Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 13/24/0/1
Iowa State University

Department of Statistics
Annual Reports, 1945-[ongoing]


Descriptive summary

creator: Iowa State University. Department of Statistics
title: Annual Reports
dates: 1945-[ongoing]
extent: 0.84 linear feet (2 document boxes)
collection number: RS 13/24/0/1
repository: University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access: Open for research
publication rights: Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation: Iowa State University, Department of Statistics Annual Reports, RS 13/24/0/1, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Abstract

The Department of Statistics was not formed until 1947, but the study and teaching of statistics began at Iowa State in 1915 when a statistics course was taught by Professor George Snedecor through the Department of Mathematics. In 1933 Snedecor organized the Statistical Laboratory at Iowa State College, the first of its kind in the nation. The Statistical Laboratory provides consulting work and promotes statistical research. The Department of Statistics was formed in 1947 and has since offered major work for the B.S., M.S., and the Ph.D. degrees in statistics and minor work to students taking major work in other departments. This collection contains annual reports of the Statistical Laboratory and the Department of Statistics. The annual reports include information on statistics work in other areas of the university including the Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Industrial Science Research Institute (later called the Engineering Research Institute), Statistics Computing Section, and the research field office of the Statistical Standards Division, Statistical Reporting Service, United States Department of Agriculture. The annual reports include information on personnel, consulting and cooperative research, current research, publications and professional activities, and teaching.

 

Historical note

The Department of Statistics was not formed until 1947, but the study and teaching of statistics began at Iowa State soon after Professor George W. Snedecor came to Iowa State in 1913. Snedecor first taught statistics in 1915 through the Department of Mathematics. This first course in statistics was called the "Mathematical Theory of Statistics." Early in his career at Iowa State, Snedecor became interested in statistics, particularly as the subject applied to agricultural research. He collaborated with Henry A. Wallace and instituted weekly seminars during the winter and spring of 1924 which were the beginning of a specialized interest in statistical research at Iowa State.

Growing demand for statistical services caused Iowa State to create the Mathematics Statistical Service in the Department of Mathematics in 1927 with Snedecor in charge. In 1933, Snedecor organized the Statistical Laboratory at Iowa State College and became the Laboratory's first Director (1933-1947). The first of its kind in the nation, the Statistical Laboratory provides consulting work and promotes statistical research. The Statistical Laboratory grew to become one of the most prominent statistical labs in the country. The Statistical Laboratory continues to be a research service institute which conducts research in statistical theory and methodology and promotes and fosters the use of sound statistical methods in University research through on-campus consulting.

The Statistics Section of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station began in 1935, and the Department of Statistics was formed in 1947. The department has since offered major work for the B.S., M.S., and the Ph.D. degrees in statistics and minor work to students taking major work in other departments. A co-major program has also been offered jointly with other departments.

Department Heads:

Raymond J. Jensen (Acting) (1947-1950)
Theodore A. Bancroft (1950-1972)
Herbert A. David (1972-1984)
Dean Isaacson (1984-2002)
Kenneth Koehler (Interim) (2002-2003)
Kenneth Koehler (2003-        )

 

Collection description

This collection (1945-[ongoing]) contains annual reports of the Statistical Laboratory (1945-[ongoing]) and the Department of Statistics (2003-[ongoing]). Beginning in 2003, the annual reports are for both the Statistical Laboratory and the Department of Statistics. In addition to describing the activities of the Statistical Laboratory and the Department of Statistics, the Statistical Laboratory Annual Reports report on the work of other areas of the university related to statistics. This has included the statistics department of the Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, the statistics participant unit of the Industrial Science Research Institute (later called the Engineering Research Institute), Statistics Computing Section, and the research field office of the Statistical Standards Division, Statistical Reporting Service, United States Department of Agriculture. The annual reports include information on personnel, consulting and cooperative research, current research, publications and professional activities, and teaching.

 

Related materials

George Waddel Snedecor Papers (RS 13/24/51)

A subject guide for other statistics related collections can be found here: http://findingaids.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/collections/statistics.html

Select issues of the Department of Statistics' preprints, newsletters, and annual reports are available on the department's website: http://www.stat.iastate.edu/preprint/

 

Organization

The collection is arranged chronologically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Statistical Laboratory Annual Reports

1945

1

2

Statistical Laboratory Annual Reports

1950

1

3

Statistical Laboratory Annual Reports

1959

1

4

Statistical Laboratory Annual Reports

1962-1965

1

5

Statistical Laboratory Annual Reports

1966-1970

1

6

Statistical Laboratory Annual Reports

1971-1975

1

7

Statistical Laboratory Annual Reports

1976-1980

1

8

Statistical Laboratory Annual Reports

1981-1985

1

9

Statistical Laboratory Annual Reports

1986-1989

1

10

Department of Statistics Annual Reports

1987-1988

2

1

Statistical Laboratory Annual Reports

1990-1993

2

2

Statistical Laboratory Annual Reports

1994-1997

2

3

Statistical Laboratory Annual Reports

1999-2002

2

4

Annual Reports

2003-2004

2

5

Annual Reports

2005-2006