RS 9/18/51
Bliss, Ralph Kenneth (1880-1972)
Papers, 1906-1976, n.d.

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


Descriptive summary

creator:

Bliss, Ralph Kenneth (1880-1972)

title:

Papers

dates:

1906-1976, n.d.

extent:

18.06 linear ft.  (42 document boxes)

collection number:

RS 16/3/13

repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Ralph Kenneth Bliss Papers, RS 16/3/13, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note


Ralph Kenneth Bliss received a B.A. (1905) in animal husbandry from Iowa State University. After operating the family farm and serving on the faculty of Iowa State and University of Nebraska, he became Director (1914-1946) of Extension at Iowa State. Bliss served as secretary of the War Emergency Food Committee (1917), treasurer of the American Country Life Association, and chair of the state advisory committee of the Soil Conservation Service. He was on the Iowa Corn-Hog Commission (1933-1935) as part of the Agricultural Adjustment Administration and was a member (1941-1946) of the state U.S. Department of Agriculture War Board. During World War I and World War II, Bliss promoted the sale of bonds and served on the state U.S. Savings Bond Committee. Bliss retired in 1946, but continued as Director Emeritus of Extension.

 

 

Collection description

 

The collection (1906-1976, n.d.) includes correspondence, reports, memoranda, minutes, teaching notes, lectures, biographical information, photographs, publications, reports, addresses, and radio talks (1948-1971). The bulk of the collection consists of Bliss's correspondence and transcripts of his radio addresses. The subject matter relates to Agricultural and Home Economics Extension work in Iowa, food production during World Wars I and II, war emergency work of county agents, Soil Conservation Society of America, and the 50th Anniversary of Extension (1963). The collection also covers the National Council for Community Improvement, Agriculture Advisory Committee for Iowa to U.S. Savings Bond Division, American Country Life Association, Iowa Farm Bureau, Agricultural Hall of Fame, Epsilon Sigma Phi, and Iowa State University Class of 1905. The Extension material includes reports and correspondence with Perry G. Holden (1908-1912). There are also annual reports detailing Extension work in crops, horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy, nutrition, and clothing (1919-1923). The reports also include photographs documenting extension work across Iowa in that period. The collection also contains a typescript copy of Bliss' The Spirit and Philosophy of Extension Work (1952), copy of his thesis (1905), articles by colleagues, campus tours, and reports dealing with the Land Grant Committee on Extension Work.

   

 

Organization

 

This collection is arranged into fifteen series:
Series 1, Biographical information, 1916 -1976, n.d.
Series 2, Incoming Correspondence, 1908-1965, n.d.
Series 3, Outgoing Correspondence, 1945-1970
Series 4, Reports, 1906-1946, n.d.
Series 5, WW II Extension Material, 1942-1946
Series 6, Intra-departmental Communications, 1944-1959
Series 7, Soil Conservation Articles and Correspondence, 1943-1969
Series 8, Public Service Activities, 1907-1969
Series 9, History of Extension Material 1910-1960, n.d.
Series 10, The Spirit and Philosophy of Extension Work, 1950-1952, n.d.
Series 11, Addresses and Radio Talks, 1948-1971, n.d.
Series 12, Campus Tours, 1955-1965, n.d.
Series 13, Articles by Others, n.d.
Series 14, Dean’s Office Specialists Annual Reports, 1913-1923
 

 

 

Description of series

 

 

 

 

Series 1

Biographical Materials

1916-1976, n.d.

extent:

0.63 linear feet (2 boxes)

 

description:

This series contains newspaper clippings, articles personal writings and faculty bio sheets along with personal writings by Bliss’s first wife, Ethel.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1a

1

Biographical Materials

1924-1976, n.d.

1a

2

Biographical Information

1916-1972

29

7

Photos of Bliss

n.d.

33

5

Photographs

n.d.

30

1

Mrs. Ethel Bliss – calendar and journal

1930 ca.

30

2

Tributes

n.d.

30

3

Ephemera

n.d.

34

1

Family photographs

1960s ca.-1970

34

2

“Personal Recollections of Ralph K. Bliss,” unpublished typescript, pages 1-39

n.d.

34

3

“Personal Recollections of Ralph K. Bliss,” unpublished typescript, pages 40-87

n.d.

34

4

“Personal Recollections of Ralph K. Bliss,” unpublished typescript, pages 88-141

n.d.

34

5

“Personal Recollections of Ralph K. Bliss,” unpublished typescript, pages 142-187

n.d.

23

9

Thesis – Breeding, Feeding and Management of the Champion Herd of Poland China Swine at the World’s Fair at St. Louis

1904-1905

 

 

Description of series

 

 

 

 

Series 2

Incoming Correspondence

1909-1965, n.d.

extent:

2.94 linear feet (7 boxes)

 

description:

This series contains inquiries and responses for meetings, speaking engagements, donating, appearances and articles. 

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

A

n.d.

1

2

B-Benson

n.d.

1

3

Benson, O.H.

n.d.

1

4

Bents-Bo

n.d.

1

5

Br

n.d.

1

6

Bu

n.d.

1

7

C-Cha

n.d.

1

8

Che-Con

n.d.

1

9

Coo-Cz

n.d.

2

1

D

n.d.

2

2

Dreier, William H.

n.d.

2

3

E

n.d.

2

4

F

n.d.

2

5

Fitzsimmons, John R.

n.d.

