RS 16/3/56
Taff, Paul C. 
Papers, 1906-1967

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

Descriptive summary

creator:

Taff, Paul C. 

title:

Papers

dates:

1901-1982

extent:

5 linear ft.  (18 document boxes)

collection number:

RS 16/3/56

repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research

publication rights

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Paul C. Taff Papers, RS 16/3/56, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note

 
Paul C. Taff received a B.S. in agriculture from Iowa State University in 1913 and an LLD from Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, 1949. Taff trained under Perry G. Holden, and became Assistant Director of the Iowa State Extension Service, 1917-1952. He was an Associate and Extension Professor of Farm Crops and Soils, 1912-14, Acting Director, May-Sept., 1914. Concurrent with  serving as the Extension Service assistant director for 35 years, Taff was the Iowa State 4-H Club Leader (1919-52). He became Emeritus Professor of Agriculture upon his death in 1982.

 

Collection description

 
The Paul C. Taff Papers consists of clippings, Extension photographs, booklets, pamphlets, correspondence, and papers documenting Taff's life and work. Many of the records date from 1905-1982 and relate to the development of the 4-H movement, the Iowa State Extension Service, and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference.

A scrapbook compiled by Taff contains family history and autobiographical information. Additional biographical material is in the collection as well as individual artifacts, including a ribbon from the Panora, Iowa Corn Exhibition, 1905, and Iowa State Fair Judge Pin and Ribbons from 1925, 1963-70.

Materials related to the 4-H movement are national and local in coverage. Extensive material related to the history and growth of early boys' and girls' club meetings in Iowa are contained in these files. Secondary research conducted by Taff and others related to the beginnings of 4-H is documented. The research includes information on Iowans Oscar Herman Benson, Jessie Field Shambaugh, Cap Miller and other club pioneers, including W. B. Otwell of Illinois and A. B. Graham of Ohio. The collection includes correspondence with Bill Otwell, W. B. Otwell's grandson, and material related to Illinois' Boy's Club beginnings. Records for the Jasper County 4-H group, "Sunbonnet Sue's" (1963-1978), are present as well. There are also manuals and organizational materials related to 4-H clubs. Photographs contain 4-H subject matter covering the period, 1905-1965.


Extension information consists of bulletins and pamphlets related to field days around the state of Iowa. Of special note are the materials documenting Taff's work on Harvest Home Picnics, the Youth Committee (1940-1950), and the "Pig Crop Special Education Train." This train traveled the state of Iowa in the fall of 1929 on the North Western and the Burlington lines promoting better hog farming. The Harvest Home Picnic materials include posters promoting the events. The Youth Committee material contains material on the International Farm Youth Exchange. Photographs related to Extension work covers the period 1905-1965
 

  

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

American Youth Commission – “The Case of Rural Youth,” Taff, n.d.; “Activities of the American Youth Commission,” anonymous

1936

1

2

Personal Correspondence – European Trips

1926-1929

1

3

Personal Records – includes portrait

1931-1943, n.d.

1

4

Awards, Appointments, Honors

1937-1982, n.d.

1

5

Family History

1977

1

6

News Clippings and Extracts

1914-1979, n.d.

1

7

Photographs

1904-1972, n.d.

1

8

Recommendations

1912-1914

1

9

Correspondence (Campus)

1912-1977

1

10

Correspondence (Personal)

1940-1978

1

11

Correspondence (Professional)

1955-1977

1

12

Correspondence – Keokuk County Club Records

1944-1958

1

13

News Clippings – Keokuk County Club Records

1954

1

14

Notes on Cap. E. Miller – Keokuk County Club Records

1947-1954, n.d.

1

15

Photographs – Keokuk County Club Records

1904-1905

1

16

Programs and Brochures – Keokuk County Club Records

1905-1957

1

17

Manuscript of “I Knew Professor P.G. Holden” by Jessie Field Shambaugh

1948

1

18

News Clippings – Keokuk County Club Records

1937-1961, n.d.

1

19

Photographs and Postcards – Keokuk County Club Records

1906-1913

1

20

“History of Story County 4-H Clubs” by H.J. Montgomery

1950

1

21

Brochure and Photograph – Wright County

n.d.

