Biographical note

In 1902, an organization called the Iowa Corn Growers Association came into existence with the purpose of organizing grain and livestock judging schools in an effort to improve the economic conditions for farmers through better agriculture. In addition, the organization sponsored an annual corn show to promote better corn production. In 1909, a similar group for small grains, the Iowa Small Grain Growers Association, was formed and hosted an annual small grain show similar to the corn show. The two associations merged in 1913 and became the Iowa Corn and Small Grain Growers Association. Over time the corn and grain shows were phased out, but in 1920 the Association started conducting corn yield tests which recognized farmers for high yielding corn crops.

In 1912 the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Association was organized at Iowa State College (University) for the purpose of promoting research in farm crops and assisting in the distribution of seeds, plants, and fertilizers for experimental use. The Association also worked closely with the Agricultural Experiment Station at Iowa State to conduct experiments on hybrid crops, crop varieties, and new crops of potential value. The Iowa Agricultural Experiment Association first certified crops in 1921 and certified and registered seed in 1923. Standards for hybrid corn certification were established by the Association in 1931. In 1942, the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Association was recognized as the official seed certifying agency for the State of Iowa.

The Iowa Agricultural Experiment Association changed its name in February 1950 to become the Iowa Crop Improvement Association (ICIA). By June, 1951, the Iowa Corn and Small Grain Growers Association was absorbed by the Iowa Crop Improvement Association. The purpose of the new organization remained the same as the original associations: to conduct experiments in regards to seeds, plants, and fertilizers and to make known the sources of such good seed by means of certification.

With over one hundred years of history, the ICIA continues to be a resource for Iowa's agriculturalists by providing quality seed production and crop performance testing services. The ICIA continues to work closely with the College of Agriculture at Iowa State University to conduct experiments on new crop hybrids and varieties. On top of conducting domestic and international seed certification and quality assurance programs, ICIA also helps influence public policy regarding crop improvement.
 

Collection description

This collection (1902-[ongoing]) consists of records related to the Iowa Crop Improvement Association and all previous incarnations of the organization. The materials include annual reports of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Association, certified seed directories, Iowa corn yield test records, news articles related to crop research, and programs and photographs of corn and grain shows. The collection also contains a collection of certified seed tags from seed producers primarily in the United States, though there are some tags from Canada and South American countries. Of particular note are the photographs which detail the corn and grain shows and include pictures of participants, judges, displays, and trophies. The photographs also document crop research, farm field days, and other activities sponsored by ICIA and its predecessors.

The Library has also cataloged a number of ICIA publications. Additional information on the history of the ICIA can be found in The Story of the Crop Improvement Association and its Predecessors, by Joe L. Robinson and Oliver A. Knott (call no. SB21 Io8r). A complete set of the Iowa corn yield test reports are cataloged (call nos. SB191 C8 Io87i, SB191 C8 Io87i1, and SB191 C8 Io87i11) as is a set of the ICIA newsletter, Iowa Seed News (call nos. SB114.Io95 and SB114.Io951). Additional materials may also be found in MS 473, Iowa Corn Growers Association records.
 

Organization

The collection is organized into six series:
Series 1, Iowa Corn Growers Association, 1904-1913 (chronological)
Series 2, Iowa Small Grain Growers Association, 1910-1912 (chronological)
Series 3, Iowa Corn and Small Grain Growers Association, 1914-1951, n.d. (alphabetical)
Series 4, Iowa Agricultural Experiment Association, 1912-1956, n.d. (alphabetical)
Series 5, Iowa Crop Improvement Association, 1950-[ongoing] (chronological)
Series 6, Photographs, 1904-1981, n.d. (alphabetical)
 

Series 1

Iowa Corn Growers Association

1904-1913

extent:

11 folders

description:

This series contains the records of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and consists primarily of annual convention programs and a corn judges certificate for Miller S. Nelson.  The series is listed chronologically.

1

1

Program: First annual contest

1904

1

2

Program: Second annual contest

1905

1

3

Program: Third annual contest premium list

1906

1

4

Program: Fourth annual contest premium list

1907

1

5

Corn judges certificate for Miller S. Nelson

1908

1

6

Program: Fifth annual contest premium list

1908

1

7

Program: Sixth annual contest premium list and convention call

1909

1

8

Program: Seventh annual convention premium list and convention call

1909

1

9

Program: Eighth annual exhibition and contest

1910

1

10

Program: Ninth annual convention and exhibition

1912

1

11

Program: Tenth annual convention and exhibition

1913

Series 2

Iowa Small Grain Growers Association

1910-1912

extent:

4 folders

description:

This series contains records of the Iowa Small Grain Growers Association and consists of a report and programs for the annual grain contests and a seed directory.  The series is listed chronologically.

1

12

Program: First annual contest premium list

1910

1

13

Report: First annual contest

1910

1

14

Program: Contest

1911

1

15

Directory of Iowa seed grains

1912

Series 3

Iowa Corn and Small Grain Growers Association

1914-1951, n.d.

extent:

8.13 linear ft. (16 document boxes and 1 oversized box)

description:

This series contains records of the Iowa Corn and Small Grain Growers Association and includes annual convention programs, articles of incorporation, membership records, news clippings, and seed directories.  The collection also contains the data collected for the Iowa corn yield tests performed from 1920 through 1951.  Progress reports and final reports for most of these years are also included in this series.  A complete set of reports have been cataloged and are available in the Library (call no. SB191 C8 Io87i).  The series is listed alphabetically.

