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

RS 16/3/56
Paul C. Taff (1887-1982)
Papers, 1901-2007, n.d.


Descriptive summary

creator:

Taff, Paul C. (1887-1982)
title:

Papers
dates:

1901-2007, n.d.
extent:

12.6 linear feet (15 document boxes, 3 half-document boxes, and 1 oversize box)
collection number:

RS 16/3/56
repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research
publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:

Paul C. Taff Papers, RS 16/3/56, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note

Paul C. Taff received a B.S. in agriculture from Iowa State University in 1913 and an LLD from Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, 1949. Taff trained under Perry G. Holden, and became Assistant Director of the Iowa State Extension Service, 1917-1952. He was an Associate and Extension Professor of Farm Crops and Soils, 1912-14, Acting Director, May-Sept., 1914. Concurrent with serving as the Extension Service assistant director for 35 years, Taff was the Iowa State 4-H Club Leader (1919-52). He became Emeritus Professor of Agriculture upon his death in 1982.

 

Collection description

The Paul C. Taff Papers consists of clippings, Extension photographs, booklets, pamphlets, correspondence, and papers documenting Taff's life and work. Many of the records date from 1905-1982 and relate to the development of the 4-H movement, the Iowa State Extension Service, and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference.
 
A scrapbook compiled by Taff contains family history and autobiographical information. Additional biographical material is in the collection as well as individual artifacts, including a ribbon from the Panora, Iowa Corn Exhibition, 1905, and Iowa State Fair Judge Pin and Ribbons from 1925, 1963-70.
 
Materials related to the 4-H movement are national and local in coverage. Extensive material related to the history and growth of early boys' and girls' club meetings in Iowa are contained in these files. Secondary research conducted by Taff and others related to the beginnings of 4-H is documented. The research includes information on Iowans Oscar Herman Benson, Jessie Field Shambaugh, Cap Miller and other club pioneers, including W. B. Otwell of Illinois and A. B. Graham of Ohio. The collection includes correspondence with Bill Otwell, W. B. Otwell's grandson, and material related to Illinois' Boy's Club beginnings. Records for the Jasper County 4-H group, "Sunbonnet Sue's" (1963-1978), are present as well. There are also manuals and organizational materials related to 4-H clubs. Photographs contain 4-H subject matter covering the period, 1905-1965.
 
Extension information consists of bulletins and pamphlets related to field days around the state of Iowa. Of special note are the materials documenting Taff's work on Harvest Home Picnics, the Youth Committee (1940-1950), and the "Pig Crop Special Education Train." This train traveled the state of Iowa in the fall of 1929 on the North Western and the Burlington lines promoting better hog farming. The Harvest Home Picnic materials include posters promoting the events. The Youth Committee material contains material on the International Farm Youth Exchange. Photographs related to Extension work covers the period 1905-1965.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

American Youth Commission - "The Case of Rural Youth," Taff, undated; "Activities of the American Youth Commission," anonymous

1936

1

2

Personal Correspondence - European Trips

1926-1929

1

3

Personal Records - includes portrait

1931-1943, undated

1

4

Awards, Appointments, Honors

1937-2007, undated

1

5

Family History

1977

1

6

News Clippings and Extracts

1914-1979, undated

1

7

Photographs

1904-1972, undated

1

8

Recommendations

1912-1914

1

9

Correspondence (Campus)

1912-1977

1

10

Correspondence (Personal)

1940-1978

1

11

Correspondence (Professional)

