Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
MS 372
Edith and Torsten Lagerstrom
Papers, 1831-1992, undated
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Lagerstrom, Edith and Torsten |
| title: | Papers |
| dates: | 1931-1992, undated |
| extent: | 21.37 linear feet (15 document boxes, 1 half-document box, 1 oversize box) |
| collection number: | MS 372 |
| repository: | Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | Edith and Torsten Lagerstrom Papers, MS 372, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Abstract
Torsten and Edith Lagerstrom were Angus cattle breeders from Burt, Iowa, and pioneers in breeding record systems. Their system included methods of tracking breeding plans, breeding implementation, calving records, weaning records, and sire progeny. The collection (1831-1992, undated) contains both personal and business papers including biographical information, correspondence, daily diaries, financial data, memorabilia, cattle breeding data, financial records, publications and reference materials, crop plans and reports, presentation, cattle breeding data, and publications. The collection documents Edith and Torsten Lagerstroms' business and personal life on Toreby Farms in Burt, Iowa; their retirement years in Green Valley, Arizona; and their extensive cattle breeding business in Iowa and Nebraska. |
Biographical note
Torsten and Edith Lagerstrom were Angus cattle breeders from Burt, Iowa, and pioneers in breeding record systems. Their system included methods of tracking breeding plans, breeding implementation, calving records, weaning records, and sire progeny. Torsten Lagerstrom was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on September 4, 1906. He was educated in Europe, a graduate of an agricultural school in Pomerania. Torsten attended Iowa State College from the Fall Quarter of 1945 to the Winter Quarter of 1946 as a special student in agriculture. Upon completion of service in the Swedish Army, he was involved in industrial production and market development with the International Nickel Company until the end of World War II. Edith Diemer Lagerstrom was born in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, on October 9, 1908. She moved to Omaha as a small child after the death of her father. After graduating from Brownell Hall, a private high school in Omaha, Nebraska, Edith attended Northwestern University, Omaha University, and New Jersey Women's College. She also attended Iowa State from the Fall Quarter of 1945 to the Winter Quarter of 1946 as a special student in agriculture. Torsten and Edith met while Edith attended Northwestern University, and they were married in New York in 1929. After World War II, they moved to Burt, Iowa, where they established Toreby Farms. The name Toreby was derived from 'Tor', for Torsten; 'E', for Edith; and 'By' is Scandinavian for 'home of'. As a result of Edith's inheritance from her mother, Anna C. Juckniess, the Lagerstroms were also landowners in Algona, Iowa, and Blair, Nebraska. The Lagerstroms' cattle breeding business had its roots in a visit that Edith made to Mason City, Iowa in 1947 to purchase a sprayer part. While waiting, she attended an Angus auction and bought six heifers. The Lagerstroms instituted a systematic method of breeding for specific characteristics in their cattle. As a result, Toreby cattle were enrolled in Performance Registry International. Toreby Farms produced three Certified Meat Sires: Blackcap of Toreby, Black Tor, and Toreby Marshall The Lagerstroms were charter members of the Iowa Beef Improvement Association. From 1959 to 1965 Torsten served on the Association's board, and as the second president of the Association. Torsten and Edith sold their cattle breeding business to Pioneer Hi-Bred Seed Corn Company in 1966. Their herd was kept intact for another ten years. In 1976, the entire cattle breeding and marketing programs of Pioneer were terminated. In November 1966 Torsten and Edith moved to Green Valley, Arizona. Torsten died on February 14, 1992, and Edith died on April 3, 1996. |
Collection description
