RS 16-3-13 R.K. Bliss Papers

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

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

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

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

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


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.