Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

MS 614
William Hamilton (1915-2004)
Papers, 1940-2000, n.d.

Descriptive summary

creator:	Hamilton, William (1915-2004)
title:	Papers
dates:	1940-2000, n.d.
extent:	3.02 linear feet (2 records center cartons, 1 document box)
collection number:	MS 614
repository:	Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	William Hamilton Papers, MS 614, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library

Biographical note

William Eugene "Gene" Hamilton was born on April 10, 1915 in Allerton, Iowa. He graduated from Iowa State College (University) with a B.S. (1938) in agricultural economics. After graduation, Hamilton became assistant agricultural economist in the office of economic information of Iowa State College's Extension Service. He also continued taking graduate level courses in economics.

Throughout most of his forty year career (March 18, 1940 - March 31, 1980), he worked for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), except for a period of leave for military service as a Naval communications officer during World War II. He began his career in AFBF's Washington Office where his duties were mainly related to economic aspects of legislation and included preparing articles for the newsletter (Farm Bureau News) and national magazine (The Nation's Agriculture) and gathering statistics and analytical material for Farm Bureau policies. He then moved to AFBF's general office (1950) in Chicago to work as an economist where he became director of research (1954) and chief economist (February 1973-March 1989). He wrote the Farm Bureau News' regular monthly feature "Farm Business Roundup." His writings included topics such as government farm programs and updates on commodity trends and prices. During his tenure with the AFBF, Hamilton analyzed economic problems, wrote legislative and administrative proposals, prepared discussion materials on policy issues, and represented the Farm Bureau on numerous occasions at Congressional hearings. Hamilton provided the economic view on AFBF statements, testimonies and letters. According to his retirement announcement in the Farm Bureau News, Hamilton believed that "economic progress lies in the direction of dispersal of economic decision-making, the enhancement of private property rights, sound money and greater reliance on the marketplace." In addition to his work at the AFBF, Hamilton was also a member of the National Planning Association's Agriculture Committee (March 1955-1970s).

After his retirement, Hamilton's activities included serving on Wheaton, Illinois' planning commission and volunteering with the Internal Revenue Service tax preparation program for senior citizens. Hamilton died on July 29, 2004 at his home in Wheaton, Illinois.

Collection description

The collection (1940-2000, n.d.) documents Hamilton's career with the American Farm Bureau Federation and includes remarks, speeches, policies, correspondence, position papers, statements made before Congress, articles, pamphlets, booklets, memorandums, press releases, news clippings, and a manuscript relating Hamilton's personal memories of working for the American Farm Bureau Federation. Not all of the material in the collection was authored by Hamilton, but the collection also includes material written by others and AFBF pamphlets, brochures and booklets. Although not representing the entirety of his work, the majority of the collection contains materials he collected which he wrote or helped create.

The articles and reports often relate to the effect of issues and events on agriculture such as World War II, the proposed change to the Metric System, and a national health care plan. The "newsletters" prior to 1952 are generally one or two page narratives on a specific topic, probably intended for inclusion in the AFBF's newsletter. Topics of the newsletters generally relate to actions the federal government has made related to agriculture including bills, appropriations, and the effects of World War II. The statements by Hamilton found in the collection include topics such as the workings of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the economics of agriculture, farm relief programs, problems in American agriculture, and the effects of World War II on agriculture. The collection includes a number of articles and issues from the journal The Nation's Agriculture, the official publication of the American Farm Bureau Federation, which contain articles written by Hamilton. A more complete run of the journal can be found by searching the library's catalog. The collection also contains issues of Looking Ahead, a monthly report by the National Planning Association. These reports often contain an Agriculture Committee Statement which Hamilton signed and/or provided commentary about.

For a related collection, please see the American Farm Bureau Federation Records (MS 479). Copies of Hamilton's Farm Bureau News retirement announcement and obituary can be found in RS 21/7/1. The Special Collections Department also holds the papers of William Hamilton's grandfather, Charles K. Hamilton (MS 163).

