Agricultural Experiment Station oral histories, 1962-1965.
Collection Number: 13-6-944

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Agricultural Experiment Station oral histories, 1962-1965.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
13-6-944
Abstract:
Tapes and transcripts of oral history interviews by Gould P. Colman with Paul J. Chapman, Arthur C. Dahlberg, Robert E. Doran, Arthur J. Heinicke, George J. Hucker, James D. Luckett, Carl S. Pederson, Charles B. Sayre, Jessie E. Sperry, Donald K. Tressler, and Richard Wellington.
Creator:
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station
Chapman, Paul J.
Dahlberg, Arthur Chester.
Doran, Robert E.
Heinicke, Arthur J.
Hucker, George J.
Luckett, James D.
Pederson, Charles S.
Sayre, Charles Bovett.
Sperry, Jessie E.
Tressler, Donald Kiteley.
Wellington, R. (Richard)
Colman, Gould P. (Gould Patchin), 1926-
Quanitities:
10 items.
Language:
Collection material in English

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

The New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva, New York is a unit of the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University,Ithaca, New York.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Tapes and transcripts of oral history interviews by Gould P. Colman with Paul J. Chapman, Arthur C. Dahlberg, Robert E. Doran, Arthur J. Heinicke, George J. Hucker, James D. Luckett, Carl S. Pederson, Charles B. Sayre, Jessie E. Sperry, Donald K. Tressler, and Richard Wellington.
These interviews cover the research, administration, and public service contributions of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Scientists, administrators, support staff, and other Geneva residents were interviewed. Topics include: relationships of Geneva faculty and staff with their Ithaca campus counterparts, including coordination of research and administration on the 2 campuses, and with New York State farmers and agricultural organizations, especially the food processing industry; relationships of Geneva station with other American agricultural experiment stations; and research by Geneva scientists in entomology (including the use of pesticides and biological control), vegetable crops, viticulture, pomology, bacteriology, food science, and dairy science (including the transfer to dairy research to the Ithaca campus).
Also, development of Geneva physical facilities, especially after WWII and during the 1960's; Geneva publications; administration of substations in the Hudson Valley and Fredonia; procurement of funds; hiring and promotion of staff and administrators; conducting seed investigations in coordination with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets; influence of personality on Cornell's agricultural research and teaching; assessment of Cornell administrators; participation by Geneva staff in community activities. Personal histories are also included.

RELATED MATERIALS

Related collection: New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Historical Documentation Program Oral Histories, #13-6-2082. Donald W. Barton, tr., trsc. 4912-4917, trsc. 5246-5248; Robert F. Becker, tr., trsc. 3852; Roscoe E. Krauss, trsc. 5325; Edward H. Smith tr., trsc. 4906-4911.
Related collection: New York State Food Processing Industry Oral History Project, #2378. Walter D. Enzie, trsc. 1210.
Related collection: Paul J. Chapman Papers, #22-1-2102
Related collection: Charles B. Sayre Seminar Transcript, # 22-1-m.1061.
Related collection: Richard Wellington Papers, #22-2-3558.
NOTES

Some of the 1962-1965 tapes have been erased; only 5 minute excerpts remain.
Also forms part of the Eastern Wine and Grape Archive. (EWGA)

Restrictions on Use:

Transcripts require permission from heirs, legal representatives, or assigns to reproduce.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

