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

MS 11
Bushrod W. Allin (1899-1968)
Papers, 1932-1968, undated


Descriptive summary

creator: Allin, Bushrod W. (Bushrod Warren) (1899-1968)
title: Papers
dates: 1932-1968, undated
extent: 1.68 linear feet (4 document boxes)
collection number: MS 11
repository: Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access: Open for research
publication rights: Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation: Bushrod W. Allin Papers, MS 11, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note

Born on a farm near Harrodsburg, Kentucky, Bushrod Warren Allin lived near Cleburne, Texas, from early youth until he was eighteen years old. He received a B.S. (1921) and a Ph.D. (1927) in agricultural economics from the University of Wisconsin.

He was an instructor (1926-1928) at Wisconsin. Since that time, except for a brief as a research economist (1934-1935) at the Wharton School of Finance, Allin served in various capacities in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). He was a taxation economist (1928-1930) for the Forest Taxation Inquiry and then served as an agricultural economist (1930-1934) with the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. After working for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (1935-1937) and the Office of Planning of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (1938-1942), he served as special assistant (1942-1946) to the chief of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. He then became chairman (1946-1965) of the Outlook and Situation Board with responsibility for reviewing all situation and outlook reports published by the USDA and remained in this position until his retirement.

In 1960, he was a consultant to the Government of India for the International Cooperation Administration and issued a report on the development of an agricultural outlook service. For many years Allin taught in the USDA Graduate School. In 1962, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the USDA. He also served as president (1961-1962) of the American Farm Economic Association.

Allin married Thelma A. Otteson in 1922 and the couple had three children. Bushrod W. Allin died on 15 November 1968.

 

Collection description

This collection (1932-1968, undated) consists principally of Allin's writings, including articles, reports, book reviews, addresses, speeches, and lectures. The bulk of these materials document the economics of U.S. agricultural policy and practice, including analyses of land-use practices, forecasts of future economic conditions, and reports on employment opportunities. The collection also contains biographical information, correspondence, Congressional testimony, and writings by others on topics related to economics and agriculture.

 

 

Description of series

Series 1 Addresses, Speeches and Lectures 1936-1961, undated
extent: 0.46 linear feet (60 folders)
description: This series contains addresses, speeches, lectures, and reports given by Bushrod Allin. The series is arranged chronologically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

"Is planning compatible with democracy?" Society for Social Research, University of Chicago, August 22

1936

1

2

"The land use program," Regional Extension Conference for Northeastern States, New York City, March 2

1939

1

3

"Agricultural planning, county," December 19

1939

1

4

"The county planning project...a cooperative approach to agricultural planning," American Farm Economic Association, Philadelphia, December 28

1939

1

5

"Agricultural planning," Texas Agricultural Workers Association, Dallas, January 12

1940

1

6

"Land use planning in the Northeast," radio address given as part of annual program of the Rhode Island Agricultural Conference, March 2

1940

1

7-8

"Historical background of the United States Department of Agriculture" (2 versions), North Carolina State College for Agriculture and Engineering, Raleigh, October 4

1940

1

9

"Agricultural land planning from the federal point of view," National Conference on Planning, Philadelphia, May 12-14

1941

1

10

"Soil scientists have a planning job," Soil Science Society of America, November 12

1941

1

11

"Post-war agricultural problems of the United States," Report on Panel Discussion, Subcommittee on Agriculture of the System Research Advisory Committee, May 5

1944

1

12

"An over-all plan for education," People's Lobby Conference, February 9

1946

1

13

"Problems facing farmers and the Farmers Union," National Farmers Union, March 1

1946

1

14

"The general agricultural outlook" (with note "Ohio address"), April

1947

1

15

"Some arguments for and against farm price supports" (with note "Ohio address"), April

1947

1

16

"Guide-posts in agricultural economics," State Conference for Vocational Agriculture Teachers, College Station, Texas, August 6

1947

1

17

"The objectives and methods of agricultural economics," American Farm Economic Association, Green Lake, Wisconsin, September 10

1947

1

18

"What's ahead?" 1948 Production Outlook Conference, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, December 2

1947

1

19

"Utilizing Bureau of Agricultural Economics information in farmer training," Southern Regional Conference of State Supervisors and Negro Teacher Trainers in Agricultural Education, Howard University, Washington, D.C., February 17