Organization

The collection is organized in reverse chronological order.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
1	1	Working for Farm Bureau: A Collection of Personal Memories, by W.E. Hamilton	2000
1	2	American Farm Bureau Federation Booklets	1980-1982, n.d.
1	3	Post Retirement: Articles, Presentations, Conferences, Correspondence, Proposals	1980-1982
1	19	Fiscal Responsibility	1980
1	4	Newspaper Clippings	1979-1980
1	5	Correspondence	1979-1980
1	6	Kettering Agri-Business Advisory Board Formed to Expedite Transfer of Technology from Lab	1979-1980
1	24	Kettering Agriculture-Business Advisory Board: 1st Annual Meeting Press Release	1979-1980
1	15-16	Limitation of Federal Spending	1979
1	8	The Role of Professional Economists on the American Farm Bureau Federation Staff	1979
1	9	Washington News Digest	1979
1	10	National Health Insurance Pamphlet	1979
1	11	Social Security: Monthly Retirement Test	1979
1	12	Multinational Cooperatives: Their Potential Role in the International Grain Marketing System	1979
1	13	Position Paper on World Hunger	1979
1	14	Position Paper on Agriculture Research	1979
1	18	Kettering Agriculture - Business Advisory Board	1979
1	20	Agriculture Committee Meeting: Minutes, Agenda, and Notes	1979
1	21	Report on 17th International Conference of Agriculture Economists	1979
1	22	International Food and Agriculture Policy: Prospects and Alternatives - Participants	1979
1	23	Food and Agriculture Policy: Strong at Home, Strong Abroad - Guests	1979
1	7	Effect of the Dairy Support on Parity Prices	1978-1979
1	25	Newspaper Clippings	1978
1	26	Compulsory National Health Insurance: Draft	1978
1	27	Joint Council on Economic Education	1978
1	28	Newsline: American Farm Bureau Federation	1978
1	29	Plan for the 1978 Census of Agriculture	1978
1	30	Agricultural Statistics Users Workshop	1978
1	31	"The Farm Bureau Problem"	1978
1	33	The 7 to 1 Theory - A Farm Guide Policy	1978
1	34	Joint Committee on Public Pensions	1978
1	35	Glossary of Terms Used in Government Farm Programs	1978
1	36	Census Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics: Members	1978
1	37	Agriculture and Metrication	1978
1	38	Selected Highlights of Commodity Programs Authorized by the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (Draft)	1978
1	39	Correspondence	1978
1	41	Young Farmers and Ranchers - Finance and Credit Study Committee Report	1978
1	69	Foundations of Freedom	1978
1	17	Chief Economist: Statement, Duties, Report	1977-1979
1	42	Newspaper Clippings	1977
1	43	Farm Bureau Participates in Food Policy Seminar	1977
1	44	The Present and Future Investment Climate in Australia	1977
1	45	Background Material on the Issues in Current Proposals for Farm Legislation	1977
1	46	Agribusiness 1977 and Beyond: Government Regulation Policies and the Public Interest	1977
1	47	Conference on Food and Agriculture Conference	1977
