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