2

6

Glenn, C.C.

n.d.

2

7

Ga-Go

n.d.

2

8

Gr-Gz

n.d.

3

1

Ha-Hass

n.d.

3

2

Hat-Hill

n.d.

3

3

Hillg-Hold

n.d.

3

4

Holden, P.G.

1909-1950

3

5

Holden, P.G.

1951-1953

3

6

Holden, P.G.

1954-1959

3

7

Holl-Hz

n.d.

4

1

I-J

n.d.

4

2

Johnson, Paul A.

n.d.

4

3

K

n.d.

4

4

L

n.d.

4

5

Mc

n.d.

4

6

McDonald, Murl

n.d.

5

1

Ma-Mille

n.d.

5

2

Miller, Cap E.

1946-1953

5

3

Miller, Cap E.

1954-1955

5

4

Miller, Cap E.

1956-1957

5

5

Milli-Mz

n.d.

5

6

Mosher, M.L.

1912-1965

6

1

N

n.d.

6

2

O

n.d.

6

3

P

n.d.

6

4

Q

n.d.

6

5

R

n.d.

6

6

Sa-Sl

n.d.

6

7

Sm-Sp

n.d.

7

1

St-Sz

n.d.

7

2

Stayner, G.E.

1910-1912

7

3

T

n.d.

7

4

U

n.d.

7

5

V

n.d.

7

6

W-Wari

n.d.

7

7

Warn-Wh

n.d.

7

8

Wi-Wz

n.d.

8

1

Y

n.d.

8

2

Z

n.d.

8

12

Wilson, M.L. to and from

1941-1946

8

13

Wilson, M.L. to and from

1946-1960

 

 

Description of series

 

 

 

Series 3

Outgoing Correspondence

1908-1970

extent:

1.68 linear feet (4 boxes)

 

description:

This series contains inquiries and responses for meetings, speaking engagements, donating, appearances and articles.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

8

3

Outgoing Correspondence

1908-1909

8

4

Outgoing Correspondence

1910

8

5

Outgoing Correspondence

1911

8

6

Outgoing Correspondence

1914

8

7

Outgoing Correspondence

1917-1919

8

8

Outgoing Correspondence

1918-1921

8

9

Outgoing Correspondence

1926-1934

8

10

Outgoing Correspondence

1937-1940

8

11

Outgoing Correspondence

1943

8

14

Outgoing Correspondence

1945

9

1

Outgoing Correspondence

1945

9

2

Outgoing Correspondence

1945

9

3

Outgoing Correspondence

1946

9

4

Outgoing Correspondence

1946

10

1

Outgoing Correspondence

1947

10

2

Outgoing Correspondence

1947

10

3

Outgoing Correspondence

1948

10

4

Outgoing Correspondence

1949

10

5

Outgoing Correspondence

1950

10

6

Outgoing Correspondence

1951

11

1

Outgoing Correspondence

1952

11

2

Outgoing Correspondence

1953

11

3

Outgoing Correspondence

1954

11

4

Outgoing Correspondence

1955

11

5

Outgoing Correspondence

1956

12

1

Outgoing Correspondence

1957

12

2

Outgoing Correspondence

1958

12

3

Outgoing Correspondence

1959

12

4

Outgoing Correspondence

1960-1970

 

 Description of series

 

 

 

Series 4

Reports

1906-1946

extent:

1.26 linear feet (3 boxes)

 

description:

This series contains reports on the Corn-Hog Adjustment Plan, World War II food production, drought relief, and extension committee studies.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

13

1

Report of Land Grant College Committee on Extension Work

1906

13

2

Reports of Extension in Department of Animal Husbandry

1907-1942

13

3

Reports on Agricultural and Home Economics Extension Work in Iowa

1906-1914

13

4

Reports and recommendations to Director P.G. Holden and Dean Curtis for Animal Husbandry

1908-1914

13

5

War food production in Iowa in World War I

1917-1918

13

6

War emergency work of county agents

1917-1918

14

-

Corn-Hog Communications and Mimeographed material.  Vol. 1 – 3

1933-1934

14

1

County Drought Director’s file on Drought Relief Service

1934

14

2

County Drought Director’s file on Drought Relief Service

1935

14

3

Extension Project and Plans

1937

15

-

World War II Food Program Information

1941-1946

15

1

Farming for Victory – published bulletins from Iowa State College Extension

1941-1946

15

2

Iowa USDA War Board Minutes

1941-1946

15

3

War Food Production Work in Iowa

n.d.

15

4

War Work Radio Scripts

1941

15

5

ISC Extension Memorandum

1942-1943

15

6

“From the Director’s Desk” – Extension news bulletin

1942-1945

15

7

Extension Study Committees

1942-1943

15

8

Extension Supervisory Conference Minutes

1944-1946

 

Description of series

 

 

 

Series 5

World War II Extension Material

1942-1946

extent:

1.26 linear feet (3 boxes)

 

description:

This series contains articles, notices, updates, and advisories to county extension directors.

Container list                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

16

-

Mimeographed Extension Information of World War II

1942-1943

17

-

Mimeographed Extension Information of World War II

1943-1944

18

-

Mimeographed Extension Information of World War II

1945-1946

 

Description of series

 

 

 

Series 6

Intra-Departmental Communications

1945-1959

extent:

0.84 linear feet (2 boxes)

 

description:

This series contains intradepartmental letters regarding meetings, travel, and courses.

 

Container list