1955-1977

1

12

Correspondence - Keokuk County Club Records

1944-1958

1

13

News Clippings - Keokuk County Club Records

1954

1

14

Notes on Cap. E. Miller - Keokuk County Club Records

1947-1954, undated

1

15

Photographs - Keokuk County Club Records

1904-1905

1

16

Programs and Brochures - Keokuk County Club Records

1905-1957

1

17

Manuscript of "I Knew Professor P.G. Holden" by Jessie Field Shambaugh

1948

1

18

News Clippings - Keokuk County Club Records

1937-1961, undated

1

19

Photographs and Postcards - Keokuk County Club Records

1906-1913

1

20

"History of Story County 4-H Clubs" by H.J. Montgomery

1950

1

21

Brochure and Photograph - Wright County

undated

1

22

Correspondence - Wright County

1932-1975, undated

1

23

News Extracts - Wright County

1904-1939

1

24

News Clippings and Photograph - Ag Programs

1909-1921, undated

1

25

Correspondence - Ear Testing of Seed Corn

1906-1963

2

1

Brochures - Extension

1926-1972

2

2

Smith-Hughes Extension Relations

1921-1951, undated

2

3

Trips - Extension and Demonstration Teams

1915-1954

2

4

News Clippings - Demonstration Trips

1923-1953

2

5

Correspondence - Extension History

1969-1975

2

6

Publications - Extension History

1908-1976, undated

2

7

Bulletins - ISC (Iowa State College) Extension

1914-1950, undated

2

8

Photograph - ISC Extension

1951

2

9

Regulations and Objectives - ISC Extension

1939-1949, undated

2

10

Data - Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

11

Finances - Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

12

Laws and Regulations - Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

13

Minutes - Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

14

Objectives - Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

15

Organization and Administration, Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

16

Preliminary Reports - Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

17

Study of Extension Administration

1942-1946, undated

2

18

Photographs - 4-H Club

1903-1952, undated

3

1-16

Sunbonnet Sue's 4-H Club Records

1961-1978

4

1

Organizational Manual for Iowa 4-H Club Leaders

1948

4

2

Organizational Manual for Iowa 4-H Club Leaders

1950

4

3

Organizational Manual for Iowa 4-H Club Leaders

1960

4

4

Organizational Manual for Iowa 4-H Club Leaders

1966, undated

4

5

Definition and Purposes - 4-H Club Program

1918-1955, undated

4

6

News Clippings - 4-H History

1902-1966

4

7

Studies and Brochures - 4-H History

1910-1952, undated

4

8

Studies and Brochures - 4-H History

1968-1976

5

1

"Summary of Activities with Older Boys and Girls in the U.S." - 4-H History

1934

5

2

Correspondence - 4-H History, National Archive Collections

1957-1968

5

3

Key to History Records - 4-H History, National Archive Collections

1957-1982

5

4

Notes - 4-H History, National Archive Collections

undated

5

5

Correspondence - 4-H History, Boys' and Girls' Clubs

1922-1953, undated

5

6

Correspondence - 4-H History, Boys' and Girls' Clubs

1954-1959

5

7

"Forty Years of Service to the 4-H Clubs," pp. 1-94 - never published

1958

5

8

"Forty Years of Service to the 4-H Clubs," pp. 95-

1958

5

9

Notes for History - Boys' and Girls' Clubs

1953, undated

5

10

Tour to International Livestock Expo, Chicago - 4-H History, Boys' and Girls' Clubs

1921

6

1

Correspondence - Research for "The 4-H Story"

1940-1957, undated

6

2

Early Records - Research for "The 4-H Story"

1908-1924, undated

6

3

Manuscripts - Research for "The 4-H Story"

1906-1959, undated

6

4

Preparation Outlines - Research for "The 4-H Story"

1939-1952, undated

6

5

"The 4-H Story" - Chinese Translation, F.M. Reck

1951

6

6

Correspondence - International Cooperation Administration (ICA)