1

22

Correspondence – Wright County

1932-1975, n.d.

1

23

News Extracts – Wright County

1904-1939

1

24

News Clippings and Photograph – Ag Programs

1909-1921, n.d.

1

25

Correspondence – Ear Testing of Seed Corn

1906-1963

2

1

Brochures – Extension

1926-1972

2

2

Smith-Hughes Extension Relations

1921-1951, n.d.

2

3

Trips – Extension and Demonstration Teams

1915-1954

2

4

News Clippings – Demonstration Trips

1923-1953

2

5

Correspondence – Extension History

1969-1975

2

6

Publications – Extension History

1908-1976, n.d.

2

7

Bulletins – ISC (Iowa State College) Extension

1914-1950, n.d.

2

8

Photograph – ISC Extension

1951

2

9

Regulations and Objectives – ISC Extension

1939-1949, n.d.

2

10

Data – Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

11

Finances – Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

12

Laws and Regulations – Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

13

Minutes – Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

14

Objectives – Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

15

Organization and Administration, Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

16

Preliminary Reports – Reviewing Committee, ISC Extension

1931-1932

2

17

Study of Extension Administration

1942-1946, n.d.

2

18

Photographs – 4-H Club

1903-1952, n.d.

3

 

 

 

4

1

Organizational Manual for Iowa 4-H Club Leaders

1948

4

2

Organizational Manual for Iowa 4-H Club Leaders

1950

4

3

Organizational Manual for Iowa 4-H Club Leaders

1960

4

4

Organizational Manual for Iowa 4-H Club Leaders

1966, n.d.

4

5

Definition and Purposes – 4-H Club Program

1918-1955, n.d.

4

6

News Clippings – 4-H History

1902-1966

4

7

Studies and Brochures – 4-H History

1910-1952, n.d.

4

8

Studies and Brochures – 4-H History

1968-1976

5

1

“Summary of Activities with Older Boys and Girls in the U.S.” – 4-H History

1934

5

2

Correspondence – 4-H History, National Archive Collections

1957-1968

5

3

Key to History Records – 4-H History, National Archive Collections

1957-1982

5

4

Notes – 4-H History, National Archive Collections

n.d.

5

5

Correspondence – 4-H History, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs

1922-1953, n.d.

5

6

Correspondence – 4-H History, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs

1954-1959

5

7

“Forty Years of Service to the 4-H Clubs,” pp. 1-94 – never published

1958

5

8

“Forty Years of Service to the 4-H Clubs,” pp. 95-

1958

5

9

Notes for History – Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs

1953, n.d.

5

10

Tour to International Livestock Expo, Chicago – 4-H History, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs

1921

6

1

Correspondence – Research for “The 4-H Story”

1940-1957, n.d.

6

2

Early Records – Research for “The 4-H Story”

1908-1924, n.d.

6

3

Manuscripts – Research for “The 4-H Story”

1906-1959, n.d.

6

4

Preparation Outlines – Research for “The 4-H Story”

1939-1952, n.d.

6

5

“The 4-H Story” – Chinese Translation, F.M. Reck

1951

6

6

Correspondence – International Cooperation Administration (ICA)

1960

6

7

Business Cards from Abroad – International Farm Youth Exchange

n.d.

6

8

Correspondence – International Farm Youth Exchange

1951-1954

6

9

Dairy – International Farm Youth Exchange

1951

6

10

Expenses – International Farm Youth Exchange

1951

6

11

Itineraries – International Farm Youth Exchange

1951

6

12

Photographs – International Farm Youth Exchange

1951

6

13

Reports – International Farm Youth Exchange

1950-1951

16

2

General Literature – International Farm Youth Exchange

1951-1978, n.d.

6

14

Invitations – International Farm Youth Exchange

1976

6

15

Brochures – International Farm Youth Exchange

1946-1970

6

16

“History of Origin and Development of the Iowa 4-H Camping Center,” Paul Taff

1957

6

17

Information – International Farm Youth Exchange

1967, n.d.