The collection (1831-1992, undated) contains both personal and business papers including biographical information, correspondence, daily diaries, financial data, memorabilia, cattle breeding data, financial records, publications and reference materials, crop plans and reports, presentation, cattle breeding data, and publications. The collection documents Edith and Torsten Lagerstroms' business and personal life on Toreby Farms in Burt, Iowa; their retirement years in Green Valley, Arizona; and their extensive cattle breeding business in Iowa and Nebraska. Biographical information includes publications and new clippings about the Lagerstroms and their work in the area of cattle breeding. The correspondence, produced by both Edith and Torsten, consists of letters between family and friends. The majority of this section is correspondence with Corazon Farms in Texas. Memorabilia includes assorted awards, Torsten's daily journal from 1925 to 1929, a 60th Class Reunion Directory from Northwestern University, portions of English themes written by Edith, and a mechanical slide rule with German markings. The Financial data consists of personal receipts and Edith's mother's will. Edith's hardbound daily diaries, inclusive from June 1945 to April 1987, document their years on Toreby Farms in Burt, Iowa, through their retirement in Green Valley, Arizona. The entries in the diaries include weather and climate conditions, personal health details and concerns, and social life on the farm. Also documented are details on calving, livestock breeding and feeding, veterinary care, and day-to-day farm management. The business records include correspondence, breeding data, financial records, publications, reference materials, crops plans and reports, presentations, and photographs. The correspondence includes materials written by Edith and Torsten. Correspondents include: Curtiss Breeding Service, customers, Iowa breeders, Iowa State University, Iowa State University Extension Service, and Performance Registry International. The cattle breeding data includes applications for entry in Performance Registry International, cattle registrations, individual bull data, meat sire awards, performance pedigrees, and progeny testing. Financial records deal with the sale of bulls to other breeders, sales contracts, budgets, and travel expenses. Publications and reference materials cover farming practices, farm management, and livestock management. Crop plans and reports document the Lagerstroms' farms in Iowa (Toreby Farms) and Nebraska (Poco Penny Ranch Trust and unidentified farms). Presentations about beef cattle production and record keeping were composed by both of the Lagerstroms. The presentations were given to various cattle breeding organizations, and the High School Vocational Agricultural Department at Estherville, Iowa. The collection also includes photographs of the Lagerstroms' personal life, prize bulls, and business activities. |
Organization
The collection is organized into two series: |
Description of series
| Series 1 | Personal Papers |
1950-1990, undated |
| extent: | 4 linear feet |
|
| description: | This series contains biographical information, personal correspondence, personal financial records, a journal and daily diaries documenting the Lagerstrom's personal life. The biographical information, journals and diaries, however, also include references to the Lagerstroms' business. |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Biographical: New clippings (contains some biographical information) |
1950-1990 |
1 |
2 |
Biographical: Publication - The Iowan, August-September |
1958 |
1 |
3 |
Biographical: Excerpt from Courageous Cattlemen by Robert C. deBaca |
1989 |
1 |
4 |
Correspondence: Christmas Cards |
1975-1988, undated |
1 |
5 |
Correspondence: Corazon Ranch (Alvis and Hazel Belcher) |
1961-1965 |
1 |
6 |
Correspondence: Edith |
1928-1965 |
1 |
7 |
Correspondence: Personal |
1926-1955 |
1 |
8 |
Correspondence: Address Books (two) |
undated |
1 |
9 |
Correspondence: Christmas Lists |
1963 circa |
1 |
10 |
Memorabilia: Personal Memorabilia - Award Brass Plate |
1965 circa |
1 |
11 |
Memorabilia: Personal Memorabilia - Daily Journal (Torsten) |
1925-1929 |
1 |
13 |
Memorabilia: Award Certificates |
1921-1963 |
1 |
14 |
Memorabilia: Class of 1928 - Northwestern University 60th Reunion Directory |
1988 |
1 |
15 |
Memorabilia: English Themes by Edith (Incomplete) |
1924 |
1 |
16 |
Memorabilia: Lawyers' Credentials |
undated |
1 |
18 |
Finances: Personal Financial Papers |
1960-1990 |
1 |
12 |
Finances: Will of Anna C. Juckniess (Edith's Mother) |
1971 |
1 |
19 |
German Mechanical Sliderule |
undated |
2 |
1 |