1960

6

7

Business Cards from Abroad - International Farm Youth Exchange

undated

6

8

Correspondence - International Farm Youth Exchange

1951-1954

6

9

Dairy - International Farm Youth Exchange

1951

6

10

Expenses - International Farm Youth Exchange

1951

6

11

Itineraries - International Farm Youth Exchange

1951

6

12

Photographs - International Farm Youth Exchange

1951

6

13

Reports - International Farm Youth Exchange

1950-1951

16

2

General Literature - International Farm Youth Exchange

1951-1978, undated

6

14

Invitations - International Farm Youth Exchange

1976

6

15

Brochures - International Farm Youth Exchange

1946-1970

6

16

"History of Origin and Development of the Iowa 4-H Camping Center," Paul Taff

1957

6

17

Information - International Farm Youth Exchange

1967, undated

6

18

Maps and Lease - International Farm Youth Exchange

1952

7

1

Reports - Iowa 4-H Foundation

1973-1978, undated

7

2

Reports - Iowa 4-H Foundation

1973-1978, undated

7

3

Advertisement for The Iowa Agriculturalist

undated

7

4

"History of the Iowa State College Seed Laboratory, 1931-46," R. Howard Porter

1980

7

5

"Organization and Relationships," Dean Buchanan

1951

7

6

Annual Report - Iowa State Fair

1966

7

7

Brochure - Iowa State Fair

1965

7

8

Dining Hall Financial Records - Iowa State Fair

1931-1961

7

9

Forms - Iowa State Fair

undated

7

10

Correspondence - Iowa State Fair, Heritage Committee

1964-1968

7

11

Minutes - Iowa State Fair, Heritage Committee

1966

7

12

World Food Exposition Study - Iowa State Fair, Heritage Committee

1966

7

13

"National 4-H Club News" - Magazine

1946

7

14

"National 4-H News" - Magazines

1960-1967

7

15

Magazine Manuscripts by Taff

1940-1962

7

16

Course Literature - Management Workshop, University of Minnesota

1942

7

17

Notes - Management Workshop, University of Minnesota

1942

8

1

Awards - National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1947-1957, undated

8

2

Financial Reports - National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1955-1967

8

3

Programs - National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1935-1968

8

4

Publications - National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1944-1976, undated

8

5

Publications - National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1977-1978

8

6

Publications - National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1979

8

7

Reports - National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1954-1955, undated

8

8

Reports - National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1956-1959

8

9

Reports - National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1964-1969

9

1

Photograph - National 4-H Club Camp

1927

9

2

Reports - National 4-H Club Camp

1947-1961

9

3

Committee Records - National 4-H Foundation

1950-1976

9

4

Memorabilia - Personal

1906-1969, undated

9

5

Stories and Quotes - Personal

1906-1969, undated

9

6

Photographs - Early Club Work

1920-1923

9

7

Photographs - Otwell, William B.

