MS 173
Garst and Thomas Hybrid Corn Company
Records, 1933-1973, n.d.

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

Descriptive summary

creator:

Garst and Thomas Hybrid Corn Company

title:

Records 

dates:

1933-1973, n.d. 

extent:

99.84 linear ft.

collection number:

MS 173

repository:

Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Garst and Thomas Hybrid Corn Company Records, MS 173, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Historical note
 

The hybrid seed corn company Garst and Thomas was founded in Coon Rapids, Iowa, in 1931 by Roswell Garst and Charles W. Thomas. During the 1930s, Garst traveled thousands of miles of country roads selling the company's seed corn with great success. He distributed more than 10,000 sample bags of seed corn in western Iowa and Nebraska as a way of marketing his product. By the end of the decade, representatives of Garst and Thomas sold hybrid seed corn to farmers in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Colorado. In 1955, Garst traveled to the Soviet Union and Romania, selling hybrid seed corn there and beginning a tradition of sales to Eastern Europe. By the mid-1960s, the Garst and Thomas company produced 5% of all hybrid seed corn produced in the United States. The Garsts bought out the Thomas partners in the business in 1982, renaming it the Garst Seed Company. The Garst company was acquired in 1985 by the ICI Group, a chemical company with headquarters in the United Kingdom, and Garst Seed became ICI Seeds, Inc., in 1991.

 

 

