Descriptive summary

creator:	Erwin, Arthur Thomas (1874-1970)
title:	Papers
dates:	1836-1973, n.d.
extent:	0.42 linear ft. (1 document box and 1 map case folder)
collection number:	RS 9/16/16
repository:	University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	Arthur Thomas Erwin Papers, RS 9/16/16, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Historical note

Arthur Thomas Erwin was born to John L. and Elizabeth (Birney) Erwin on November 8, 1874, in Fulton, Missouri. He received his B.S. (1900) from the University of Arkansas and his M.S. (1902) from Iowa State College (University). He attended the Shaw School of Botany at Washington University from 1904-1906.

During his graduate studies, Erwin was an Instructor (1901-1902) in the Iowa State Department of Horticulture. After receiving his M.S., Professor Erwin was promoted to Assistant Professor (1902-1903), Acting Professor in charge of the department (1904-1905), Associate Professor (1904-1911), Professor of Truck Crops and Landscape Gardening (1912), and Professor of Horticulture (1913-1956). Professor Erwin relinquished his teaching duties in 1915 to focus on vegetable research for the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station for which he served as Acting Horticulturalist (1903-1904), Assistant Horticulturalist (1905-1914), Chief of the Vegetable Crops Subsection (1915-1940), and Research Professor of the Horticulture Section (1940-1956).

Professor Erwin contributed greatly to early Extension work in vegetable crops. His research led to the systematic classification of the various species of squash, pumpkins, and peppers. Professor Erwin also wrote numerous articles on sweet corn, potatoes, onions, and other garden vegetables.

Numerous professional and community organizations benefited from Professor Erwin’s active involvement. He joined the Iowa State Horticultural Society in 1900 and served as President (1924-1925). He received the Society’s Honor Award in 1949. Professor Erwin was active in the formation of the Iowa Vegetable Growers Association. He also was a charter member of the American Society of Horticultural Science and served as President (1930). Locally, Professor Erwin served on the Ames Board of Education, the Mary Greeley Hospital Board, and was a charter member of the Ames Kiwanis Club.

Arthur Erwin married Mary Turner in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1906. Together they had three children: Doris, Howard R., and Evalyn. Professor Erwin died on March 1, 1970.

Collection description

This collection (1836-1973, n.d.) contains biographical information, correspondence, and research of Arthur Thomas Erwin. The biographical information includes newspaper clippings and faculty and alumni information. Professor Erwin’s research in horticulture focused primarily on garden vegetables and he authored or contributed to a number articles and Experiment Station bulletins on sweet corn, cucurbits (gourds), potatoes, and other vegetables. He also wrote several articles on landscaping for farmsteads and city streets.

