The Soil and Water Conservation Society is involved in the conservation and preservation of soil, water, and wildlife environments. This collection contains bound speeches, articles, notes of administrators and other soil conservation researchers, and photographs. Photographs are of key officers in the Soil and Water Conservation Society, awards ceremonies, visits to foreign countries, and other events. Walter Lowdermilk's memoir Soil, Forest, and Water Conservation - China, Israel, Africa, United States is also included in this collection.

Founded in 1943, the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is a nonprofit scientific and educational society involved in the conservation and preservation of soil, water, and related natural resources on working land (land used for agricultural purposes). The society works "to discover, develop, implement, and constantly improve ways to use land that sustains its productive capacity and enhances the environment at the same time" (for more on the society's mission, see its website: http://www.swcs.org). Members of the society are instrumental in research and development of legislation passed concerning soil and water conservation. SWCS is based in Ankeny, Iowa.

This collection (1931-1982, undated) contains speeches, articles, and notes of administrators and other soil conservation researchers, and photographs. The photographs depict key officers in the Soil and Water Conservation Society, awards ceremonies, visits to foreign countries, and other memorable Society events. The majority of the collection is in bound volumes.

Walter Lowdermilk's memoir, Soil, Forest, and Water Conservation - China, Israel, Africa, United States, was removed from the collection and added to the Special Collections' rare book collection. The book can be found by searching the library's search system.

Collections related to the Soil and Water Conservation Society's Records include:

• Hugh Hammond Bennett Papers (MS-164)
• Iowa Soil Conservation Districts (MS-264)
• Little Sioux Watershed Records (MS-106)
• National Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MS-460)
• United States Soil Conservation Service Oral History Collection (MS-198)
• United States Soil Conservation Service Photograph Collection (MS-179)
• State Soil Conservation Committee (Iowa) Newspaper Scrapbooks (MS-497)
• Wallis R. Tonsfeld Papers (MS-558)
• United States Soil Conservation Service Hydrologic Laboratory (Spartanburg, South Carolina) Nursery and Research Album (MS-180)