Banker and philanthropist Rollo H. Bergeson (1911-1993) was one of the principal architects of the plan to develop Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa, one of the first such endeavors in the United States. Bergeson also donated a 26 acre tract that later became part of Living History Farms. This collection contains legal documents, correspondence, conceptual sketches for Interstate Farms, newspaper clippings, descriptions of the various efforts undertaken to purchase the land for Living History Farms; and photographs. The collection documents the creation of Living History Farms and its predecessor, a project Bergeson called Interstate Farms.

Banker and philanthropist Rollo H. Bergeson was born February 23, 1911. A native of Sioux City, Iowa, he lived most of his life in Des Moines. Bergeson graduated from the University of South Dakota and from Duke University Law School.

He was one of the principal architects of the plan to develop Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa, one of the first such endeavors in the United States. Bergeson also donated a 26-acre tract that later became part of Living History Farms.

Rollo Bergeson died April 6, 1993.

The collection (1965-1989, undated) documents the creation of Living History Farms and its predecessor, a project Bergeson called Interstate Farms. The collection includes legal documents; correspondence with various investors and participants, including Iowa State University professor and politician William G. Murray; conceptual sketches for Interstate Farms; and newspaper clippings. It also contains descriptions of the various efforts undertaken to purchase the land for Living History Farms. The collection also includes photographs of the site and of Bergeson and Murray together. Also included is information about land that Bergeson donated to the Girl Scouts.

For related material about Living History Farms, see RS 13/9/15, William G. Murray Papers.

The collection is arranged alphabetically.