Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
MS 167
Richard Searl (1919-1989)
Papers, 1960-1978, undated
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Searl, Richard (1919-1989) |
| title: | Papers |
| dates: | 1960-1978, undated |
| extent: | 0.84 linear feet (2 document boxes) |
| collection number: | MS 167 |
| repository: | Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | Richard Searl Papers, MS 167, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Biographical note
The first outbreak of hog cholera was officially recorded in Ohio in 1833, though there were reports of its existence in Indiana in 1830. From that time until the declaration on January 31, 1978 that the U.S. was hog cholera-free, many millions of dollars were lost in the hog industry due to the disease. As early as 1880, losses were estimated at $10 to $25 million annually. Even with vaccination, hog cholera outbreaks persisted, and in 1956, principles for eradication were set out by the U.S. Livestock Sanitary Commission. The following year, Livestock Conservation, Inc. appointed a steering committee to develop plans for industry participation in the eradication effort. Federal funding for a cooperative federal-state program began in 1963. In 1964, goals set by Livestock Conservation, Inc., and endorsed by other groups called for an elimination of outbreaks by 1969, and a cholera-free nation by 1972. Unfortunately, though much progress had been made by 1972, a large outbreak beginning in the southeast resulted in the declaration of a national emergency. Outbreaks continued with decreasing frequency, and the last case was reported August 1, 1976. In the course of the fight against the hog cholera virus, controversy developed over the use of modified live virus vaccines and killed vaccines (Crystal Violet). Many attributed hog cholera outbreaks to the use of these vaccines and a ban on their use was put into effect in 1969. Much of the material in this collection relates to this controversy. Richard Searl spent thirteen years as a practicing veterinarian in southwest Iowa and later became a veterinary consultant for Fort Dodge Laboratories. He served on the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association's Hog Cholera Eradication Committee as well as the Iowa Hog Cholera Eradication Committee. In the course of the fight against the hog cholera virus, controversy developed over the use of modified live virus vaccines and killed vaccines. Many attributed hog cholera outbreaks to the use of these vaccines and a ban on their use was put into effect in 1969. |
Collection description
The materials in this collection resulted from Searl's involvement with the fight against hog cholera (especially the controversy over vaccines) and include Congressional testimony, correspondence, memoranda, publications, and reports. Correspondents include W. J. Mendenhall, Keith Myers, and D. A. Peterson. The collection contains the following materials: Congressional testimony, committee files, correspondence, meetings materials, news clippings, notes, presentations, procedures, publications, reports, and statistics. |
Related materials
The Department of Special Collections holds a number of collections with materials relating to hog cholera. These are listed below. There are also pamphlets, cataloged in the Rare Book Collection, which can be located using the subject heading, "Hog Cholera." An especially useful book, Hog Cholera and its Eradication: a Review of the U.S. Experience can be found in both the Rare Book Collection and the General Collection, call number SF973.H63x. |
Organization
The collection is organized alphabetically. |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Congressional Testimony: Testimony regarding hog cholera eradication, hog cholera vaccines, and indemnity programs |
1970, undated |
1 |
2 |
Committees: Midwest Veterinary Practitioners Hog Cholera Eradication Committee. File includes a news release, reports, and minutes of the first meeting. |