New York State Agricultural Experiment Station Oral Histories, #13-6-944. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Anderson, Rudolph John, 1879-
Babcock, H. E. (Howard Edward), 1889-1950.
Barton, Donald W., 1921-
Breed, Robert S. (Robert Stanley), 1877-1956.
Chandler, William Henry, 1878-
Chapman, P. J. (Paul Jones), 1900-
Crosby, Cyrus R., 1879-1937.
Dahlberg, Arthur, 1896-1964.
Daniel, Derrill McCollough, 1905-
Hedrick, U. P.
Frank, Konstantin, 1899-1985.
Hall, Frank Henry, 1866-1929.
Hucker, George J., 1893-1988.
Heinicke, Arthur J., 1892-1971.
Jordan, Whitman Howard, 1851-
Lehman, Herbert H. (Herbert Henry), 1878-1963.
Luckett, James D., 1891-1968.
Massey, Louis Melville, 1889-1969.
McEwen, Freeman Lester, 1926-
Morrison, F. B. (Frank Barron), 1887-1958
Parrot, Percival John, 1874-1953.
Sayre, Charles Bovett, 189l.-
Smith, George A.
Stewart, Fred Carlton, 1868-1940.
Taylor, Walter S.
Thatcher, Roscoe Wilfred, 1872-
Tressler, Donald Kiteley, 1894-1981.
Tukey, H. B.
Van Slyke, Lucius Lincoln, 1859-
Wellington, Richard, 1884-1975.
Sherman, William.
Pederson, Carl S., 1897-1987.
Cook, Constance E.
Tyler, Winfield.
Downing, Donald L.
Becker, Robert F.
Porter, Gilbert.
Palm, Charles Edmund, 1911-1996.
Brady, Nyle C.
Call, David L.
King, Joseph P.
Adams, Morton, 1910-
Hurd, Thomas Norman, 1910.
Frommer, Charles.
Greig, Robert G., 1913-
Wickham, Don J., 1903-
Dalrymple, Daniel M.
Dyson, John.
Rockefeller, Nelson A. (Nelson Aldrich), 1908-1979.
Krauss, Roscoe E.
Kennedy, Wilbert Keith, 1919-
VanDemark, Noland L.
Glass, Edward H.
Hamilton, James M.
Gilmer, Robert M.
Hunter, James E.
Vittum, Morrill T.
Carey, Hugh L.
Einset, John, 1915-
Einset, John.
Kender, Walter J.
Clark, Benjamin E., 1914-1983.
Davis, Alexander C.
Hand, David B.
Holland, Robert F.
Robinson, Willard.
McNew, George.
Hofer, Alvin W.
Connaway, John W.
Whitten, John C., 1866-
Eckles, Clarence Henry, 1875-
Mann, Albert Russell, 1880-1947.
Birdseye, Clarence.
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Department of Entomology
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Department of Food Science and Technology
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Department of Pomology and Viticulture
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Department of Seed and Vegetable Sciences
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Department of Plant Pathology
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Department of Publications
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Hudson Valley Laboratory (Highland, N.Y.)
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Vineyard Laboratory (Fredonia, N.Y.)
New York State Canners and Freezers Association
Associated Food Processors
State University of New York
Western New York Cherry Growers Association
Western New York Apple Growers Association
New York (State). Pesticide Control Board
Cornell University. Office of Vice President for Land Grant Affairs
New York (State). Department of Environmental Conservation
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania Agricultural Research Coordination
Agricultural Research Planning and Coordination
University of Missouri
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Department of Buildings and Properties
Cornell University. Cooperative Extension
New York State Fruit Testing Cooperative Association
New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences -- : Administration.
Places:
Geneva (N.Y.) -- Social life and customs.
Subjects:
Plant-breeding -- New York (State)
Vegetables -- New York (State)
Food, Frozen.
Agriculture publishing.
Voluntarism.
Food -- Bacteriology.
Fruit-culture -- New York (State)
Dairying -- Research.
Pesticides -- Environmental aspects.
Community and college -- New York (State) -- Geneva.
Pests -- Biological control.
Agricultural pests.
DDT (Insecticide)
Food industry and trade -- New York (State)
Interdisciplinary approach in education.
Viticulture.
Agricultural administration.
Agricultural experiment stations.
Agricultural chemicals -- Environmental aspects.
Agricultural chemicals -- Law and legislation.
Agriculture -- Research.
Form and Genre Terms:
Oral histories.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Transcript #3888
Chapman, Paul J., 1900-1993
Scope and Contents
Occupation: Professor, editor, librarianSee also collection #: 22-1-2102Recorded: November 5, 1964; February 8, 1965; March 5, 1965; April 12, 1965; and May 17, 1965Childhood botanical interest; graduate study and work with Spray Information Service at Cornell; experiences as an entomologist, 1930-1965, and as head of Dept. of Entomology, Geneva, 1948-1965, esp. work at Hudson Valley substation; selection of research projects; research methods; spray residue control problems; biological controls; relationships of department with other departments at the Station; relations of Station with Cornell, NY State Dept. of Agriculture and Markets, USDA, growers, the Geneva community, industry; administration of dept., esp. selection of personnel; comments concerning faculty status, esp. tenure, sabbatic leave; recollections concerning Cyrus Crosby, P. J. Parrott, L. M. Massey, D. M. Daniels, A. J. Heinicke, Alvin Hoefer, George McNew, Harold Tukey.
Transcript #3889
Dahlberg, Arthur Chester, 1896-1964