Container list

Box Folder Title Dates
1934-1935
1 1 Correspondence, AM-AY 1934-1935
1 2 Correspondence, BA-BD 1934-1935
1 3 Banker’s Life Company (Des Moines, Iowa) 1935
1 4 Correspondence, BE-BH 1934-1935
1 5 Correspondence, BI-BK 1935
1 6 Correspondence, BL-BN 1934-1935
1 7 Correspondence, BO-BQ 1935
1 8 Correspondence, BR-BT 1935
1 9 Correspondence, BU-BY 1934-1935
1 10 Buchanan-Thomas Adv. Co., Omaha, Nebraska 1935
1 11 Building Material and Equipment 1934
1 12 Building Correspondence 1934
1 13 Correspondence CA-CD 1934-1935
1 14 Campbell Heating Company, Des Moines, Iowa 1934
1 15 Central Life Assurance Society, Des Moines, Iowa 1935
1 16 Correspondence CE-CI 1934-1935
1 17 Central National Bank and Trust Company, Des Moines, Iowa 1934
1 18 Chaloupka, Glen (salesman), Yale, Iowa 1934-1935
1 19 Correspondence CL-COL 1934-1935
1 20 Correspondence COM-COY 1935
1 21 Correspondence CR-CZ 1935
1 22 Correspondence DA-DH 1934-1935
1 23 Des Moines Steel Company, Des Moines, Iowa 1934
1 24 Correspondence DI-DO 1935
1 25 Correspondence DR-DU 1934-1935
1 26 Correspondence EA-EL 1934-1935
1 27 Correspondence EM-EY 1935
1 28 Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, New York City 1934-1935
1 29 Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa 1934-1935
1 30 Correspondence FA-FH 1934-1935
1 31 Farmers National Company, Fort Dodge, Iowa 1935
1 32 Federal Land Bank, Omaha, Nebraska 1935
1 33 Correspondence FI-FL 1935
1 34 Correspondence FO-FY 1935
1 35 Form Letters 1934-1935
2 1 Correspondence GA-GH 1934-1935
2 2 Genoway, R. B., Omaha, Nebraska 1934-1935
2 3 Correspondence GI-GO 1934-1935
2 4 Correspondence GR-GY 1934-1935
2 5 Correspondence HAA-HAM 1934-1935
2 6 Correspondence HAN-HAY 1935
2 7 Correspondence HE-HH 1934-1935
2 8 Correspondence HI-HOK 1935
2 9a Hi-Bred Corn Company of Des Moines (Counties out of our territory) 1934-1935
2 9b Financial Statements 1933-1935
2 10 Hi-Bred Corn Company, Grimes, Iowa 1934-1935
2 11 Correspondence HOL-HOY 1935
2 12 Correspondence HU-HY 1935
2 13 Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa (Correspondence includes Mr. Joe L. Robinson) 1934-1935
2 14 Correspondence I-ID 1934-1935
2 15 Income Tax 1935
2 16 Insurance 1934-1935
2 17 Interstate Machinery and Supply Company, Omaha, Nebraska 1934
2 18 Insurance Companies n.d.
2 19 Iowa Land and Investment Company, Sioux City, Iowa 1935
2 20 Correspondence JE-JU 1934-1935
3 1 John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, Boston, Iowa 1935
3 2 Correspondence KA-KG 1934-1935
3 3 Correspondence KH-KM 1935
3 4 Correspondence KN-KY 1934-1935
3 5 Correspondence LA-LD 1934-1935
3 6 Correspondence LE-LH 1935
3 7 Correspondence LI-LL 1934-1935
3 8 Liquidation Corporation of Davenport 1934-1935
3 9 Correspondence LO-LY 1934-1935
3 10 Correspondence MAA-MAQ 1934-1935
3 11 Correspondence MAR-MAY 1935
3 12 Correspondence Mc-MD 1935
3 13 Correspondence ME-MH 1934-1935
3 14 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, New York 1935
3 15 Correspondence MI-MN 1935
3 16 Correspondence MO-MT 1935
3 17 Correspondence MU-MY [no material]
3 18 Correspondence NA-NH 1934-1935
3 19 Nebraska 1934-1935
3 20 Nebraska Branch (Orders) 1935
3 21 Correspondence NEW-NY 1935
3 22 Correspondence O 1934-1935
3 23 Correspondence PA-PG 1934-1935
3 24 Perry Production Credit Association, Perry, Iowa 1934-1935
3 25 Correspondence PH-PO 1934-1935
3 26 Correspondence PR-Q 1934-1935
3 27 Prudential Life Insurance Company, Omaha, Nebraska 1935
