Robert L. ("Bob") Skinner was born on 31 January 1924 in Mt. Ayr, Iowa, to Glen and Velta Skinner. After graduation from Mt. Ayr High School, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

He received his B.S. (1949) and M.S (1954) from Iowa State College (University). He was an instructor in farm operations (1951-1952) and animal husbandry and farm operations (1952-1958) at Iowa State. He also worked for E.A. Milligan and Son Feed and Supply Company in the 1950s. Most of his career was spent as Executive President (1957-1989) of the Iowa Grain and Feed Association and Executive Vice President (1957-1989) of the Iowa Seed Association.

He was active and held positions in many organizations, including president of the Iowa Society of Association Executives, director of the American Society of Association Executives, chairman of the Governor's Vocational-Technical Education Advisory Committee in Iowa, president of the Iowa 4-H Foundation, director of the Iowa State Memorial Union, and chairman of the Dean's Advisory Committee for the College of Agriculture.

He received numerous awards and honors during his career, including the Key Award and Award of Merit for Management Achievement from the American Society of Association Executives, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Iowa Vocational Association, and the Floyd Andre Award for Distinguished Service to Iowa Agriculture from Iowa State University. He was active in Farmhouse fraternity and was named a Master Builder of Men. In 2000 he was inducted into the Iowa 4-H Foundation Honor Court.

His first wife Joy Joan ("Chad") Skinner died in 1982. They had two sons, Ned L. and Tam H., and one daughter, Lee Ann Comegys. His second wife was Mary Johnson, and this marriage brought him one stepdaughter, Linda Morsheimer, and a stepson, Ron Liljegren.

Robert L. Skinner died on 8 February 2004.

The collection (1955-2004, n.d.) contains biographical information, copies of the Iowa Seed Association Bulletin, and contents of a binder from the E.A. Milligan and Son Feed and Supply Company. The binder contents include product information about various brands of feed, fertilizer, equipment, and other products sold by the firm. It also contains monthly newsletters to customers, customer testimonials, and internal communications to sales agents.

For related material, see MS 554, Iowa Grain and Feed Association Records.

The collection is organized alphabetically.