Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
RS 21/7/15
George Andrew Heikins (1902-1976)
Papers, 1902-1977
creator: | Heikens, George Andrew (1902-1976) |
title: | Papers |
dates: | 1902-1976 |
extent: | 0.84 linear feet (1 document box and one shoe box) |
collection number: | RS 21/7/15 |
repository: | University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
access: | Open for research |
publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
preferred citation: | George Andrew Heikens Papers, RS 21/7/15, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
George Andrew Heikens was born on February 9, 1902, in Grundy County, near the town of Spencer, Iowa. He attended rural schools and graduated from Spencer High School (1919) in Spencer, Iowa. Heikens received a two-year certificate in Agriculture (1921) and a BS in Agricultural Economics (1927) from Iowa State College (University). During the 1920s, he farmed and raised hogs with his father, Isaac George Heikens, Sr., on a farm near Spencer, Iowa. In 1930 and 1931, Heikens was employed by the by the State Hog Farms Corporation, or Svinovod, in the Soviet Union. He assisted in a hog breeding program designed to produce purebred swine for distribution to farms throughout the Soviet Union. He also oversaw projects in the construction of swine housing and nutrition. While living near Moscow, he wrote frequent letters home that were occasionally published in the local newspapers. After his one-year contract expired, Heikens returned home by way of Siberia, traveling on the Trans-Siberian Railway, and he made stops in Japan, the Philippines, Honolulu, and San Francisco. Upon his return, Heikens resumed farming with his father and also worked as an administrator for federal agricultural programs in Iowa. He initially served as a district supervisor for the Rural Resettlement Administration. Then, in 1939, Heikens became the Iowa State Tenant Purchase Specialist, and in 1941, became the director of the Iowa Farm Security Administration (later the Farm Home Administration). He continued to farm near Spencer throughout his life. Heikens married Vivian Gordon in 1940. They had three children, George, Mary, and Barbara. Heikens died on April 20, 1976. |
This collection contains materials related to Heikens' employment by the State Hog Farms Corporation (or Svinovod) in Moscow, U.S.S.R., in 1930 and 1931. Materials include an employment contract, correspondence, reports written by Heikens, news clippings in English and Russian, photographs, and negatives. |
The collection is arranged in alphabetical order. |
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Biographical material |
1902-1977, n.d. |
1 |
2 |
Contract with State Hog Farms Corporation (Svinovod) in Moscow, U.S.S.R. |
1930 |
1 |
6 |
Correspondence from Carl Zoeb |
1933 |
1 |
4 |
Correspondence home while en route to Soviet Union |
1930 |
1 |
5 |
Correspondence home while living in the Soviet Union |
1930-1931 |
1 |
7 |
Correspondence with Svinovod Trust |
1930-1931 |
1 |
7 |
Correspondence: Letters of introduction to individuals in the Soviet Union |
1930 |
1 |
8 |
Negatives for photographs of Russia |
1930-1931 |
1 |
9 |
Negatives for photographs of Russia with no corresponding prints |
1930-1931 |
1 |
10 |
News clippings |
1930-1938 |
1 |
11 |
News clippings from Soviet newspapers |
1930 |
1 |
12 |
Observations of the Soviet Union by George Heikens |
1931 |
1 |
13 |
Photographs of Russia |
1930-1931 |
1 |
14 |
Photographs of Russia |
1930-1931 |
1 |
15 |
Reports to the SVINOVOD Trust regarding the Rodomanovo, Partcheestoyo, and Achkassov farms |
1931-1931 |
1 |
16 |
Rodomanovo farm workman's meeting minutes |
1930 |
1 |
17 |
Swine Breeding Zoological Institute of Moscow: lecture notes, course outline, and correspondence |
1930 |
2 |
1-43 |
Lantern slides from Russia |
n.d. |