6

18

Maps and Lease – International Farm Youth Exchange

1952

7

1

Reports – Iowa 4-H Foundation

1973-1978, n.d.

7

2

Reports – Iowa 4-H Foundation

1973-1978, n.d.

7

3

Advertisement for The Iowa Agriculturalist

n.d.

7

4

“History of the Iowa State College Seed Laboratory, 1931-46,” R. Howard Porter

1980

7

5

“Organization and Relationships,” Dean Buchanan

1951

7

6

Annual Report – Iowa State Fair

1966

7

7

Brochure – Iowa State Fair

1965

7

8

Dining Hall Financial Records – Iowa State Fair

1931-1961

7

9

Forms – Iowa State Fair

n.d.

7

10

Correspondence – Iowa State Fair, Heritage Committee

1964-1968

7

11

Minutes – Iowa State Fair, Heritage Committee

1966

7

12

World Food Exposition Study – Iowa State Fair, Heritage Committee

1966

7

13

“National 4-H Club News” – Magazine

1946

7

14

“National 4-H News” – Magazines

1960-1967

7

15

Magazine Manuscripts by Taff

1940-1962

7

16

Course Literature – Management Workshop, University of Minnesota

1942

7

17

Notes – Management Workshop, University of Minnesota

1942

8

1

Awards – National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1947-1957, n.d.

8

2

Financial Reports – National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1955-1967

8

3

Programs – National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1935-1968

8

4

Publications – National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1944-1976, n.d.

8

5

Publications – National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1977-1978

8

6

Publications – National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1979

8

7

Reports – National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1954-1955, n.d.

8

8

Reports – National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1956-1959

8

9

Reports – National Catholic Rural Life Conference

1964-1969

9

1

Photograph – National 4-H Club Camp

1927

9

2

Reports – National 4-H Club Camp

1947-1961

9

3

Committee Records – National 4-H Foundation

1950-1976

9

4

Memorabilia – Personal

1906-1969, n.d.

9

5

Stories and Quotes – Personal

1906-1969, n.d.

9

6

Photographs – Early Club Work

1920-1923

9

7

Photographs – Otwell, William B.

1905-1909

9

8

Agricultural Events – Programs

1904-1959, n.d.

9

9

Boys’ and Girls’ Club Congress – Programs

1923-1941

9

10

Boys’ and Girls’ Club Work – Programs

1920-1926

9

11

Commencement Programs

1913-1949

9

12

4-H Banquet Programs

1975-1976, n.d.

9

13

Iowa State Fair Programs

1921-1940

9

14

Memorial Dedication Programs

1958-1976

9

15

Brochures – Iowa State College Corn Contest

1910

9

16

Circulars – Iowa Boys’ and Girls’ Club

1912

10

1

Course Outlines – Agriculture Publications

1912-1916

10

2

Career Guidance – Publications

1955-1958, n.d.

10

3

The Church and 4-H – Publications

1954, n.d.

10

4

Club Activities – Publications

1922-1960, n.d.

10

5

Club Work – Publications

1926-1931

10

6

Corn – Publications

1906-1957, n.d.

10

7

Farm Concerns – Publications

1931-1956

10

8

Farm Credit – Publications

1957

10

9

4-H Leadership – Publications

1936-1941, n.d.

10

10

4-H Leadership – Publications

1942-1950

10

11

4-H Leadership – Publications

1951-1956

11

1

4-H Leadership – Publications

1956-1960

11

2

Group Discussion – Publications

1934-1957

11

3

“Horseracing’s Aid to Agriculture in Illinois” - Publication

1950

11

4

National 4-H Service Committee “Comments” - Publication

1976

11

5

Parents and 4-H – Publications

1947-1952

11

6

Rural-Urban – Publications

1903-1963

11

7

Social – Publications

1934-1958, n.d.

11

8

Youth Guidance – Publications

1941-1947

11

9

Annual and Biennial Extension Reports

1914-1927

11

10

Annual Extension Reports

1928-1940

12

1

Annual Extension Reports

1941-1949

12

2

Annual Extension Reports

1951-1957

12