Scope and Contents
Occupation: Professor of Dairy Science Recorded: November 12, 1962; February 22, 1963Development of the work in dairy chemistry at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva; descriptions of major research projects; reflections concerning George A. Smith, R. W. Thatcher, F. B. Morrison, and G. P. Hedrick; removal of dairy work to Ithaca.
Transcript #3890
Doran, Robert E., 1899-1983
Scope and Contents
Occupation: Geneva physician Recorded: March 27, 1963Participation of staff on Geneva in political and social organizations in Geneva, NY.
Transcript #3891
Heinicke, Arthur J., 1892-1971
Scope and Contents
Cornell Class: Ph.D. 1916Occupation: Professor, pomology/Director Recorded: November 27, 1963; February 10, 1964; April 13, 1964; June 22, 1964; and September 16, 1964Agriculture in the St. Louis area, c. 1900; high school education; experiences at the University of Missouri; impressions of J. W. Connaway, J. C. Whitten, C. H. Eckles, W. H. Chandler, others; facilities for research, research methods and objectives in Dept. of Pomology at Cornell, c. 1914; relationships between research in orchard soils, spraying practice, pruning practices, and apple varieties; relation of work in pomology at Cornell to that of New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, 1942-1960; comment concerning Geneva including appointment as director, postwar building program, elimination of dairy herd, beginning of Dept. of Food Science and Technology, establishment of systematic budget procedures, methods for coordinating work with NYS College of Agriculture; impressions of Herbert Lehman, U. P. Hedrick, P. J. Parrott.
Transcript #1204
Hucker, George J., 1893-1988
Scope and Contents
Occupation: Professor of Bacteriology Also part of the Food Processing Oral History Project, #237 Recorded: November 2, 1962; November 9, 1962; November 30, 1962; December 4, 1962; January 22, 1963; February 20, 1963; March 27, 1963; April 23, 1963; May 6, 1963; May 20, 1963; and June 10, 1963Work in bacteriology at New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva; reminiscences and reflections concerning Directors W. H. Jordan, R. W. Thatcher, F. B. Morrison, U. P. Hedrick, P. J. Parrott, and A. J. Heinicke, and Professors R. S. Breed, F. C. Stewart, D. W. Carpenter, George Smith, L. L. Van Slyke, Rudolph Anderson, H. B. Tukey, J. D. Luckett, A. W. Hofer, also A. R. Mann and H. E. Babcock; Station procedures; relationships of the staff to administration and to the Geneva community; development of Dept. of Food Science and Technology; establishment of Food Research, relationship of Station to canning and freezing industry. 8.
Transcript #3892
Luckett, James D., 1891-1968
Scope and Contents
Occupation: Editor/Librarian Recorded: October 8, 1962.Development of extension work at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva; reminiscences concerning the Station staff, esp. W. H. Jordan, R. W. Thatcher, U. P. Hedrick, A. J. Heinicke.
Transcript #3893
Pederson, Carl S., 1897-1987
Scope and Contents
Cornell Class: Ph.D 1929Occupation: Professor, bacteriology Recorded: October 15, 1962; November 19, 1962Development of work in bacteriology at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva; reminiscences concerning R. W. Thatcher, F. B. Morrison, U. P. Hedrick, R. S. Breed, Donald Tressler; relationship of Station staff to food industry and to Geneva community.
Transcript #3894
Sayre, Charles Bovett, 1891-1979
Scope and Contents
Occupation: Professor, vegetable cropsSee also collection #: 22-1-m.1061 Recorded: November 9, 1962Work in vegetable crops at Geneva; major research projects; recollections concerning Frank Hall, U. P. Hedrick, P. J. Parrott, and A. J. Heinicke, 1925-1960.
Transcript #3895
Sperry, Jessie E., 1888-1968
Scope and Contents
Occupation: Secretary to Director Recorded: November 30, 1962Recollections concerning the administrative procedures and staff at New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva; Directors W. H. Jordan, R. W. Thatcher, F. B. Morrison, U. P. Hedrick, P. J. Parrott, and A. J. Heinicke, and Professors L. L. Van Slyke, F. C. Stewart, J. D. Luckett, Frank Hall.
Transcript #1198
Tressler, Donald Kiteley , 1894-1981
Scope and Contents
Occupation: Chemist Also part of Food Processing Oral History Project, #2378 Recorded: May 7, 1963; November 19, 1963High school and college education; utilization of food processing by-products; association with Clarence Birdseye; establishment of food freezing work at Geneva; analysis of food freezing industry prior to 1930; Birdseye's innovations in packing and promoting frozen foods; development of work in food freezing at Geneva, esp. physical facilities, relationships between staff, graduate assistants, selection of research problems, research grants, administrative methods; New York State interest in food freezing; development of Food Research.
Transcript #3896
Wellington, R. (Richard), 1884-1975
Scope and Contents
Occupation: Professor of PomologySee also collection #: 22-2-3558 Recorded: August 6, 1962, August 21, 1962Development of the work in pomology at Geneva; organization and activities of the New York State Fruit Testing Association; administration of the Station, esp. under W. H. Jordan and U. P. Hedrick, 1906-1960.