Daily Diaries, June 23, 1945 to Feb. 10, 1948 |
1945-1948 |
2 |
2 |
Daily Diaries, Feb. 12, 1948 to Dec. 6, 1949 |
1948-1949 |
2 |
3 |
Daily Diaries, Jan. to Sep. 1950 to 1952 |
1950-1952 |
2 |
4 |
Daily Diaries, Sep. to Dec. 1950 to 1952 |
1950-1952 |
2 |
5 |
Daily Diaries, May 19, 1953 to Jan 25, 1955 |
1953-1955 |
3 |
1 |
Daily Diaries, Jan. 26, 1955 to June 6, 1956 |
1955-1956 |
3 |
2 |
Daily Diaries, June 7, 1956 to Oct. 19, 1957 |
1956-1957 |
3 |
3 |
Daily Diaries, April 8, 1958 to Aug. 23, 1959 |
1958-1959 |
4 |
1 |
Daily Diaries, Aug. 24, 1959 to June 15, 1960 |
1959-1960 |
4 |
2 |
Daily Diaries, June 21, 1960 to April 16, 1961 |
1960-1961 |
4 |
3 |
Daily Diaries, April 17, 1961 to Jan. 12, 1962 |
1961-1962 |
4 |
4 |
Daily Diaries, Jan. 13, 1962 to May 26, 1963 |
1962-1963 |
5 |
1 |
Daily Diaries, May 27, 1963 to Oct. 7, 1964 |
1963-1964 |
5 |
2 |
Daily Diaries, Oct. 8, 1964 to Feb. 19, 1966 |
1964-1966 |
5 |
3 |
Daily Diaries, Feb. 20, 1966 to April 29, 1968 |
1966-1968 |
6 |
1 |
Daily Diaries, May 9, 1968 to Sep. 22, 1969 |
1968-1969 |
6 |
2 |
Daily Diaries, Sep. 23, 1969 to Feb. 4, 1971 |
1969-1971 |
6 |
3 |
Daily Diaries, Feb. 5, 1971 to June 16, 1972 |
1971-1972 |
7 |
1 |
Daily Diaries, June 17, 1972 to March 3, 1973 |
1972-1973 |
7 |
2 |
Daily Diaries, March 3, 1973 to July 7, 1974 |
1973-1974 |
7 |
3 |
Daily Diaries, July 8, 1974 to Nov. 18, 1975 |
1974-1975 |
7 |
4 |
Daily Diaries, Nov. 19, 1975 to Sep. 13, 1976 |
1975-1976 |
8 |
1 |
Daily Diaries, Sep. 14, 1976 to Feb. 12, 1977 |
1976-1977 |
8 |
2 |
Daily Diaries, Feb. 13, 1977 to July 27, 1978 |
1977-1978 |
8 |
3 |
Daily Diaries, July 28, 1978 to Dec. 26, 1978 |
1978 |
8 |
4 |
Daily Diaries, Dec. 27, 1978 to Aug. 26, 1980 |
1978-1980 |
9 |
1 |
Daily Diaries, Aug. 27, 1980 to April 5, 1982 |
1980-1982 |
10 |
1 |
Daily Diaries, April 28, 1982 to July 29, 1985 |
1982-1985 |
10 |
2 |
Daily Diaries, July 30, 1985 to April 1987 |
1985-1987 |
Description of series
| Series 2 | Business Records |
1831-1989, undated |
| extent: | 5.33 linear feet |
|
| description: | The business records include correspondence, breeding data, financial records, publications, reference materials, crops plans and reports, presentations, and photographs. Records document the Lagerstroms' farms in Iowa (Toreby Farms) and Nebraska (Poco Penny Ranch Trust and unidentified farms). |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
10 |
3 |
Correspondence: Performance Registry International |
1958-1965, undated |
10 |
4 |
Correspondence: Customers |
1966, undated |
10 |
5 |
Correspondence: Sale of Farm to Pioneer Hi-Bred Corn Company |
1965-1966 |
10 |
6 |
Correspondence: Performance Registry International |
1960-1966, undated |
10 |
7 |
Correspondence: Iowa State University |
1951-1965, undated |
11 |
1 |
Correspondence: Beckton Stock Farms |
1960-1965, undated |
11 |
2 |
Correspondence: University and Extension |
1958-1964 |
11 |
3 |
Correspondence: Miscellaneous |
1948-1958 |
11 |
4 |
Correspondence: Iowa Breeders |
1960-1965 |
11 |
5 |
Correspondence: Press, Radio, and Television |
1960-1966, undated |
11 |
6 |
Correspondence: Mailing Lists and Replies to Announcement of Change of Farm Ownership |
1966 |
11 |
7 |
Correspondence: Angus Herd |
1948-1965, undated |
11 |
8 |
Correspondence: Curtiss Breeding Service |
1960-1965 |
11 |
9 |
Correspondence: Pioneer Hi-Bred Company |
1962-1967, undated |
11 |
10 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Emperor of Douneside 7 -Application for Entry in Performance Registry International |
1956-1958 |
11 |
11 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Blackcap of Toreby - Application for Entry in Performance Registry International |
1956-1959 |
11 |
12 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Black Toreby - Application for Entry in Performance Registry International |
1959-1960 |
11 |
13 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Eileenmere Marshall of S.K. -Application for Entry in Performance Registry International |
1956-1960 |
11 |
14 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Patterson Bulls - T-152, T-252, T-692 |
1962 |
11 |
15 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Bulls, 1963, Available 1964, Records |
1963 |
11 |
16 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Curtiss Breeding - T-222 |
1963 |
11 |
17 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Curtiss Breeding - Bulls T-59, T-513, T-903 |