1	48	Report to the AFBF Board of Directors - No. 1, 2	1977
1	49	National Planning Association - Agriculture Committee	1977
1	51	National Planning in a Mixed Economy	1977
1	52	Correspondence	1977
1	66	Notes on Agriculture Policy Issues	1977
1	32	Farm Business Roundup	1976-1978
1	50	National Planning Association - Looking Ahead, Vol. III - No. 1, 2 and Vol. II, No. 2	1976-1977
1	53	U.S. Metric Board	1976-1977
1	54	Newspaper Clippings	1976
1	55	Seminar on Agriculture Marketing and Policy	1976
1	56	Farm Program Issues Likely to be Before Congress in 1977	1976
1	57	What Happens If the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 Expires	1976
1	58	Managing the Change in Metric - An Agriculture Viewpoint	1976
1	59	Multilateral and Bilateral Agriculture Trade Policies	1976
1	60	The Importance of Metric Education - An Agriculture Viewpoint	1976
1	61	Farm Income Concepts: Their Meaning and Measurement	1976
1	62	Land Use Research Priorities Identified	1976
1	63	The Cost of Production Issue	1976
1	64	Current States of Farm Programs	1976
1	65	Correspondence	1976
1	67	Booklets: Land Use, Food Information Systems, Marketing	1976
1	70	Newspaper Clippings	1975
1	71	Economic Implications of Long Term Contracts	1975
1	72	The Environment and Man	1975
1	73	Correspondence	1975
1	74	Farm Bureau Testimony	1975
1	75	Property Lines	1975
1	76	Looking Ahead	1975
1	77	Committee Work	1975
1	78	"Metric Hearings Scheduled"	1975
1	79	Current Status of Government Farm Programs	1975
1	80	Some Idle Thoughts on Farm Bureau's 1975 Policy on "Government Farm Programs"	1975
1	81	Guest Editorial - A Critique and Rebuttal to ABC's Special on U.S. Government Food Policies	1975
1	82	Adjusting Farm Policy to Support the Objective of a Market-Oriented Agriculture	1975
1	83	Food Production, Food Policy, and World Hunger	1975
1	84	Correspondence	1974
1	85	Newspaper Clippings	1974
1	86	Statements	1974
1	87	Feast or Famine	1974
1	88	The Economics of Scarcity	1974
1	89	Conference on Food Productivity, Costs and Prices	1974
1	90	Clergy Economic Education Conference	1974
1	91	Agriculture and Food Conference on Inflation	1974
1	93	Statements and Press Releases	1973
1	94	Newspaper Clippings	1973
1	95	Correspondence	1973
1	96	Statements and Policies	1972
1	97	Newspaper Clippings	1972
1	98	Looking Ahead	1972
1	99	The Effects of Federal Income Taxes on the Structure of Agriculture	1972
1	100	American Agricultural Economics Association Education Workshops - Participants	1972
1	101	Newspaper Clippings	1971
1	102	Statements and Press Releases	1971
1	103	Looking Ahead	1971
1	104	Newspaper Clippings	1970
1	105	Correspondence	1970
1	106	Statements	1970
1	107	Industrial News Review Digest	1970
1	108	Reflections on a Visit to the Soviet Union	1970
1	109	Farm Bureau Testimony to the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry: Proposed Farm Program Legislation	1970