1948

1

20

"The long-time outlook in the farming business," Farm and Home Convention, University of Kentucky, Lexington, January 27

1949

1

21

"Cotton in the present farm program," Cotton Research Congress, Dallas, July 29

1949

1

22

"The economic position of Texas farmers," Texas Agricultural Workers Association, Galveston, Texas, January 13

1950

1

23

"Farm labor and the agricultural outlook" (with note "Okla. speech"), March 8

1950

1

24

"The agricultural situation," printed version, Kansas Agricultural Convention, Kansas State Board of Agriculture, Topeka, January 12

1951

1

25

"The agricultural situation," typescript, Kansas State Board of Agriculture, Topeka, January 12

1951

1

26

"The general economic situation for agriculture today," Management Conference for General Managers of Cooperatives, Excelsior Springs, Missouri, January 29-31

1951

1

27

"Agricultural outlook for 1952," State Outlook Conference, Amherst, Massachusetts, November 28

1951

1

28

"The general economic situation," Annual Extension Conference, Columbia, Missouri, December 4

1951

1

29

"Comments on the farm price and income outlook," Annual Extension Conference, Columbia, Missouri, December 5

1951

1

30

Summary of four talks: "Agricultural markets...contracting or expanding?"; "Importance of foreign trade to agriculture"; "Effects on agriculture of changes in technology and business organization"; and "Agricultural policy...past, present, and future." Given at Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council, Lake Carl Blackwell, July 24-26

1953

1

31

"The agricultural outlook," Texas Farm and Ranch Credit School for Commercial Bankers, December 6-9

1953

1

32

"The agricultural situation and livestock," National Farm and Ranch Congress, Denver, April 7

1953

1

33

"The current agricultural situation," Farmer-Banker Meeting, Rustburg, Virginia, June 5

1953

1

34

"The agricultural situation and outlook," Wisconsin Agricultural Cooperative Council, Sparta, July 22

1953

1

35

"A look at the farm market," Power Use Conference, Fort Worth, Texas, October 15

1954

1

36

"The agricultural outlook," Agricultural Outlook Conference, October 26

1953

1

37

"Market analysis and outlook," National Workshop on Agricultural Marketing, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, August 27

1954

1

38

"The agricultural outlook," Farmers' Cooperative Grain Dealers, Enid, Oklahoma, April 14

1955

1

39

"The agricultural situation," National Poultry, Butter and Egg Association, Chicago, October 7

1955

1

40

Untitled draft, Virginia State Seed Meeting, Virginia, January 26

1955

1

41

Summary of remarks, Georgia Bankers Association Short Course, Tifton, Georgia, February 2

1955

1

42

Summary of remarks, National Farm Placement Conference, Memphis, Tennessee, February 14

1955

1

43

"Significant trends," Training Conference for Operations Field Representatives in REA, Memphis, Tennessee, February 6

1956

1

44

"The agricultural situation," Great Falls Chamber of Commerce Farm and Ranch Forum, Great Falls, Montana, March 21

1956

1

45

"The agricultural situation and outlook," Rice Millers' Association, New Orleans, May 11

1956

1

46

"The agricultural situation," Waseca, Minnesota, February 7

1957

1

47

"Rural influences on the American politico-economic system," USDA Graduate School, April 10

1957

1

48

"Agriculture's public relations," American Farm Economic Association, Philadelphia, December 29

1957

1

49

"The agricultural situation," draft, February

1958

1

50

"The farm problem: Economics vs. justice," Association of Southern Agricultural Workers, Little Rock, Arkansas, February 4

1958

1

51

"The development of the social sciences and their relation to the use of scientific information in human progress," July 3

1958

1

52

"The role of technology and social innovation," USDA Graduate School course on "The economics of market expansion," October 20

1958

2

1

"Major agricultural policy questions of the next fifteen years in Farm Foundation," national agricultural policy conference planned by National Committee on Agricultural Policy and sponsored by the Farm Foundation

1959

2

2

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture as an instrument of public policy: In retrospect and in prospect," American Farm Economic Association, Ames, Iowa, August 10-13

1960

2

3

"The agricultural outlook for 1961," Agricultural Outlook Conference, Washington, D.C., November 14