1

16

Annual convention and exhibition: Programs (program includes premium list and seed directory)

1914-1919

1

17

Annual convention and exhibition: Programs (program includes premium list and seed directory)

1920-1926

1

18

Annual convention and exhibition: Programs (program includes premium list and seed directory)

1927-1933

1

19

Annual convention and exhibition: Souvenir booklet

1922

2

1

Application for and legislation (copies) defining state appropriations available to help fund the association

1917-1923

2

2

Articles of incorporation

1914

2

3

Award winners at state corn and small grain shows

1918-1929

2

4

Award winners at state corn and small grain shows

1930-1939

2

5

Award winners at state corn and small grain shows

1940-1942

30

OVR

Bank ledgers

1938-1945

2

6

Correspondence, meeting minutes, and financial audits

1946-1951

2

7

Correspondence: Premium list

1917-1918

17

9

Iowa corn yield test: Correspondence and related materials of S. B. Hudson family of Knoxville, Iowa

1927-1939, n.d.

Artifact collection

Iowa corn and small grain show: Judge's badge (Artifact 2007-R002.1)

n.d.

2

8-10

Iowa corn yield test: Data

1920-1921

3

1-6

Iowa corn yield test: Data

1922-1926

4

1-6

Iowa corn yield test: Data

1927-1932

5

1-7

Iowa corn yield test: Data

1933-1936

6

1-6

Iowa corn yield test: Data

1937-1938

7

1-6

Iowa corn yield test: Data

1938-1940

8

1-7

Iowa corn yield test: Data

1941-1944

9

1-7

Iowa corn yield test: Data

1945-1948

10

1-5

Iowa corn yield test: Data

1949-1951

10

6-8

Iowa corn yield test: Results and progress reports

1920-1922

10

9-15

Iowa corn yield test: Results and progress reports

1924-1930

11

1-20

Iowa corn yield test: Results and progress reports

1931-1951

12

1-7

Membership records: A-Due

1918-1940

13

1-7

Membership records: Dug-I

1918-1940

14

1-6

Membership records: J-M

1918-1940

15

1-8

Membership records: N-Sm

1918-1940

16

1-6

Membership records: Sn-Z

1918-1940

16

7

News clippings: Corn husking contests

1925-1932

16

8

News clippings: Corn shows

1924-1938, n.d.

16

9

News clippings: Crops and livestock

1922-1951, n.d.

16

10

News clippings: Individuals

1920-1945, n.d.

17

1

News clippings: International grain and hay shows

1920-1934

17

2

News clippings: Iowa State University

1923-1947

17

3

News clippings: Soil fertility

1932

17

4-5

News clippings: State corn and grain shows

1922-1947

17

6

Premium lists for state corn and small grain shows

1934-1942

17

7-8

Seed directories

1917-1940, n.d.

Series 4

Iowa Agricultural Experiment Association

1912-1956, n.d.

extent:

3.82 linear ft. (6 document boxes and 1 oversized box)

description:

This series contains records of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Association and consists of annual reports, seed directories, seed certification handbooks, and news clippings on crop research.  This series also includes a collection of national and international certified seed tags and the first issues of the association's newsletter, Iowa Certified Seed News.  The series is listed alphabetically.

17

10

Announcements of certified seed for sale

1912-1943

17

11

Annual meeting programs

1914-1917

17

12

Annual report for 1912-1916

ca. 1916

17

13-14

Annual reports

1916-1917

18

1-11

Annual reports

1918-1928

19

1-11

Annual reports

1929-1939

19

12

Articles of incorporation and bylaws

1936-1946, n.d.

31

OVR

Bank ledgers

1938-1945

20

1

"Description of Certain Inbred Lines of Corn Used in Commercial Hybrid Seed Production in Iowa"

n.d.

20

2

Directories of Iowa certified seed growers: "Know Your Hybrid Corn" booklets

1938-1940

20

3

Directories of Iowa certified seed growers: "Know the Seed You Plant" booklets

1941-1949

20

4

Experiment station reports on small grain trials

1931-1939

20

5

Experiment station reports on small grain trials

1940-1948

20

6

Letters to exhibitors

1915, 1917

20

7

Listings of Iowa certified seed growers

1935-1949

20

8

"New Crop Varieties on Iowa Farms" by Joe L. Robinson (typescript)

ca. 1929

20

9

News clippings: Agronomy research farm

n.d.

20

10

News clippings: Alfalfa

1923-1931, n.d.

20

11

News clippings: Barley

1922-1929

20

12

News clippings: Buckwheat

1922-1927

20

13

News clippings: Clover, hubam

1922-1926

20

14

News clippings: Clover, red

1921-1950, n.d.

20

15

News clippings: Clover, sweet

1922-1928, n.d.

21

1

News clippings: Conferences, crop improvement day, better seed day

n.d.

21

2

News clippings: Cooperative experiments

1920-1938, n.d.

21

3

News clippings: Corn

1922-1955, n.d.

21

4-5

News clippings: Corn grain production

1917-1931, n.d.

21

6

News clippings: Corn insects and diseases

1922-1950

21

7-8

News clippings: Corn yield tests

1921-1956, n.d.

21

9

News clippings: Corn, hybrid

1938-1950, n.d.

22

1

News clippings: Dalea

1923-1928

22

2

News clippings: Flax

1922-1935, n.d.

22

3

News clippings: Grasses

1922, 1929

22

4

News clippings: Hay

1925-1935

22

5

News clippings: Master corn and soybean growers

1933-1956, n.d.

22

6

News clippings: Oats

1917-1956, n.d.

22

7

News clippings: Other insects and diseases

1922

22