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

RS 16/1/11
Marvin A. Anderson (1913-2006)
Papers, 1914-2006, undated


Descriptive summary

creator:

Anderson, Marvin A. (1913-2006)
title:

Papers
dates:

1914-2006, undated
extent:

1.26 linear feet (3 document boxes)
collection number:

RS 16/1/11
repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research
publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:

Marvin Anderson Papers, RS 16/1/11, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note

Marvin A. Anderson was born to Lewis and Olga Anderson on January 31, 1913, in Stanhope, Iowa. He received his B.S. (1939) in agronomy, M.S. (1949) in soil management, and Ph.D. (1955) in agricultural economics and soil management from Iowa State College (University).

Anderson was employed as a Wayne County Iowa 4-H Agent (1939-1940) and then as a District Soils Agent (1940-1942) at Creston, Iowa. He joined the central staff of the Iowa State Extension Service in Ames, Iowa, as an Agronomist (1942-1944). From May 1944 to March 1946 he served in the United States Navy, attaining the rank of lieutenant. On July 1, 1952 he was named Associate Director of the Iowa State Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. All extension work at Iowa State University was reorganized into one administrative unit on March 1, 1966 to form the University Extension Service. Anderson served as Iowa State's first Dean of University Extension (1966-1974).

Anderson and his first wife, Mariette B. Bamble, were married in 1940 and had four children: Mark, Mary Kay, Merrill, and Martha. His wife passed away in 1968 and he later married Julia M. Faltinson in March 1970. Anderson passed away on March 6, 2006, at the age of 93.

 

Collection description

The collection (1914-2006, undated) contains biographical information, professional correspondence, reprints of published articles, subject files, and talks given by Anderson. The biographical materials include a short biography and newspaper clippings that document Anderson's Iowa State College (University) related activities. The professional correspondence includes memoranda from the USDA Federal Extension Service to state and county extension directors. The reprints of published articles by Anderson range in topic from agricultural fertilizer usage to farm terracing to soil tilth. The subject files include files on the history of extension and annual reports of the Southwest Iowa Four County Soils Association.

The collection also includes talks by Anderson to Iowa State groups, professional associations, and local farm groups. Included in his talks are Iowa State commencement addresses, University Extension convocation speeches, and presentations to the annual Extension Conference. The topics of his talks include the mission and goals of the national extension service and Iowa State University Extension Service, the mission of the Iowa State University College of Agriculture, and the continuing education movement in extension.

University Extension during Anderson's tenure as Dean is documented through several photocopied notebooks containing newspaper clippings and articles. These notebooks were compiled by Anderson and show numerous activities sponsored by University Extension from across the state.

For related information on Anderson, see the Julia Faltinson Anderson Papers, RS 12/1/51, and also a transcript of the oral history interview by Julia Faltinson Anderson in the ISU Sesquicentennial Oral History Project Collection, RS 0/11/7.

 

Organization

The collection is listed alphabetically with biographical information in the front.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Biographical Information

1950-2006

1

2

Annual Report: Southwest Iowa Four County Soils Association

1940

1

3

Annual Report: Southwest Iowa Four County Soils Association

1941

1

4

Annual Report: Southwest Iowa Four County Soils Association

1942

1

5

Cooperative Agreement between the Cooperative Extension Service at ISU and the Science and Education Administration – Extension USDA

1981

1

6

Correspondence: Professional

1955-1974

1

7

County Extension Director Record

1969 circa

1

8

Dissertation: "Factors Affecting Acceptance and Use of Fertilizer on Iowa Farms"

1955

1

9

Dissertation Abstract: "Factors Affecting Acceptance and Use of Fertilizer on Iowa Farms"

1955

1

10

Extension History

1914-1971

1

11

Extension Objectives

1954-1965

2

1

Memorandum from USDA Federal Extension Service to Extension Directors

1966-1968

2

2

Memorandum from USDA Federal Extension Service to Extension Directors

1968-1969

2

15

Reprints and Publications: "Acceptance and Use of Fertilizer in Iowa"

1955

2

23

Reprints and Publications: "Adjustments in Agriculture--A Challenge to Agronomy: I. Implications to Agronomic Education"

1959

2

20

Reprints and Publications: "An Appraisal of Factors Affecting the Acceptance and Use of Fertilizer in Iowa, 1953"

1956

2

5

Reprints and Publications: "Cultivation Breaks Down Tilth"

1949

2

21

Reprints and Publications: "The Diffusion Process"

1957

2

26

Reprints and Publications: "EMIS – as Iowa Sees it.

1969

2

25

Reprints and Publications: "Extension International: People and Food"

1967

2

17

Reprints and Publications: "Fertilizer Acceptance"

1955

2

13

Reprints and Publications: "Fertilizer Practices in Iowa – 1953"

1954

2

8

Reprints and Publications: "Grassed Waterways and Terrace Outlets"

1951

2

11

Reprints and Publications: "Green Manure Crops for Soil Improvement"

1953

2

18

Reprints and Publications: "How Farm People Accept New Ideas"

1955

2

9

Reprints and Publications: "How Much Grain Can We Grow?"

1951

2

10

Reprints and Publications: "How to Chose the Most Profitable Crop Rotation for Your Farm"

1952

2

22

Reprints and Publications: "How Your Neighbors Use Fertilizer"

undated

2

14

Reprints and Publications: "Informational Sources Important in the Acceptance and Use of Fertilizer in Iowa"

1955

2

24

Reprints and Publications: "The Iowa Cooperative Extension Service... TODAY ...Its Scope and Responsibility"

1960

2

19

Reprints and Publications: "A Look at Diffusion... to Explain How Farm People Accept New Ideas"

1955

2

4

Reprints and Publications: "A New Look at the Soil"

1949

2

6

Reprints and Publications: "Organic Matter, Where from Here?"

1949

2

3

Reprints and Publications: "Shortcuts in Food Production"

1944

2

7

Reprints and Publications: "Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Six Virgin and Six Cultivated Iowa Soils"

1950

2

27

Reprints and Publications: "A Statement Concerning Land Use Issues and Policies"

1980

2

12

Reprints and Publications: "Terraces for Iowa Farmers"

1953

2

16

Reprints and Publications: "Why Farmers Buy Fertilizer"

1955

3

1

Talks: 4-H and Youth, April 23

1960

3

2

Talks: Annual Extension Conference

1952-1957

3

3

Talks: Annual Extension Conference

1958-1973

3

4

Talks: College of Agriculture Convocation, September 1

1972

3

5

Talks: "Education by Design," ISU Commencement February 23

1974

3

6

Talks: Extension

1959-1965, undated

3

7

Talks: Missouri Valley Adult Education Association Conference, April 25

1968

3

8

Talks: North Central Farm Management Workshop, May 10

1967

3

9

Talks: Roundtable on Industry and Extension Trends, October 18

1968

3

10

Talks: University Extension Convocation

1968

3

11

University Extension: General Articles

1961-1964

3

12

University Extension News Clippings

1953-1966, undated

3

13

University Extension News Clippings: Anderson Booklet 1, "A Changing Scene Extension"

1963-1969

3

14

University Extension News Clippings: Anderson Booklet 1, "Financing"

1964-1965

3

15

University Extension News Clippings: Anderson Booklet 1, "Misc"

1963-1968

3

16

University Extension News Clippings: Anderson Booklet 1, "R.A.D."

1962-1967

3

17

University Extension News Clippings: Anderson Notebook 2

1969-1974, undated