2	1	Newspaper Clippings	1969
2	2	Statements	1969
2	3	The Canadian-American Assembly	1969
2	4	Looking Ahead	1969
2	5	Newspaper Clippings	1968
2	6	Statements and Press Releases	1968
2	7	Looking Ahead	1968
1	92	Requested Policy Papers: American Farm Bureau Address by Charles Shuman on the Food and Fiber Policy	1967
2	8	Newspaper Clippings	1967
2	9	Statements	1967
2	10	Notes for National Planning Association Meeting	1967
2	11	Notes for S&H Government Relations Meeting	1967
2	12	Newspaper Clippings	1966
2	13	Statistics	1966
1	68	Reflections of Freedom	1965
2	14	Newspaper Clippings	1965
2	15	An Analysis of the 1965 Farm Program	1965
2	16	Looking Ahead (contains brief biography of Hamilton)	1965
2	57	A Balanced America: United States Agriculture in 1965	1965
2	17	Correspondence	1964
2	18	Newspaper Clippings	1964
2	19	Statements	1964
2	20	Rural America Looks to the Future	1964
2	21	Questions and Answers on the Payment Issues in the Farm Policy	1964
2	22	Farm Bureau - Summary of Remarks	1964
2	23	Looking Ahead	1964
2	24	Correspondence	1963
2	25	Newspaper Clippings	1963
2	26	Statements and Press Releases	1963
2	27	Wheat Referendum Brochures	1963
2	28	Looking Ahead	1963
2	29	Washington From the Inside	1963
2	30	Correspondence	1962
2	31	Newspaper Clippings	1962
2	32	Statements and Press Releases	1962
2	33	Looking Ahead	1962
2	34	Newspaper Clippings	1961
2	35	Statements and Press Releases	1961
2	36	Cartoons	1961
2	37	General Livestock Trip - Participants	1961
2	38	Searle Grain Company, Limited	1961
2	39	Farm Policy for the 1960's	1961
2	40	Newspaper Clippings	1960
2	41	Statements	1960
2	42	Newspaper Clippings	1959
2	43	Statements and Reports	1959
2	44	A Current Look at the Farmer's Percentage of the Consumers' Food Dollar	1959
2	45	Wheat Surpluses and Their Impact on Canada-U.S. Relations	1959
2	46	Myths About Farming	1959
2	47	What's Your Opinion?	1959
2	48	Newspaper Clippings	1958
2	49	Statements, Releases and Reports	1958
2	50	Commodity Conference Guide	1958
2	51	Report	1958
2	52	Newspaper Clippings	1957
2	53	Statements	1957
2	54	Family Farming	1957
2	55	Idaho Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention Program	1957
2	56	American Farm Bureau Federation: Statement before the Joint Committee on the Economic Report	1957
2	58	Italy: Land Reform, Agricultural Problems	1956
2	59	Montana State Farm Bureau: Remarks by Hamilton	1956
2	60	Washington Farm Bureau: Notes	1956
2	61	Massachusetts Farm Bureau: Remarks by Hamilton	1956
2	62	Kentucky Farm Bureau: Remarks by Hamilton	1956
2	63	Statements	1956
2	64	Newspaper Clippings	1955
2	65	Statements and Reports	1955
2	66	Congressional Record, 84th Congress, 1st Meeting	1955
2	67	Tenth Mississippi Valley World Trade Conference Program	1955
2	68	Correspondence	1955
2	69	Newspaper Clippings	1954
2	70	Michigan Farm News - June 1, 1954	1954
2	71	Correspondence	1954
2	72	Statements and Reports	1954
2	73	Southern Economic Association Programs and Announcements	1954
2	74	Correspondence	1953
2	75	Statements and Presentations	1953
3	1	The Nation's Agriculture - "Where We Are"	1953
3	2	The Nation's Agriculture - "Support"	1953
3	3	The Nation's Agriculture - "Sound Money for a Strong America	1953
3	4	The Nation's Agriculture - "Cotton Producers Need a New Acreage Allotment Law"	1953
3	5	Statements and Notes	1952
3	6	The Nation's Agriculture - "More Government or Less?"	1952
3	7	American Farm Bureau Federation Newsletter, Aug. 11, 1952	1952
3	8	American Farm Bureau Federation Newsletter, Aug. 25. 1952	1952
3	9	The Nation's Agriculture - "Wanted: Prosperity Without War"	1952
3	10	American Farm Bureau Federation Newsletter, June 4, 1951	1951
3	11	Statements, Proposals, and Presentations	1951
3	12	Programs and Presentations	1950
3	13	Newspaper Clippings	1950
3	14	"Cheaper Food - Promise or Political Lure?"	1950
3	15	Proceedings of the 11th Cotton Research Congress	1950
3	16	The Nation's Agriculture - Advanced Copy for November	1950
3	17	"What Causes Inflation?"	1950
3	18	"If We Want a Real Income"	1950
3	19	"How Can We Control Inflation?"	1950
3	22	"Silver Lining in Economic Cloud Described at Farm Bureau Meeting"	1949
3	23	Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation 1st Annual Officers Conference Program	1947
1	40	Correspondence	1946-1980
3	20	Statements	1946-1949
3	21	Newspaper Clippings	1946-1949
3	24	American Farm Bureau Federation Legislature Review	1946-1949
3	25	Newsletter	1942
3	26	The Nation's Agriculture - June	1942
3	27	Newspaper Clippings	1942
3	28	Memorandums, Statements and Newsletters	1941
3	29	Newspaper Clippings	1941
3	30	The Nation's Agriculture	1941
3	31	Resolutions of the American Farm Bureau Federation	1941
3	32	Statements (by Hamilton and others) and Newsletters	1940
3	33	Newspaper Clippings	1940
3	34	The Nation's Agriculture - "Farm Prices and Prospects"	1940
3	35	The Nation's Agriculture, July-September	1940
3	36	"A Tariff Equalization Tax for Agriculture"	1940