Special Collections and University Archives
403 Parks Library | 701 Morrill Road
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2102
RS 9/7/4
Midwest Plan Service
Records, 1914-2015
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Midwest Plan Service |
| title: | Midwest Plan Service records |
| dates: | 1914-2005 |
| extent: | 16.42 linear feet (9 documents boxes, 8 oversize boxes) |
| collection number: | RS 9/7/4 |
| repository: | University Archives, Iowa State University Library Special Collections and University Archives. |
| language: | English |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Special Collections and University Archives |
| preferred citation: | Midwest Plan Service records, RS 9/7/4, Iowa State University Library Special Collections and University Archives. |
Access points
| people, families, and corporate bodies: | Midwest Plan Service |
| places: | |
| subjects: | Agriculture -- Handbooks, manuals, etc |
| genres: | Administrative records |
Abstract
The Midwest Plan Service (MWPS) is a publishing cooperative of twelve North Central Region land-grant universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Initially conceived by Iowa State University Professor Henry Giese in 1929, MWPS provides access to research conducted by its member institutions through the distribution of reports, handbooks, and structural building plans. MWPS is headquartered at Iowa State University which acts as the center for design, drafting, writing, publication, and distribution. This collection contains administrative records of the MWPS including annual meeting materials, committee files, correspondence, financial records, published building plans for farm structures, and publication catalogs. |
Historical note
The Midwest Plan Service (MWPS) is a publishing cooperative of twelve North Central Region land-grant universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). MWPS distributes reports, handbooks, and building plans for farm structures in support of the outreach mission of the land-grant universities. Iowa State University is home to the MWPS headquarters and is the center for design, drafting, writing, publication, and distribution. The twelve universities include the University of Illinois, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Missouri, North Dakota State University, Ohio State University, Purdue University, South Dakota State University, and the University of Wisconsin. The Midwest Plan Service was first proposed by Iowa State Agricultural Engineering Professor Henry Giese in 1929. MWPS released the first set of plans in 1933, financed in part by a loan from President Hughes of Iowa State. After years of informal organization, member institutions signed a memorandum of understanding in 1948 authorizing the MWPS. Since its inception, MWPS has created over 100 plans for farm service buildings and over 30 handbooks, including Designs for Glued Trusses and Solar Livestock Housing, and continues to update and create new publications. |
Collection description
This collection (1914-2005, undated) contains annual meeting materials, correspondence, committee files, financial records, and publications of the MWPS. The publications consist of building plans for farm and agriculture-related structures, catalogs, and manuals for truss design. |
Related materials
Additional publications of MWPS can be found by searching the ISU Library catalog for those records listing "Midwest Plan Service" as the author/creator. |
Organization
This collection is organized into two series: |
Description of series
| Series 1 | Administrative Records | 1914-2005, undated |
| extent: | 2.94 linear feet (7 document boxes) | |
| description: | This series contains annual reports, committee files, correspondence, minutes, news clippings, and reports. Committee files may include minutes, correspondence, and related documentation. The series is listed alphabetically. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1-4 |
Annual Activity Reports |
1955-1995 |
1 |
5 |
Annual Fiscal/Budget Reports and Documents |
1956-1989 |
1 |
6-9 |
Annual Meeting Minutes and Correspondence |
1933-1959 |
2 |
1-11 |
Annual Meeting Minutes and Correspondence |
1960-1978 |
3 |
1-11 |
Annual Meeting Minutes and Correspondence |
1979-1988 |
4 |
1-5 |