1960

2

4

Remarks of Bushrod W. Allin at 23rd Annual Workshop of Farmers Cooperative Service, USDA, Washington, D.C., December 15

1960

2

5

"Relevant farm economics," American Farm Economic Association, Ft. Collins, Colorado, August 14 (see also printed version in folder 2/26)

1961

2

6

"Report on the American Farm Economic Association - Western Farm Economic Association meetings" includes summary of Allin's AFEA presidential address

1961

2

7

"Critique of research," discussion led by Allin, USDA Graduate School course in "Research methods in social sciences"

undated

2

8

"Professor Edward S. Mason on 'Problems in the political economy on natural resource use'"

undated

 

Description of series

Series 2 Biographical Material 1937-1968, undated
extent: 6 folders
description: This series contains biographical information, certificates of recognition for twenty and thirty years of service in the USDA, a bibliography of Allin's speeches and writings, and two photographs, one of B. W. Allin and one of the United Nations Food Conference at Hot Springs, Virginia. The series also contains news releases and newsletters which mention Allin, as well as newspaper clippings of articles written by or about Allin. The series is listed alphabetically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

2

35

Biographical material (2- 8x10 b/w photographs)

1937-1965, undated

4

10

News releases

1961, 1968

4

11

Newsletters: American Institute of Cooperation, no. 149

1961

4

12

Newsletters: USDA Employee Newsletter, vol. 24, no. 20

1965

4

13

Newsletters: USDA Graduate School Newsletter

1957

4

14

Newspaper clippings

1944-1961, undated

 

Description of series

Series 3 Book Reviews
1949-1959
extent: 7 folders
description: This series contains copies of book reviews written by Allin. The series is arranged chronologically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

3

2

Review of A critical review of research in land economics by Leonard A. Salter, Jr. Agricultural Economics Research vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 98-99

1949

3

3

Review of Production and welfare of agriculture by Theodore W. Schultz. Land Economics (February 1950) pp. 92-93

1950

3

4

Review of The economics of collective action by John R. Commons. Agricultural Economics Research vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 31-32

1951

3

5

Review of American capitalism by John Kenneth Galbraith. Agricultural Economics Research vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 58-59

1952

3

6

Review of Can we solve the farm problem? by Murray R. Benedict. Agricultural Economics Research vol. 8, no. 2, p. 66

1956

3

7

Review of A national rural policy for all the people of the United States by Leonard Hastings Schoff. Rural Sociology (June 1956), p. 215

1956

3

8

Review of American cooperation, 1958 published by the American Institute of Cooperation, Washington, D.C. Agricultural Economics Research vol. 11, nos. 2-3, pp. 91-92

1959

 

Description of series

Series 4 Congressional Testimony
1944
extent: 3 folders
description: This series contains copies of testimony given by Allin before U.S. Senate and House Special Committees on Post-War Economic Policy and Planning. The series is arranged chronologically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

3

9

Statement to the Senate Special Committee on Post-War Economic Policy and Planning, May 11

1944

3

10

Statement to the Senate Special Committee on Post-War Economic Policy and Planning, June 30

1944

3

11

"Agriculture and full employment." Statement to the House Special Committee on Post-War Economic Policy and Planning, August 23

1944

 

Description of series

Series 5 Correspondence
1948-1965
extent: 6 folders
description: This series contains incoming and outgoing correspondence of Bushrod Allin concerning his writings, lectures, professional associations, and University of Wisconsin alumni affairs. Correspondents include Earl L. Butz, John Kenneth Galbraith, Henry C. Taylor, and Henry A. Wallace.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

3

12

Correspondence

1948-1951

3

13

Correspondence

1952

3

14

Correspondence

1953

3

15

Correspondence

1954-1957

3

16

Correspondence

1957

3

17

Correspondence

1958-1965

 

Description of series

Series 6 Writings 1932-1961, undated
extent: 0.42 linear feet (36 folders)
description: This series contains published and unpublished writings by Bushrod W. Allin. The series is arranged chronologically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

2

9

"Louisiana farm taxes" by Bushrod W. Allin and R. L. Thomson. Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Agricultural Experiment Stations Bulletin no. 231, pts. 1-2

1932-1933

2

33

Migration and planes of living, 1920-1934, by Carter Goodrich, Bushrod W. Allin, and Marion Hayes. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press (Study of Population Redistribution, Bulletin no. 2, Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, Industrial Research Dept.)

