MS 17 - Van Wert County Seed Improvement Association

Title	MS 17 - Van Wert County Seed Improvement Association
Subject	Agriculture
Introduction	The records of the Van Wert County Seed Improvement Association date from 1938-1950. The background of this service organization is reflected in the records, which consist of minutes, correspondence, membership lists, speeches, and financial reports. The Van Wert County Seed Improvement Association records were transferred from the Van Wert County Courthouse in 1976. The collection was processed and register compiled in 1981.
Agency History	The purpose of the Van Wert County Corn Hybrid Producers, organized on January 10, 1938, were to aid the members by conducting yield tests; sponsoring educational programs with 4-H Clubs and vocational agricultural departments, and at county fairs; and selling hybrid corn seed. On August 7, 1939, the organization changed its name to that of the Van Wert County Seed Improvement Association, and its purposes were expanded to include all improved agricultural seeds and cooperation with the Ohio Seed Improvement Association. Further information on this organization was not available at this writing.
Scope and Content	The records of the Van Wert County Seed Improvement Association provide information on the business and social activities of its members; however, the incompleteness of the records weaken the research value of the collection. The minutes (1938-1950), correspondence (1944-1950), and subject file materials provide background on the administrative history of the organization including education programs conducted, exhibits planned, and contests supported, all involved with the promotion of hybrid seeds. Membership lists (1945-1946) and committee duties (1949-1950) provide information on the strength of the Association and how the members conducted business. Financial records, including dues and assessment lists (1942-1947) and financial statements (1944, 1946- 1948), illustrate how the Association's programs were funded.
Series Description	PROCEEDINGS MINUTES January 1938-August 1950 (scattered) Arranged chronologically Contains members present, business conducted, financial reports, and seed projects and exhibits planning. MEMBERSHIP/COMMITTEE LISTS 1945-46, 1949-50 Arranged chronologically Contains member's name and address, and with committee lists, contains responsibilities of each committee. CONSTITUTION/BY-LAWS n.d. Contains rules establishing organization including purposes, membership criteria, and election and business procedures. CORRESPONDENCE CORRESPONDENCE October 1944-August 1950, n.d. Arranged chronologically including both incoming and outgoing letters. Includes correspondence on membership, meeting notices and seed contests. SUBJECT FILES SEED AND CROP CONTESTS/DEMONSTRATIONS 1946, 1949, n.d. Arranged alphabetically by subject title. Includes entry blanks, instructions and announcements of contests, and demonstrations regarding corn and soybean growing contests and fertilizer demonstrations. REPORTS SOYBEAN SHOW AND CONFERENCE REPORT January 1940 Includes attendance, statistics, publicity, reports of entries, and evaluation recommendations. FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT 1946-1947 Arranged chronologically Report of findings including year's balance. DUES AND ASSESSMENT LISTS 1942-1947 Arranged chronologically Includes member's name, amount paid and in what area, and date. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1944, 1946-1948 Arranged chronologically Includes itemized listing of receipts and expenditures, and balance. SCRAPBOOK AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIAL NEWS RELEASE October 1949 One news release describing the fish fry and family night activities of the Association. PRINTED MATERIAL "PURE SEEDS" 1942, 1944-1946 Brochure published by the Association describing seeds and those members either selling or using the seeds.
Inventory	Box 1 Folders Minutes, January-December 1938 Minutes, January-November 1939 Minutes, January-September 1940 Minutes, January-December 1941 Minutes, January-December 1942 Minutes, January-December 1943 Minutes, February-August 1944 Minutes, January-September 1945 Minutes, March-August 1946 Minutes, March 1947 Minutes, January-February 1948 Minutes, February-October 1949 Minutes, February, August 1950 Membership lists, 1945-1946 Committee lists, 1949-1950 Constitution and by-laws of the Van Wert County Corn Hybrid Producers, n.d. Constitution and by-laws of the Van Wert County Seed Improvement Association, n.d. Correspondence, October 1944-August 1950, n.d. Corn and soybean growing contest announcements, 1946, n.d. Men's Ten-acre Corn Project management record, n.d. Nitrogen Fertilizer Demonstrations instructions, 1949 Official Ballot (blank)--Soil Conservation District Referendum, n.d. Ohio Crop Growing Efficiency Project instructions and entry blank, 1949, n.d. Ohio Seed Improvement Association exhibit plan, n.d. Soybean Show and Conference report, January 1940 Audit Committee report, 1946-1947 Dues and assessment lists, 1942-1947 Financial Statements, 1944, 1946-1948 News release, October 1949 Letterhead stationery (blank) "Pure Seeds", 1942, 1944-1946

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