Douglas Helms, Historian for the Soil Conservation Service, conducted a series of oral history interviews in 1981. The subjects of the interviews were all long-time employees of the Soil Conservation Service. Some had started with the Soil Erosion Service under the Department of the Interior before it was transferred to the United States Department of Agriculture and renamed the Soil Conservation Service in 1935.

This collection (1981) consists of bound transcripts of interviews conducted by the Soil Conservation Service, and photographs. Each interview is preceded by a biography of the interviewee. The biographical descriptions below are condensed from these. Some photographs of interviewees are also included.

Wayne W. Austin's career with the Soil Conservation Service began in 1935. He worked in Colorado, Nebraska, Washington, D.C., and California until his retirement in 1965. The interview describes the beginnings of soil conservation work in Colorado and the conservation problems encountered in the Mediterranean climate of California. Interview took place September 7, 1981.

Robert C. Baum's career with the Soil Conservation Service began in 1949 with the Clackamas County Production and Marketing Association. He worked in Oregon with several conservation organizations. The interview concerns the difficulties in organizing conservation districts in Oregon, partly due to conflict between the Soil Conservation Service and Extension. There is also discussion of the conservation needs in Oregon and the gains by the SCS there. Interview took place September 11, 1981.

Roche D. Bush began working with the Soil Conservation Service in 1944 in Idaho. He worked in California taking several different conservation positions until his retirement in 1979. The interview deals primarily with range management in the West. Interview took place September 16, 1981.

William B. Davey joined the Soil Conservation Service in 1939 in Alabama. He continued working in Arkansas and Washington, D.C. until he retired in 1975. The interview covers watershed work in Arkansas, and the effect of national legislation (mostly the National Environmental Policy Act) on the work of the Soil Conservation Service. The interview took place April 16, 1981.

David W. Dresbach began work with the Soil Conservation Service in 1936 in New Mexico. After that he primarily worked in California and eventually became the Field Representative for northern California. He remained there until 1968 when the position was eliminated. The interview deals primarily with the difficulties encountered establishing conservation districts in California. The interview took place September 7, 1981.

Oke Eckholm joined the Soil Conservation Service as an agronomist in 1937. He worked in California and Oregon on many projects such as the Ukiah Demonstration Project, until his retirement in 1973. The interview includes a discussion of Eckholm's early work in California and also touches on the planting done at the Warrentown Dune area in Oregon. Eckholm points out that watersheds in Oregon were often developed where serious flood problems existed. The interview took place September 14, 1981.

Raymond W. Heinen became Assistant to the Administrator of Soil Conservation Service in 1951. He continued working in different positions until he retired in 1973. The interview discusses how relations with Congress were developed and the various administrators of the Soil Conservation Service for whom he worked. Interview took place March 13, 1981.

William Johnson joined the Regional Soil Survey Inspector's staff in Nebraska in 1946. At the time, the Soil Survey was under the USDA Bureau of Plant Industry but it was eventually merged with the Soil Conservation Service Soil Survey function. Johnson worked his way up the ladder for over 35 years until he retired in 1980. In the interview, Johnson explains how and why the two Soil Surveys were merged and discusses changes in the soil classification system over time. Interview took place September 12, 1981.

Verle G. Kaiser began working with the Soil Erosion Service in 1934 and continued to work on various projects including the South Fork Demonstration Project in states such as Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. His work was later restricted to Washington. Kaiser is regarded as an expert on the conservation problems in the Palouse River Valley of southeastern Washington and northwestern Idaho. The interview discusses the erosion problems he encountered during his career in the northeast and the solutions that were developed. Interview took place September 17, 1981.

Lee T. Morgan began working with the Soil Conservation Service as a student trainee in 1935. He worked in several states including Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Kansas, and Washington, D.C. He retired in 1973. This interview covers the efforts to get state conservation acts passed, methods of achieving farmer participation, and legislation for financial assistance to the districts. Also mentioned is the outstanding work in Iowa of Clay C. Barnett, whose papers are held by the Department (Manuscript Collection MS-24). Interview took place September 21-22, 1981.

Merrit V. "Penny" Penwell joined the Soil Erosion Service in 1935. He worked several jobs in Civilian Conservation Corps camps and later worked in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. He retired in 1964. The interview discuses his work with Civilian Conservation Corps camps and the structures and plants which were used in sand dune stabilization. Interview took place September 12, 1981.

Ervin L. Peterson worked in Oregon as a judge and Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture until 1954. He then became the USDA Assistant Secretary for Federal-State Relations. In this position he had jurisdiction over the Soil Conservation Service. In 1966 he left government and worked in conservation until his retirement in 1975. In this interview, Peterson discusses the origins of the Great Plains Conservation Program and other programs implemented while he was in charge of the Soil Conservation Service. Interview took place September 9, 1981.

John T. "Jack" Phelan joined the Soil Conservation Service as a Technical Supervisor of Civilian Conservation Corps camps in Hebron, Nebraska. While he spent most of his career in Nebraska, he also worked in India and Washington, D.C. before retiring in 1974. This interview deals with the Case-Wheeler projects, the problems Phelan encountered with dams built as WPA projects, the formation of soil conservation districts in Nebraska, and his work in foreign countries. Interview took place August 2, 1982.