1967, undated |
1 |
3 |
Committees: National Hog Cholera Committee of Livestock Conservation, Inc. Includes minutes and reports of meetings |
1960-1969 |
1 |
4 |
Committees: National Hog Cholera Committee of Livestock Conservation, Inc. Proceedings |
1965, 1967 |
1 |
5 |
Committees: National Hog Cholera Committee of Livestock Conservation, Inc. Progress Reports |
1965, 1967 |
1 |
6 |
Committees: USDA National Hog Cholera Eradication Committee. News release and reports |
1963-1969 |
1 |
7 |
Correspondence: American Veterinary Medical Association |
1968-1969 |
1 |
8 |
Correspondence: Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association |
1969 |
1 |
9 |
Correspondence: Indiana Veterinary Medical Association |
1969 |
1 |
10 |
Correspondence: Iowa Veterinary Medical Association |
1967-1969 |
1 |
11 |
Correspondence: Nebraska Hog Cholera Eradication Program |
1967-1968, undated |
1 |
12 |
Correspondence: Searle, Richard. Correspondents include C. H. Mannasmith, W. J. Mendenhall, Keith Myers, D.A. Peterson, William J. Scherle, M. J. Tillery, and Guy H. Williams |
1965-1969. |
1 |
13 |
Correspondence: USDA memoranda regarding the Hog Cholera Eradication Program |
1965-1969 |
1 |
14 |
Correspondence: Summary of a workshop on hog cholera vaccines held in Sioux City, Iowa |
1965 circa |
1 |
15 |
Correspondence: Notes taken at U.S. Animal Health Association Hog Cholera Committee meeting held in Columbus, Ohio. June 13 |
1969 |
1 |
16 |
News clippings regarding hog cholera. |
1961-1966 |
1 |
17 |
News clippings regarding hog cholera |
1967 |
1 |
18 |
News clippings regarding hog cholera |
1968-1978 |
1 |
19 |
News clippings regarding hog cholera |
undated |
1 |
20 |
Notes on cost of the Hog Cholera Eradication Program |
undated |
1 |
21 |
Notes on hog cholera eradication report published in the National Hog Farmer |
1968 |
1 |
22 |
Notes on hog cholera outbreaks and relationships to vaccine use |
1969 circa, undated |
1 |
23 |
Notes on hog cholera vaccine |
1960-1966, undated |
1 |
24 |
Presentations: Searle, Richard. Presentations regarding hog cholera vaccines |
1964-1968, undated |
2 |
1 |
Presentations: Stiles, George C. "Transportation,” regarding movement of livestock |
1969 |
2 |
2 |
Presentations: Yeager, Charles. Presentation made by hog producer at a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Clifford Hardin. After cholera was discovered in some of his livestock, 5,681 of Yeager's feeder pigs were killed under Phase III of the Hog Cholera Eradication Program |
1969 |
2 |
3 |
Procedures: "Depopulation Procedures." |
undated |
2 |
4 |
Procedures: "Guidelines for Voluntary Supervised Swine Herds." These guidelines were designed to limit the spread of hog cholera. |
1969 |
2 |
5 |
Procedures: "Phase III: Reduction of Incidence." |
1969 |
2 |
6 |
Procedures: "Phase III: Elimination of Outbreaks." |
1969 |
2 |
7 |
Publications: Iowa Department of Agriculture. Hog Cholera Eradication Program Summaries. |
1966 |
2 |
8 |
Publications: Iowa Veterinarian. Vol. 39, Nos. 3 and 6. |
1968 |
2 |
0 |
Publications: "Standard Requirement for Hog Cholera Vaccine." |
1960, 1966 |
2 |
10 |
Publications: USDA news releases |
1964-1969 |
2 |
11 |
Publications: USDA Agricultural Research Service. Cooperative State-Federal Hog Cholera Eradication Highlights. Nos. 1-2, 5-7 |
1968-1969 |
2 |
12 |
Publications: USDA Agricultural Research Service. Cooperative State-Federal Hog Cholera Eradication Progress Report |
1963-1967 |
2 |
13 |
Publications: USDA Agricultural Research Service. Quarterly Report of Hog Cholera Outbreaks |
1967-1968 |
2 |
14 |
Publications: USDA Agricultural Research Service. Report to the Congress of the United States: Need to Strengthen Use of Modified Live Virus in the Hog Cholera Eradication Program |
1967 |
2 |
15 |
Reports |
1966-1969, undated |
2 |
16 |
Reports by Richard C. Searl |
1965-1969, undated |
2 |
17 |
Statistics regarding hog cholera eradication in Georgia |
1964-1968 |
2 |
18 |
Statistics |
1964-1969 |