3 28 Correspondence RA-RG 1934-1935
3 29 Redfield Brick and Tile Company, Redfield, Iowa 1934
3 30 Register Life Insurance Company, Davenport, Iowa 1934-1935
3 31 Correspondence ROB-ROY 1934-1935
3 32 Correspondence RU-RY 1935
3 33 Correspondence SA-SB 1934-1935
3 34 Correspondence SCA-SCHU 1935
3 35 Correspondence SCHW-SCU 1935
4 1 Correspondence SE-SH 1934-1935
4 2 Correspondence SI-SL 1934-1935
4 3 Correspondence SM-SO 1934-1935
4 4 Correspondence SP-STA 1934-1935
4 5 Correspondence STE-STO 1934-1935
4 6 Correspondence STR-SY 1934-1935
4 7 Correspondence TA-TH 1934-1935
4 8 Correspondence TI-TY 1934-1935
4 9 Toledo Scale Company 1934
4 10 Traveler’s Insurance Company, Hartford, Connecticut 1935
4 11 Correspondence U-V 1935
4 12 Correspondence WA-WD 1934-1935
4 13 Correspondence WE-WG 1934-1935
4 14 Correspondence WH-WIK 1934-1935
4 15 Correspondence WIL-WIT 1935
4 16 Correspondence WO-WY 1935
4 17 Wood, L. A., Box 494, Des Moines, Iowa 1934-1935
4 18 Correspondence X-Z 1934-1935
4 19 Zaiser’s, 414-416 Seventh Street, Des Moines, Iowa 1934-1935
1935-1936
5 1 Correspondence AA-AL 1935-1936
5 2 Aetna Life Insurance Company, Register and Tribune Building, Des Moines, Iowa 1935-1936
5 3 Advertising 1935-1936
5 4 Correspondence AM-AY 1935-1936
5 5 Correspondence BA-BD 1935-1936
5 6 Bankers Life Insurance Company, Des Moines, Iowa 1935-1936
5 7 Correspondence BE-BH 1935-1936
5 8 Correspondence BI-BK 1936
5 9 Bills of Lading 1936
5 10 Correspondence BL-BN 1935-1936
5 11 Correspondence BO-BQ 1935-1936
5 12 Correspondence BR-BT 1935-1936
5 13 Correspondence BU-BY 1936
5 14 Buchanan – Thomas Advertising Company, 412 South 19th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 1935
5 15 Correspondence CA-CD 1935-1936
5 16 Carpenter, Albert, Coon Rapids, Iowa 1935
5 17 Correspondence CE-CI 1935-1936
5 18 Central National Bank and Trust Company of Des Moines 1935-1936
5 19 Central Life Assurance Society, Des Moines, Iowa 1935-1936
5 20 Charlton, Clyde, Brammer, Brody, Charlton & Parker, Des Moines, Iowa 1935-1936
5 21 Correspondence CL-COL 1935-1936
5 22 Clark, James H., Lake City, Iowa 1935-1936
5 23 Correspondence COM-COY 1935-1936
5 24 Coolidge Advertising Company, Des Moines, Iowa 1935-1936
5 25 Coon Rapids Enterprise 1935-1936
5 26 Corn Growers (Prospective) 1936
5 27 Corn Grown 1935
5 28 Corn Weights 1935-1936
5 29 Correspondence CR-CZ 1935-1936
5 30 Customers (Prospective) 1935-1936
6 1 Correspondence DA-DH 1935-1936
6 2 Correspondence DI-DO 1935-1936
6 4 Dreher, C. R. (Salesman) 38, Scranton, Iowa [no material]
6 5 Dubois, H. E. (Salesman) 14, Correctionville, Iowa 1935
6 6 Correspondence EA-EL 1935-1936
6 7 Eral, W. L., Pocahontas, Iowa 1935-1936
6 8 Egry Register Company, 214-Royal Union Life Building, Des Moines, Iowa 1935
6 9 Electrical Engineering and 13th & Walnut Construction Company, Des Moines, Iowa 1935-1936
6 10 Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa 1935-1936
6 11 Correspondence EM-EY 1935-1936
6 12 Equitable Life Assurance Society of New York, U.S. 1935-1936
6 13 Correspondence FA-FH 1935-1936
6 14 Farmers National Company, Omaha, Nebraska 1935-1936
6 15 Federal Land Bank, Omaha, Nebraska 1935
6 16 Correspondence FI-FL 1935-1936
6 17 Correspondence FO-FY 1935-1936
6 18 Garst, Roswell, Coon Rapids, Iowa 1935
6 19 Correspondence GA-GH 1935-1936
6 20 Correspondence GI-GO 1936
6 21 Correspondence GR-GY 1935-1936
6 22 Graders 1935
6 23 Correspondence HAA-HAM 1935-1936
6 24 Correspondence HAN-HAY 1935-1936