Theodore P. Plair worked for the USDA and National Park Service before joining the Soil Conservation Service in Santa Paula, California. He worked in Oregon, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C. From 1965 until his retirement two years later, Plair was the USDA's representative on the Strip Mine Commission. This interview discusses soil classification and its relationship to good forest management, as well as the development of the D+ (diameter plus) system for spacing trees. Interview took place September 8, 1981.

William J. Ralston joined the Soil Conservation Service in 1935 as a college trainee in Nebraska. He worked as a surveyor then later joined the watershed staff of the national office. After a brief stint of working on the staffs of Congressmen and Senators, he returned to the Soil Conservation Service and worked there until his retirement in 1974. The interview covers Ralston's early work in the planning and development of watersheds and his responsibilities in the national office relating to the Service's interaction with Congress. Interview took place May 6, 1981.

John L. Schwendiman worked with the Soil Erosion Service before it was taken over by the Soil Conservation Service. He continued to work in the Soil Conservation Service Nursery for many years. Later he served as Plant Specialist for northern Idaho, eastern Oregon, and Alaska until he retired in 1976. The interview covers all the aspects of the plant introductions process at the Plant Materials Center, the collection and production of seed, improvements in equipment used for grass planting, the improved varieties developed at Pullman and the steps for registration of new plants. The interview took place September 19, 1981.

William R. Van Dersal joined the Soil Erosion Service in 1935 and served in a number of different positions including Chief of Operations in Portland, Oregon and Deputy Administrator for Management in the national office, where he remained until his retirement in 1972. The interview covers personnel policies of the Soil Conservation Service, promotion from within, minority recruitment and the high employee retention rate. Van Dersal also discusses the erosion problem in the Palouse area of Washington and Idaho and some of his accomplishments in Hawaii while he was Regional Chief of Operations in Portland. Interview took place February 5, 1981.

Austin D. Warnken joined the Soil Conservation Service in 1937, working as an agronomist. He worked in California before and after army service until he retired in 1974. The interview deals with the activities of the Soil Conservation Service in California throughout his career. Interview took place September 9, 1981.

Donald A. Williams joined the Soil Conservation Service in 1935 as superintendent of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in South Dakota. He worked in Washington, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington D.C. before he was appointed Administrator of the Soil Conservation Service in 1953. He retired from that position in 1969. Williams was a pioneer in development of conservation irrigation practices in the Pacific Northwest. In the interview, he discusses what he views as the successes in that area. He regards the development and introduction of conservation plant materials as the Service's primary achievement. Also covered are concerns from Williams' time in the national office, including reorganization, the transfer of Soil Conservation Service research to the Agricultural Research Service, the development of the Small Watershed Progream and the National Inventory of Conservation Needs. Interview took place May 26, June 2, and June 14, 1981.

Hollis R. Williams joined the Soil Erosion Service as Chief Clerk of the East Cadron Creek Demonstration Project in Conway, Arkansas. He continued to work in Texas and Arkansas until he went to the national office as Field Representative for the Southeast. He also worked heavily with watersheds and was appointed Deputy Administrator for Watersheds in 1959. His responsibilities included the Small Watershed Program and the representation of the USDA on the Water Resources Council and other inter-agency groups. He retired in 1972. In the interview, he discusses his philosophy about watersheds and chronicles the development of the Small Watershed Program while it was under his jurisdiction and makes suggestions for possible improvements. Interview took place June 20 and 25, 1981.

Leonard R. Wohletz joined the Soil Erosion Service in 1934. He worked in California, Nevada, and Oregon and was named State Soil Scientist in 1955. In 1968, he became Assistant to the State Conservationist. Wohletz retired in 1971. In this interview, he discusses changes in the Soil Survey through the years, land use planning and the Conservation Needs Inventory. He also touches on the difficulties inherent in California, with its wide ranging climate and soil capabilities. Interview took place on September 10, 1981.

Gordon K. Zimmerman worked as a reporter before joining the Soil Conservation Service as an information specialist in 1935. By the time he left the Service in 1950, he was in charge of all its public information functions. In 1958, the National Association of Soil Conservation Districts established a national office and Zimmerman was named Executive Director. In the interview, he discusses some of the personalities he encountered while with the Soil Conservation Service, most notable Hugh Bennett (head of the SCS, 1935-1952) for whom he wrote speeches. He also discusses the early demonstration projects as well as the problems the Soil Conservation Service encountered with the Extension Service and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Finally, he explains the development of the National Association of Soil Conservation Districts. Interview took place on February 18 and 27, 1981.

One other interview from this project is available in the Department. The transcript of Earl Bressman, a 1920 graduate of Iowa State, and can be found in his papers (Earl N. Bressman Papers, RS 9/9/53).

The Department holds numerous collections related to soil conservation efforts in Iowa and the United States including:

• National Association of Conservation Districts Records (MS 460)
• Soil Science Society of America Records (MS 567)
• Hugh Hammond Bennett Papers (MS 64)
• Iowa Soil Conservation District Records (MS 294)
• State Soil Conservation Committee (Iowa) Newspaper Scrapbooks (MS 497)