1963 |
11 |
18 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Heifers, 1963, for Eduardo Castillo - Guatemala |
1963 |
11 |
19 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Information on Bulls, 1964 |
1964 |
11 |
20 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Bulls, 1964 |
1964 |
11 |
21 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Midwest Genes: T-362 and T-412 |
1964 |
11 |
22 |
Cattle Breeding Data: T-683 Bull - Jore Anderson |
1965 |
11 |
23 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Maurice Eldridge - HFR T-283, HFR T-303 |
1965 |
11 |
24 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Dewit R. Mallory - Farmsco: Bull T-504 |
1966 |
12 |
1 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Black Tor - Certified Meat Sire PRI Award |
1952-1966, undated |
12 |
2 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Black Tor - Performance Registry International |
1965 |
12 |
3 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Toreby Marshall - Meat Sire Award |
1965-1966 |
12 |
4 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Research Data - Our Herd: Worksheets and Computer Printouts |
undated |
12 |
5 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Cow Herd and Calf Information Record |
1951-1961 |
12 |
6 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Cow Herd and Calf Information Record |
1959-1961 |
12 |
7 |
Cattle Breeding Data: American Angus Association - Calf Birth Information Data Sheets |
1962-1965 |
12 |
8 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Performance Pedigrees |
1964-1965 |
12 |
9 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Breeding Records |
1965 |
12 |
10 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Progeny Summary |
1965 |
12 |
11 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Toreby Farms - Breeding and Calving Records |
1965-1966 |
12 |
12 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Complete Sire Summary |
1966 |
12 |
13 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Manual of Performance Testing |
1962 |
12 |
14 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Performance Registry International |
1961-1964 |
12 |
15 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Performance Registry International |
1965 |
12 |
16 |
Cattle Breeding Data: IBIA Records |
1961-1964 |
12 |
17 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Cattle Registrations |
1959-1966 |
12 |
18 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Performance and Progeny Testing of Beef Cattle (1 of 2) |
1961-1965, undated |
12 |
19 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Performance and Progeny Testing of Beef Cattle (2 of 2) |
1961-1965, undated |
13 |
1 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Kossuth Fair 4-H Club Calves Ribeye Tracings |
1965 |
13 |
2 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Cattle Data and Ribeye Tracings |
1963-1968 |
13 |
3 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Beef Grading |
1956-1960 |
13 |
4 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Spring 1965 Bull Calves on Feed Test |
1965 |
13 |
5 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Official Production Records of Cattle - Publication: American Angus Association: Sire Progeny Summary |
1961-1963 |
13 |
6 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Lagerstrom's Livestock |
1950-1979 |
13 |
7 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Production Testing Records, One Ton Beef Club Certificates |
1964-1965 |
13 |
8 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Cattle Breeding Records |
1957 |
13 |
9 |
Cattle Breeding Data: Beef Carcass Evaluation |
1961-1963 |
13 |
10 |
Finances: Financial Record |
1891-1910 |
13 |
11 |
Finances: Sale of Bull (Pope III) to Powell Ranch in Texas |
1963 |
13 |
12 |
Finances: Sales Contracts |
1961-1964 |
13 |
13 |
Finances: Budgets |
1960 |
13 |
14 |
Publications and Reference Materials: Reference Materials |
1831 |
13 |
15 |
Publications and Reference Materials: Beef Cattle Publications |
1939-1965 |
13 |
16 |
Publications and Reference Materials: Farm Publications |
1949, undated |
13 |
17 |
Publications and Reference Materials: Cattle Publications |
1970 |
13 |
18 |
Publications and Reference Materials: Cold-Branding |
undated |
13 |
19 |
Publications and Reference Materials: Publications on Pastures |
1942-1950 |