1935

3

18

"What peace can mean to American farmers," working draft (with note "Used for George Committee")

1944

2

10

"What peace can mean to American farmers: Post-war agriculture and employment," USDA Miscellaneous Publication no. 562

1945

2

11

"What peace can mean to American farmers: Maintenance of full employment," USDA Miscellaneous Publication no. 570

1945

2

12

"What peace can mean to American farmers: Expansion of foreign trade," USDA Miscellaneous Publication no. 582

1945

2

13

"What peace can mean to American farmers: Agricultural policy," USDA Miscellaneous Publication no. 589

1945

2

14

"The objectives and methods of agricultural economics," Journal of Farm Economics vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 545-52

1948

2

15

"Theory: Definition and purpose," Journal of Farm Economics vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 409-17

1949

2

16

"The human will in action," typescript

1950

2

17

"Land-use planning in retrospect and in prospect," typescript

1950

2

32

"What is economics?" typescripts (2 versions)

1950 circa

3

19

"What is economics?" typewritten and handwritten drafts

1950, undated

4

1

"American agricultural political economy (A theory of American agricultural policy)," typewritten draft

1952

2

18

"Predilections, parity and the public interest," typescript

1952

2

19

"Is group choice a part of economics?" The Quarterly Journal of Economics vol. 67, pp. 362-79. Reprint, comments, and typescript

1953

2

20

"Galbraith's stinger," Journal of Farm Economics vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 1054-55

1956

2

21

"Economic forecasting for agriculture," typescript

1957

2

22

"What's next in federal farm price policy?" typescript draft

1957

2

23

"Survival of democratic capitalism," typescript submitted to Committee on Economic Development

1957

4

2

"What happened at first session of hearings before Subcommittee on Agricultural Policy of the Joint Economic Committee," typewritten draft

1957

4

3-4

"The agricultural-business conflict," typewritten and handwritten draft

1958

4

5

"What kind of agriculture do we want?" typewritten draft

1958

2

24

"Farm policy outlook: Problems ahead!" Better Farming Methods vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 18-22

1960

3

1

"Toward an Indian Agricultural Outlook Service" a report by Bushrod W. Allin to the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Government of India. Published by India (Republic), Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Also includes minutes of meetings set up to implement this report and related correspondence

1960

2

25

"The U. S. Department of Agriculture as an instrument of public policy: In retrospect and in prospect," Journal of Farm Economics vol. 42, no. 5, pp. 1094-1103

1960

2

26

"Relevant farm economics," Journal of Farm Economics vol. 43, no. 5, pp. 1007-18

1961

4

6

"Agricultural political economy," typewritten and handwritten draft

undated

2

27

"Agriculture's part in providing jobs for 60 million workers," typescript

undated

4

7

"Chapter III: Institutions and going concerns," typewritten and handwritten draft

undated

2

29

"Internal migration in prosperity and depression," typescript, Study of Population Redistribution, Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, University of Pennsylvania

undated

4

8

"Our misunderstood economy," draft contents and introduction

undated

2

30

"The outlook work of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (An example of the Evolution of an Institution)," typescript

undated

2

31

"Parity goals for agriculture," typescript

undated

2

34

"Tentative publicity program for county agent work in Forest County, Wisconsin for the coming year"

undated

4

9

"What is economy?" typewritten and handwritten draft

undated

 

Description of series

Series 7 Writings by Others 1948-1953, undated
extent: 6 folders
description: This series contains writings on economics and agriculture by authors other than Bushrod Allin. The series is arranged alphabetically by author.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

4

15

Knight, Frank H. "The role of principles in economics and politics," The American Economic Review, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 1-29

1951

4

16

Long, Erven J. "Freedom and security as policy objectives," Journal of Farm Economics, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 317-322

1953

4

17

McDonald, Stephen L. "The process of integration and agricultural problems," Journal of Farm Economics vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 371-380

1953

4

18

Schickele, Rainer. "Theories concerning land tenure"

1952

4

19

Taylor, C. C. "Social science as science"

1948

4

20

Newcomb, Simon. "Principles of political economy"

undated