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

RS 9/9/12
W. H. (William Henry) Stevenson (1872-1951)
Papers, 1895-1966, n.d.


Descriptive summary

creator:

Stevenson, W. H. (William Henry) (1872-1951)

title:

Papers

dates:

1895-1966, n.d.

extent:

0.42 linear ft. (1 document box and 1 map case folder)

collection number:

RS 9/9/12

repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

W. H. (William Henry) Stevenson Papers, RS 9/9/12, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note

William Henry Stevenson was born to Henry Staley and Louisa S. Stevenson of Freeport, Illinois on September 4, 1872. He received his A.B. (1893) from Illinois College, his B.S.A. (1905) from Iowa State College (University), and his D.S. (1923) from Illinois College.

Stevenson was hired by Iowa State and served as Professor (1902-1910) of soils and later as Professor (1910-1938) and Head (1910-1932) of farm crops and soils. Under Stevenson's direction, the department became one of the top agronomy departments in the country. He also served as Vice-Director (1912-1948) of the Agricultural Experiment Station. He was named Professor Emeritus (1948) following his retirement.

During his time at Iowa State, Stevenson became a very well known agriculturalist. His main areas of expertise were in farm crops, soil fertility, and soil management. He studied field drainage and waterway development. One of his biggest contributions to the state was his work as Director (1910-1932) of the Iowa Soil Survey which prepared comprehensive maps and analyses of soil types, fertilizer needs, crop tests, and drainage patterns for each county of the state.

Stevenson was active in professional organizations outside of his work at Iowa State. In 1921 Stevenson was appointed by U.S. President Warren G. Harding as a permanent delegate (1921-1922) to the International Institute of Agriculture in Rome, Italy. He would later return to the Institute serving as a special representative (1924, 1934) of the United States. In Iowa, Stevenson helped found the Iowa State Drainage Association which successfully created many additional acres of farmland by draining wetlands. Stevenson was a charter member of the American Society of Agronomy and later named Fellow (1931) of the organization. Stevenson also provided funds to the Society to create the Stevenson Awards which for five years honored outstanding researchers in farm crops and soils.

Stevenson married Rosalthea Coffin Scott in 1904. They had no children. Stevenson died on January 7, 1951 and was buried at the Iowa State University cemetery.

 

Collection description

The collection (1895-1966, n.d.) contains biographical information, building contracts and specifications, correspondence, photographs, and publications of William Henry Stevenson. Biographical information consists of alumni and faculty information forms, certificates, news clippings, photographs, and press releases. The file also contains a program from the University of Illinois Alethenai and Philomathean Literary Society of which Stevenson's wife, Rosalthea "Daisy" Scott, was a member.

The files containing building contracts and specifications are for two different properties. The first is for the house Stevenson built for his family at 320 Ash Avenue in Ames. This file contains contracts with the architect, A. H. Kimball, and documentation with other professionals who worked on the house. The second property was one located on Lincoln Way that Stevenson purchased and had renovated for the Latauma Club, which later became the Iowa State chapter of Chi Phi fraternity.

There is a small amount of correspondence in the collection, mostly between the Stevensons and family members. It appears the Stevenson family inherited the estate of Charles H. Rosentiel of Freeport, Illinois. Much of the family correspondence deals with the handling of estate matters. The collection also contains several other documents related to the estate. Other correspondence includes letters between Stevenson and Iowa State President Raymond Hughes discussing Stevenson's retirement from administrative duties. The collection also contains a bound set of letters given to Stevenson during a dinner held in his honor and celebrating his many years of service to the Department of Agronomy.

Several publications and manuscripts are included in the collection. The publications include several Extension bulletins written or co-written by Stevenson dealing with Iowa soils and fertilizer use. Stevenson also wrote several short manuscripts describing the activities of the International Institute of Agriculture in Rome. Material related to his 1934 trip to the Institute can also be found here.

Finally, the collection contains files related to travels taken by Mrs. Stevenson to Europe. This information includes her travel notes and presentations given by her regarding her travels. Mrs. Stevenson was a member of the Ames Woman's Club and gave talks to the group on the different countries she visited.

 

Organization

The collection is organized alphabetically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Biographical information

1895-1966, n.d.

Map case

 

Certificates: U.S. Department of State, American Society of Agronomy, National Grange, Ames Masonic Lodge

1912-1934

1

2

Contract for remodeling of residence for the Latauma Club; property on Lincoln Way owned by Stevenson

n.d.

1

3

Contracts and documents regarding construction of house on Ash Avenue in Ames

1915, n.d.

1

4

Copy of letter sent by Professor Theodore Schultz to President Charles Friley regarding his displeasure with the handling of the margarine/butter Pamphlet No. 5 controversy

1943

1

5

Correspondence from family members

1914, n.d.

1

6

Correspondence to Mrs. Stevenson

1951-1956, n.d.

1

7

Correspondence with President R. M. Hughes

1931

1

8

Correspondence: general

1908-1909

1

9

Documents related to the Charles H. Rosentiel estate

1912-1914

1

10

International Institute of Agriculture: Correspondence and clippings

1934

1

11

International Institute of Agriculture: Manuscripts by Stevenson

1920s

1

12-13

Mrs. Stevenson's travel notes and presentations

1931, n.d.

1

14

Photographs of the Stevensons and the International Institute of Agriculture building (7- 3x3" b/w, 6- 3x5" b/w, 3- 5x7" b/w, 1- 8x10" b/w)

n.d.

1

15

Publications listings

n.d.

1

16

Publications: "Crop Yields on Soil Experiment Fields in Iowa"

1924

1

17

Publications: "Gumbo Soils of Iowa"

1911

1

18

Publications: "Iowa System of Soil Management"

1923

1

19

Publications: "Production of Artificial Farm Manures"

1930

1

20

Publications: "Soil Survey of Iowa: Clay County"

1919

1

21

Publications: "Use of Fertilizers on Iowa Soils"

1925

1

22

Stevenson Dinner: Letters (bound) congratulating Stevenson on his many years of service

1938

1

23

Stevenson Dinner: Programs and speech by Stevenson

1938