13 |
20 |
Publications and Reference Materials: Cattle Waterers Information |
1950-1953 |
13 |
21 |
Publications and Reference Materials: Bunker Silo |
1954-1960 |
13 |
22 |
Publications and Reference Materials: Salt Mixes |
1956 |
13 |
23 |
Publications and Reference Materials: Bulk-O-Matic Instructions |
1958 |
13 |
24 |
Publications and Reference Materials: Insecticide Information |
1958-1964 |
13 |
25 |
Cattle Feeding Information - Includes Publications by Iowa State University Cooperative Extension Service |
1960-1964 |
13 |
26 |
Publications and Reference Materials: Better Beef Business, vol. 5, no. 5 |
1964 |
13 |
27 |
Publications and Reference Materials: On-Farm Performance Testing |
1962 |
14 |
1 |
Publications and Reference Materials: Performance Testing Reference Material |
1954-1964 |
14 |
2 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Nebraska Farms - Financial Records |
1974-1976 |
14 |
3 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Nebraska Farms - Crop Plans and Reports |
1974-1976 |
14 |
4 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Poco Penny Ranch Trust - Crop Plans and Reports (1 of 3) |
1987-1988 |
14 |
5 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Poco Penny Ranch Trust - Crop Plans and Reports (2 of 3) |
1987-1988 |
14 |
6 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Poco Penny Ranch Trust - Crop Plans and Reports (3 of 3) |
1987-1988 |
14 |
7 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Poco Penny Ranch Trust - Crop Plans and Reports (1 of 4) |
1988-1989 |
14 |
8 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Poco Penny Ranch Trust - Crop Plans and Reports (2 of 4) |
1988-1989 |
15 |
1 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Poco Penny Ranch Trust - Crop Plans and Reports (3 of 4) |
1988-1989 |
15 |
2 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Poco Penny Ranch Trust - Crop Plans and Reports (4 of 4) |
1988-1989 |
15 |
3 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Toreby Farms - Crop Plans and Reports (1 of 2) |
1977-1979 |
15 |
4 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Toreby Farms - Crop Plans and Reports (2 of 2) |
1977-1979 |
15 |
5 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Toreby Farms - Crop Plans and Reports (1 of 3) |
1988-1989 |
15 |
6 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Toreby Farms - Crop Plans and Reports (2 of 3) |
1988-1989 |
15 |
7 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Toreby Farms - Crop Plans and Reports (3 of 3) |
1988-1989 |
15 |
8 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Presentations |
1963-1965 |
15 |
9 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Presentations by Edith and Torsten to Vocational Agricultural Department, Estherville, IA |
1965 |
15 |
10 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Presentations by Torsten |
1963 |
15 |
11 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Presentations with Slides |
1964-1965 |
15 |
12 |
Crop Plans and Reports: Presentations |
1961-1962 |
16 |
1 |
4th Annual Symposium on Fertility of Cattle |
1964 |
16 |
2 |
Horse Barn - Sketches and Product Information |
undated |
16 |
3 |
Farm I Cattle Shed |
1958 |
16 |
4 |
Farm Building Plans and Instructions |
1946-1950 |
16 |
5 |
Cow Barns - Plans and Receipts |
1960-1961, undated |
16 |
6 |
Inventory of Farm Buildings on Toreby Farms |
1969 |
16 |
7 |
Performance Tested Bull Sale Exhibit Catalog |
1958 |
16 |
8 |
Vocational Agriculture Students' Field Trip Reports |
1961 |
16 |
9 |
Tested Bull Sale Exhibit Catalog |
1962 |
16 |
10 |
Planning Notes - Annual Meeting Iowa Beef Improvement Assoc. |
1963 |
16 |
11 |
Cattleman's Conference - Iowa State University |
1964 |
16 |
12 |
Performance Summaries |
1965 |
16 |
13 |
Art Show |
1989 |
16 |
14 |
Photographs: People (3 color) |
1976 |
16 |
15 |
Color Postcards (18 color) |
undated |
16 |
16 |
Photographs: Farm Scenes |
undated |
16 |
17 |
Photographs: People (24 black and white) |
1904-1963, undated |
16 |
18 |
Photographs: Farm Scenes (12 black and white) |
1958-1965, undated |
16 |
19 |
Photographs: Animals (21 black and white) |
1950-1965, undated |
17 |
1 |
Toreby Farms Fiscal Year Accounts |
1984-1990 |
Map case |
C406 |
Family Shield Sketch, Iowa Soil Conservation Award, Breeding Records, Performance Registry International Award Negative, Building Plans |
1959-1965, undated |