1905-1909

9

8

Agricultural Events - Programs

1904-1959, undated

9

9

Boys' and Girls' Club Congress - Programs

1923-1941

9

10

Boys' and Girls' Club Work - Programs

1920-1926

9

11

Commencement Programs

1913-1949

9

12

4-H Banquet Programs

1975-1976, undated

9

13

Iowa State Fair Programs

1921-1940

9

14

Memorial Dedication Programs

1958-1976

9

15

Brochures - Iowa State College Corn Contest

1910

9

16

Circulars - Iowa Boys' and Girls' Club

1912

10

1

Course Outlines - Agriculture Publications

1912-1916

10

2

Career Guidance - Publications

1955-1958, undated

10

3

The Church and 4-H - Publications

1954, undated

10

4

Club Activities - Publications

1922-1960, undated

10

5

Club Work - Publications

1926-1931

10

6

Corn - Publications

1906-1957, undated

10

7

Farm Concerns - Publications

1931-1956

10

8

Farm Credit - Publications

1957

10

9

4-H Leadership - Publications

1936-1941, undated

10

10

4-H Leadership - Publications

1942-1950

10

11

4-H Leadership - Publications

1951-1956

11

1

4-H Leadership - Publications

1956-1960

11

2

Group Discussion - Publications

1934-1957

11

3

"Horseracing's Aid to Agriculture in Illinois" - Publication

1950

11

4

National 4-H Service Committee "Comments" - Publication

1976

11

5

Parents and 4-H - Publications

1947-1952

11

6

Rural-Urban - Publications

1903-1963

11

7

Social - Publications

1934-1958, undated

11

8

Youth Guidance - Publications

1941-1947

11

9

Annual and Biennial Extension Reports

1914-1927

11

10

Annual Extension Reports

1928-1940

12

1

Annual Extension Reports

1941-1949

12

2

Annual Extension Reports

1951-1957

12

3

Annual Extension Reports

1957-1973

12

4

Extension Bulletins

1907-1910

12

5

Extension Bulletins

1939-1941

12

6

Extension Bulletins

1941-1947

12

7

Extension Bulletins

1941-1942

12

8

Extension Bulletins

1943-1947

12

9

Extension Bulletins

1944

12

10

Extension Bulletins

1949-1952

12

11

Extension Circulars

1936-1938

13

1

Extension Circulars

1936-1942

13

2

"The Extension Worker" - ISC Publication

1911

13

3

General Bulletins

1914-1942

13

4

"Iowa Farm Science" - ISC Publication

1948-1963

13

5

"The Iowa State College Bulletin" - ISC Publication

1938-1942

13

6

Extension Publications, Various

1932

13

7

Pamphlets - ISC Publications

1944-1970

13

8

Research Bulletins - ISC Publications

1947-1973

13

9

"Wartime Farm and Food Policy" - ISC Publications

1943

13

10

Agricultural Extension Department, Nos. 2, 4

undated

13

11

Beef Club, Home Gardening - ISC Publications

1911-1918

13

12

Garmentmaking, Woodwork - ISC Publications

1914-1919

13

13

Boys' and Girls' Clubs (Marketing) - ISC Publications

1924-1925

14

1

Rally Day Program and Plans

1946

14

2

City Youth Program Payroll - Rural Rehabilitation

1951

14

3

Correspondence - Rural Rehabilitation

1954-1967

14

4

Brochures, Meredith Loans - Rural Rehabilitation

1917-1918

14

5

Correspondence, Meredith Loans - Rural Rehabilitation

1917-1921

14

6

News Clippings and Photocopies, Meredith Loans - Rural Rehabilitation

1917-1921

14

7

Boys' Programs - Short Courses, ISC

1924-1949

14

8

Farm Handbooks - Short Courses, ISC

1926-1932

14

9

Girls' Programs - Short Courses, ISC

1923-1935

14

10

Programs - Short Courses, ISC

1909-1927

14

11

Exam Questions - County Short Courses

1906-1915

14

12

Programs - County Short Courses

1912-1914

14

13

Photographs - Iowa Interstate Fair, Sioux City

1919-1920

14

14

State Extension Youth Committee Meeting Records

1947-1953

14

15

Instructions and Agreements - Swine Production Train

1929

14

16

News Clippings and Bulletins - Swine Production Train

1929

14

17

Origin, Setup, and Plan - Swine Production Train

1929

14

18

Publicity Prepared by Extension Service - Swine Production Train

1929

14

19

Publicity Used Locally - Swine Production Train

1929

14

20

Summary of Follow-up Questionnaire, Swine Production Train

1929

15

1

Bliss, R.K. - Radio Talks

1948-1964

15

2

Conwell, Russell H., "Acres of Diamonds" - Radio Talk

1901

15

3

Pearson, Raymond A., "Final Report of President Pearson" - Radio Talk

undated

15

4

Taff, Paul C. - Radio Talks

1927-1964

15

5

Correspondence and Minutes - Youth Staff Meeting Records, ISC

1945-1954

15

6

Correspondence and Minutes - Youth Staff Meeting Records, ISC

1945-1954

16

1

4-H History - Research for The 4-H Story , Manuscript for "4-H Club Work and Its Emblem"

1949

16

2

International Farm Youth Exchange, General Literature

1951-1978, undated

16

3

Rural Rehabilitation, Expense Accounts

1934-1935

16

4

Worth County Short Course Association Spelling Bee

1911

16

5

Transcript of Oral History with Paul Taff Related to Beginning of Extension at ISC (by Michael Lundeen)

1974

Map

Case

Farmers' Picnics - Posters and Flyers

undated

17

1

Correspondence: 4-H Boys Short Course and Convention

1941-1942

17

2-3

Correspondence and Reference Material - Extension Group Discussion Projects

1934-1938, undated

17

4

Fortieth Anniversary Convention, National Catholic Rural Life Conference - God-Home-Country Award Study Promotional Materials

1964

17

5

National 4-H Club Camp Group Discussion Assignments

1952

17

6

Photographs: Retired Faculty Members at Bevier House (2 b/w)

1968-1974

17

7

Plans: Rural Discussion Groups for Iowa

1935-1936

17

8

Publication: "Iowa Farm People Talks Things Over," Iowa Farm Economist

1935

17

9

Recorder's Report on Group Dynamics Meeting

1949

17

10

Report: Discussion Groups, State of Iowa

1935

17

11

Report of the Chicago Conference on Discussion Groups in Agriculture

1937

17

12

Report on Discussion Group Training School

1936

17

13

Report of General Committee on 4-H Club Work of the Iowa County Agents' Association

1941

17

14

Report of Washington Conference on Discussion Methods

1935

17

15-16

Rural Discussion Groups--Plans, Reports, and Correspondence

1935

17

17

Survey of God-Home-Country Award Winners - National Catholic Rural Life Conference (1 of 3)

1964

18

1-2

Survey of God-Home-Country Award Winners - National Catholic Rural Life Conference (2 and 3 of 3)

1964

18

3

United States Department of Agriculture Memorandums to State Discussion Leaders

1935-1936

18

4

Youth: 4-H pamphlet - "Learning to Understand Our Neighbors"

1951