Annual Meeting Minutes and Correspondence |
1989-1996 |
4 |
6 |
Annual Meeting Photographs (4 b/w photographs, 1 contact sheet, 25 negatives) |
1995 |
4 |
7-9 |
Annual Meeting Minutes and Correspondence |
1997-2004 |
4 |
10 |
Articles and Essays by the Midwest Plan Service |
1933-1957, undated |
5 |
3 |
Buildings and Equipment Plans |
1929 |
5 |
4 |
Committee: Beef and Dairy Cattle Equipment |
1957-1958 |
5 |
5 |
Committee: Farmhouse Work |
1958 |
5 |
6 |
Committee: Feed Handling and Processing |
1983 |
5 |
7 |
Committee: Grain Storage |
1957 |
5 |
8-10 |
Committee: Midwest Plan Service |
1930-1987 |
6 |
1 |
Committee: Standardization of Hog House Plans |
1931-1932 |
6 |
2 |
Committee: Swine Equipment |
1958-1959 |
6 |
3 |
Correspondence with Universities: A-L |
1932-1996 |
6 |
4 |
Correspondence with Universities: M-Z |
1937-1950 |
6 |
5 |
Correspondence: American Society of Agricultural Engineers |
1933-1934 |
6 |
6 |
Correspondence: Business Related |
1936-1957, undated |
6 |
7 |
Correspondence: John S. Swift Company |
1937-1949 |
6 |
8 |
Correspondence: Manufacturers |
1934-1953 |
6 |
9 |
Correspondence: Reynolds Metals Company |
1952-1953 |
6 |
10 |
Correspondence: Spahn and Rose Lumber Company |
1950 circa, undated |
6 |
11 |
Correspondence: U.S. Department of Agriculture |
1945-1949 |
6 |
12 |
Correspondence: Weyerhaeuser Sales Company |
1936-1939 |
6 |
13 |
Financial Statements: Receipts and Expenditures |
1932-1950 |
6 |
14 |
Financial Statements: Documents, and Correspondence |
1932-1979 |
7 |
1 |
Future Directions Task Force Report |
1988 |
7 |
2 |
Henry Giese (2 b/w photos) |
1947-1981 |
7 |
3 |
History of Midwest Plan Service |
1986 |
7 |
4 |
List of Farm Building Plans |
1914-1940, undated |
7 |
5 |
Marketing Plans |
1993-1994 |
7 |
6 |
Memorandum of Understanding Documents |
1932-1986 |
7 |
7 |
Newspaper Clippings |
1929-2005 |
7 |
8 |
Outlines for Reorganization of the Midwest Plan Service |
1937-1945 |
7 |
9 |
Policy and Procedure Documents |
1945-1964, undated |
7 |
10 |
Progress Reports |
1930-1956 |
7 |
11 |
Promotional Correspondence (1 b/w photo) |
1933-1974 |
7 |
12 |
Promotional Materials |
1944-1956, undated |
7 |
13 |
Proposed Exchange Plan Service |
1932 |
7 |
14 |
Reactions to Proposal for Modest Housing Plans |
1971 |
7 |
15 |
Reports of the Secretary-Treasurer |
1937, 1944 |
Description of series
| Series 2 | Publications and Plans | 1946-2005, undated |
| extent: | 7.16 linear feet (2 document boxes and 4 oversized boxes) | |
| description: | This series contains catalogs, building plans, and technical resources produced by MWPS. Architectural plans for houses, barns, animal shelters, storage buildings, and other miscellaneous farm structures are included. Researchers can find additional MWPS publications by searching the ISU Library catalog for "Midwest Plan Service." This series is listed alphabetically. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
12 |
1-5 |
Building Plans and Blueprints (plans 5050-8001) |
1946-1986 |
13 |
2-8 |
Building Plans and Blueprints (plans 71000-87850) |
1963-1982, undated |
10 |
5-8 |
Building Plans and Blueprints (plans 72400-72699) |
1964-1983 |
11 |
1-9 |
Building Plans and Blueprints (plans 72700-89999) |
1959-1985, undated |
11 |
10 |
Building Plans and Blueprints (plans for 24'-60' trusses) |
1969-1981 |
13 |
1 |
Building Plans and Blueprints (unnumbered plans) |
undated |
14 |
|
Building Plans and Blueprints (bound set of plans for 71121-72901: houses, barns, and animal shelters) |
undated |
15 |
|
Building Plans and Blueprints (bound set of plans for 73101-85533: storage buildings and miscellaneous structures |
undated |
16 |
|
Building Plans and Blueprints (plans for 72114-74143) |
undated |
17 |
|
Building Plans and Blueprints (plans for 71121-87380; includes obsolete plan list) |
1960, undated |
4 |
11-12 |
Catalogs |
1959-1989 |
5 |
1-2 |
Catalogs |
1989-2005, undated |
7 |
16 |
Structures and Environment Handbook Study Questions and Answers |
1971 |
8 |
1 |
Technical Resource: TR-6 Pole Design (computer tables) |
1975 |
8 |
2 |
Technical Resource: TR-7 Truss Design (computer tables) |
1974 |
9 |
1 |
Technical Resource: TR-7 Truss Design (computer tables) |
1978 |
9 |
2 |
Technical Resource: TR-8 Truss Design (computer tables) |
1974 |
9 |
3 |
Technical Resource: TR-10 Beams for Open-Top Manure Tanks |
1985 |