 1893-1915 and director of the State Relations Service from 1915-1923.
Collection Number: 176
Earliest Date: 1847
Latest Date: 1929
Linear Feet: 9
Processed: Yes, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Agricultural History; Economics; USDA History
Digitization Status: None

USDA Small Farms Research, Northeastern Region Records

The USDA Small Farms Research, Northeastern Region Records consist of monthly subject reports, correspondence, publications, and photocopies of articles.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
Because of a congressional mandate, the Agricultural Research Service began a research program in 1978 to improve small-farm operating skills. With Howard W. Kerr as Coordinator of the Northeastern Region Small Farms Research, innovations developed from projects in the 12 states of the Northeastern Region became standards for other small farmers. These innovations helped farmers to extend growing seasons and improve the fresh-market sales potential.
Collection Number: 177
Earliest Date: 1978
Latest Date: 1979
Linear Feet: 2.5
Processed: No, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Farms and Farming Systems
Digitization Status: None

USDA Bureau of Animal Industry Photograph Collection [Animal Science Institute (ASI) Archives]

The USDA Bureau of Animal Industry Photograph Collection comprises black and white photographs, 531 glass negatives, and 1,220 acetate negatives covering many aspects of the animal industry. Subjects include animal anatomy, animal housing, equipment such as slaughtering tools, animal products such as wool, processing steps, cuts of beef, diseases, and laboratories. Black and white photographs document people involved in the work of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). The collection includes photographs of border patrol, quarantine, and vaccination efforts against foot-and-mouth disease along the United States-Mexico border.
Historical or Biographical Sketch
The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) was formed in 1884, and was an evolution from the Veterinary Division that had been established a year earlier, and also from the program of the Treasury Department that regulated animal transportation. The BAI was the first bureau established in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). BAI was created to put more emphasis on combating diseases that caused problems in cattle trade and production. The early focus of the bureau was to eradicate the most damaging, most communicable livestock diseases. In addition, very soon after its establishment, the bureau took on the duty of enforcing the new Meat Inspection Act. The BAI created two divisions for this task - one for meat inspection, the other for animal quarantine. Throughout its history, the Bureau of Animal Industry had many other important divisions. Most notable of these were Animal Husbandry, Animal Nutrition, Animal Pathology, Dairy, and Zoological. These divisions had a multitude of tasks related to animal industry, including research, disease eradication, breeding, inspection, and even marketing of animal products. As the research needs of the bureau changed, so did the divisions; many of them changed names and/or merged with others. In 1942 BAI was placed under the Agricultural Research Administration, which was created to consolidate the work of the USDA's major bureaus. In 1953 the USDA established the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), which abolished the bureau system. The functions of the BAI were transferred to various branches of ARS, mostly to the branches of Animal Inspection and Quarantine, and Animal Disease Eradication. The majority of the original functions of the BAI are now the responsibility of Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS).
Collection Number: 178
Earliest Date: 1913
Latest Date: 1951
Linear Feet: 17
Processed: No, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: Animal Science
Formats: Photographs
Digitization Status: None

USDA Buildings Architectural Drawings Collection

The USDA Buildings Architectural Drawings Collection (ca. 1920) consists of plans of U.S. Department of Agriculture buildings, specifically the administration building, lab buildings, and a view of the National Mall area. There are eight architects’ drawings mounted on pasteboard which were made by the architectural firm Raukin, Kellogg, and Crane, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The buldings were to be located on the north portion of the grounds at that time and in conformity with the plan of the Commission on the Improvement of the Park System.
Collection Number: 179
Earliest Date: 1901
Latest Date: 1903
Linear Feet: 1.5
Processed: No, contact Special Collections.
Subjects: USDA History
Formats: Agricultural Art and Memorabilia
Digitization Status: None