6 25 Correspondence HE-HH 1935-1936
6 26 Held, Gus (Salesman – 60), Hinton, Iowa 1935
6 27 Hendricks, Paul, Lake City, Iowa 1935-1936
6 28 Correspondence HI-HOK 1936
6 29 Correspondence HOL-HOY 1935-1936
6 30 Correspondence HU-HY 1935-1936
7 1 Correspondence I-JD 1935-1936
7 2 John Hancock Life Insurance Company, Boston, Massachusetts 1935-1936
7 3 Insurance 1935-1936
7 4 Remington Rand, Des Moines, Iowa 1935-1936
7 5 Inquiries 1935-1936
7 6 Iowa Land and Investment Company, Sioux City, Iowa 1935
7 7 Interstate Machinery and Supply Company, Omaha, Nebraska 1935-1936
7 8 Income Tax 1935
7 9 Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa (Includes Seed Laboratory) 1935-1936
7 10 Iowa Machinery and Supply Company, Des Moines, Iowa 1935-1936
7 11 Correspondence KA-KG 1935-1936
7 12 Correspondence JE-JU 1935-1936
7 13 Correspondence KH-KL 1936
7 14 Correspondence KN-KY 1935-1936
8 1 Correspondence LA-LD 1936
8 2 Correspondence LE-LH 1935-1936
8 3 Correspondence LI-LL 1935-1936
8 4 Light Bills Paid 1935-1936
8 5 Liquidation Corporation of Davenport, Davenport, Iowa [no material]
8 6 Correspondence LO-LY 1935-1936
8 7 Ludwig, Cornelius (Salesman) 22, Remsen, Iowa 1935 1935
8 8 E. H. Lougee, 102 South Main Street, Council Bluffs, Iowa 1935-1936
8 9 Correspondence MAA-MAQ 1936
8 10 Correspondence MSAR-MAY 1935-1936
8 11 Correspondence MC-MD 1935-1936
8 12 Correspondence ME-MH 1935-1936
8 13 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York 1935-1936
8 14 Correspondence MI-MN 1935-1936
8 15 Miller, F. A., Rockwell City, Iowa 1935-1936
8 16 Moore, Henry, Dawson, Iowa 1915
8 17 Correspondence MU-MY 1935-1936
8 18 Correspondence New-NY 1936
8 19 Correspondence NA-NH 1935-1936
8 20 Nebraska 1935-1936
8 21 Correspondence O 1935-1936
8 22 Office Supplies and Equipment 1935-1936
8 23 Ollinger, John, Pocahontas, Iowa 1935-1936
8 24 Open – Pollinated Corn 1935-1936
8 25 Open – Pollinated Corn Weights 1936
9 1 Correspondence PA-PG 1935-1936
9 2 Correspondence MO-MT 1936
9 3 Form Letters, etc. 1935-1936
9 4 Prudential Insurance Company, Omaha, Nebraska 1936
9 5 Perry Production Credit Association, Perry, Iowa 1935-1936
9 6 Correspondence PH-PO 1935-1936
9 10 Correspondence RA-RG 1935-1936
9 11 Redfield Brick and Tile, Redfield, Iowa 1935
9 12 R.R. Howell and Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1935
9 13 Correspondence RH-ROL 1935-1936
9 14 Richardson, Frank, Sac City, Iowa 1935-1936
9 15 Riis, Herman, Coon Rapids, Iowa 1935
9 16 Royal Union Life Company, Des Moines, Iowa 1936
9 17 Register Life Insurance Company, Davenport, Iowa 1935
9 18 Correspondence ROM-ROY 1935-1936
9 19 Correspondence RU-RY 1936
9 20 Pittsburgh – Des Moines Steel Company, Des Moines, Iowa 1935-1936
9 21 Correspondence SA-SB 1936
9 22 Sandy, Bert, 641 9th Street, Valley Junction, Iowa 1936
9 23 Salesmen (Prospective) 1935
9 24 Correspondence SCA-SCHU 1935-1936
9 25 Correspondence SCHW-SCU [no material]
10 1 Correspondence SE-SH 1935-1936
10 2 Seedhouse Building Addition 1935
10 3 Seedhouse Supplies and Repairs 1935-1936
10 4 Sharkey, John, Lake City, Iowa 1935-1936
10 5 Correspondence S:I-SL 1935-1936
10 6 Correspondence SM-SO 1935-1936
10 7 Smith, Blinn N., Oakland, Iowa 1936
10 8 Correspondence SP-STA 1935-1936
10 9 Correspondence STE-STO 1936
10 10 Sort Out Corn 1936
10 11 Correspondence STR-SY 1935-1936
10 12 Stoulil, Charles R., Pochahontas, Iowa 1935-1936
10 13 Straight, G. H., Fonda, Iowa 1935
10 14 Strickland, Hugh, Lake City, Iowa 1935-1936