Organization

The collection is arranged with biographical information filed first and then alphabetically thereafter.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
1	1	Biographical information: General (1- 8x10 b/w photograph)	1930-1973, n.d.
1	2	Biographical information: News clippings	1917-1973, n.d.
1	3	Address: “The Botanical Work of Dr. L. H. Pammel at Iowa State College”	1924
1	4	Address: “Municipal Control of Street Trees”	n.d.
1	5	Article: “The Advancement of Horticultural Research”	1931
1	6	Article: “Alegria – A Popping Seed Used in Mexico as a Substitute for Pop Corn (Amaranthus Caudatus L. Var. Leucospermus Th.)	1935
1	7	Article: “Anent the Origin of Sweet Corn”	1942
1	8	Article: “Bordeaux Spray for Tip Burn and Early Blight of Potatoes”	1917
1	9	Article: “Cabbage Yellows, Caused by Fusarium Conglutinans, in Iowa”	1926
1	10	Article: “Controlling Downy Mildew of Lettuce”	1921
1	11	Article: “Establishing the Apple Orchard”	1910
1	12	Article: “Evergreens for the Iowa Planter”	1907
1	13	Article: “Gross Morphology of the Sweet Corn Kernel”	1927
1	14	Article: “Growing Sorghum Cane and Making Syrup”	1918
1	15	Article: “Handling and Marketing Iowa Sweet Potatoes”	1941
1	16	Article: “History and Introduction of Leading Varieties of Sweet Corn”	1934
1	17	Article: “Hydration in Sweet Corn Seed”	1930
1	18	Article: “An Interesting Texas Cucurbit: Cucurbita Pepo, L. Var. Ovifera Alef. (C. Texana, Gray)”	1938
1	19	Article: “Irrigation for Vegetable Crops in Iowa”	1934
1	20	Article: “Late Potato Blight in Iowa”	1916
1	21	Article: “Making Sauerkraut”	1917
1	22	Article: “Marketing Iowa Cantaloupes”	1938
1	23	Article: “Nativity of Cucurbita Maxima”	1936
1	24	Article: “Nativity of the Cucurbits”	1931
1	25	Article: “Nectaries of Capsicum”	1932
1	26	Article: “New Varieties of Potatoes for the Corn Belt”	1935
1	27	Article: “Notes on Cucurbita Moschata, Duch.”	1936
1	28	Article: “Notes on Some of the Newer Vegetables”	1937
1	29	Article: “The Onion Industry in Pleasant Valley, Iowa”	1925
1	30	Article: “Onion Production in Iowa”	1918
1	31	Article: “The Origin and History of Pop Corn, Zea Mays L. Var. Indurata (Sturt.) Bailey Mut. Everta (Sturt.) Erwin”	1949
1	32	Article: “The Peppers”	1932
1	33	Article: “Planning and Adorning the Farmstead”	1912
1	34	Article: “Potato Growing in Iowa as Affected by Temperature”	1922
1	35	Article: “A Rare Specimen of Zae Mays Var. Saccharata”	1934
1	36	Article: “Seed Treatments for Sweet Corn Diseases”	1926
1	37	Article: “Species and Varietal Crosses in Cucurbits”	1929
1	38	Article: “Streets from the Landscape Point of View”	n.d.
1	39	Article: “Sweet Corn – Its Origin and Importance as an Indian Food Plant in the United States”	1933
1	40	Article: “Sweet Corn – Mutant of Historic Species?”	1951
1	41	Article: “Sweet Corn Not an Important Indian Food Plant in the Pre-Columbian Period”	1947
1	42	Article: “Sweet Corn Seed Studies”	1928
1	43	Article: “A Systematic Study of Squashes and Pumpkins”	1927
1	44	Article: “Growing Sweet Corn for the Canning Factory”	1920
1	45	Correspondence: General	1947-1965, n.d.
1	46	Correspondence: Wallace E. “Red” Barron and Iowa State Alumni Office	1940-1968
1	47	Family Writings: Underground Railroad and Anti-Slavery Riots	1836-1964
1	48	Iowa State Horticultural Society: Convention proceedings, includes President’s address by Professor Erwin	1924
Map case	C403 D01	Landscape Architecture Plans: Proposed Arrangements of Lots and Drives. (Blueprint. 44.5” x 25”)	n.d.
Map case	C403 D01	Landscape Architecture Plans: Proposed Lots and Drives, Brown Tract. (Blueprint. 44.5” x 25”)	n.d.
Map case	C403 D01	Landscape Architecture Plans: Proposed Plan for Division of Brown Tract. (Blueprint. 43"x27")	n.d.
Map case	C403 D01	Landscape Architecture Plans: Proposed Plan for Division of Brown Tract with Alterations Suggested by A. T. Erwin. (Blueprint. 41.5" x 27“)	n.d.
Map case	C403 D01	Landscape Architecture Plans: Proposed Plan for Division of Brown Tract with Alterations Suggested by A.T. Erwin. (Blueprint. 44.5" x 26.5")	n.d.
1	49	Oral History: “Interview with Professor A. T. Erwin, Former Professor of Horticulture” by Dorothy Kehlenbeck (Transcripts)	1958
1	50	Reminiscences: “The Days of Yore at Iowa State”	ca. 1955
1	51	Reminiscences: “Stories by A. T. Erwin”	1960
1	52	Reminiscences: Stories of Iowa State	1963-1965