10 15 W.W. Stuart Company, 209-211 Ninth Street, Des Moines, Iowa 1935
10 16 Correspondence TA-TH 1935-1936
10 17 Telephone Bills Paid 1935
10 18 Thomas, Charles, Coon Rapids, Iowa 1935
10 19 Salesman n.d.
10 20 Correspondence TI-TY 1935-1936
10 21 Travelers Seed Corn 1936
10 22 Travelers Insurance Company, Hartford, Connecticut 1935-1936
10 23 Toledo Scale Company, 121 Walnut Street, Des Moines, Iowa 1935
10 24 Correspondence U-V 1935-1936
10 25 Taxes 1936
10 26 Tinsley, McBroom and Higgins (Architects), Des Moines, Iowa 1935
10 27 Union Central Insurance Company, C. L. Warnum, Fieldman, Cherokee, Iowa 1936
10 28 Union Iron Works, Decatur, Illinois 1935
10 29 Correspondence WA-WD 1935-1936
10 30 Wallace, J. R., % Brenneman Seed Store, Iowa City, Iowa 1036
10 31 Wassom, Foster, Sac City, Iowa 1935-1936
10 32 Correspondence WE-WG 1935-1936
10 33 Correspondence WH-WIK 1936
10 34 Correspondence WIL_WIT 1935-1936
10 35 Wood, L. A., Pocahontas, Iowa 1935-1936
10 36 Correspondence WO-WY 1936
10 37 Wolf & Company, 3190322 Insurance Exchange 1935-1936
10 38 Correspondence X-Z 1935-1936
1936-1937
11 1 Correspondence AA-AL 1936-1937
11 2 Advertising 1937
11 3 Aetna Life Insurance Company 1936-1937
11 4 Correspondence AM-AY 1936-1937
11 5 Correspondence BA-BD 1936-1937
11 6 Correspondence BE-BH 1936-1937
11 7 Correspondence BI-BK 1937
11 8 Correspondence BL-BN 1936-1937
11 9 Correspondence BO-BQ 1936-1937
11 10 Correspondence BR-BT 1936-1937
11 11 Correspondence BU-BY 1937
11 12 Correspondence CA-CD 1936-1937
11 13 Correspondence CE-CI 1936-1937
11 14 Correspondence CL-COL 1936-1937
11 15 Correspondence COM-COY 1936-1937
11 16 Coolidge Advertising Company, Des Moines, Iowa 1936
11 17 Conn. General Life Insurance Company, Sioux City, Iowa 1936-1937
11 18 Correspondence CR-CZ 1936-1937
11 19 Correspondence DA-DH 1936-1937
11 20 Correspondence DI-DO 1936-1937
11 21 Correspondence DR-DY 1936-1937
11 22 Correspondence EA-EL 1936-1937
11 23 Electric Bills Paid 1936-1937
11 24 Electrical Engineering and Construction Company, Des Moines, Iowa 1936
11 25 Correspondence EM-EY 1936-1937
11 26 Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, Mason City, Iowa 1936-1937
11 27 Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1936
11 28 Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, Farm Loan Department, New York, New York 1936
11 29 Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa 1936-1937
11 30 Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, Omaha, Nebraska 1936
12 1 Correspondence FA-FH 1936-1937
12 2 Farmers Elevator Company, Green Mountain, Iowa 1936
12 3 Farmers National Company, Omaha, Nebraska 1936-1937
12 4 Federal Land Bank of Omaha 1937
12 5 Correspondence FI-FL 1936
12 6 Financial Statements 1936
12 7 Correspondence FO-FY 1936-1937
12 8 Correspondence GA-G 1936-1937
12 9 Germination Tests 1937
12 10 Correspondence GI-GO 1936-1937
12 11 Correspondence GR-GY 1936-1937
12 12 Growers for 1937 1936-1937
12 13 Grettenberg Grain Company Coon Rapids, Iowa 1936
12 14 Growers – Chattel Mortgages 1936-1937
12 15 John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, 1030 Bodgerow Building, Sioux City, Iowa 1936-1937
12 16 Correspondence HAA-HAM 1936-1937
12 17 Correspondence HAN-NAY 1936-1937
12 18 Correspondence HE-HH 1936-1937
12 19 Correspondence HI-HOK 1936-1937
12 20 Correspondence HOL-HOY 1936-1937
12 21 Correspondence HU-HY 1936-1937
12 22 Correspondence I-JD 1936-1937
12 23 Insurance Company Farms 1936
12 24 Insurance 1936-1937
12