MS 1183 - Wood County Cooperative Extension Service (Ohio) Emergency Farm Labor

Title	MS 1183 - Wood County Cooperative Extension Service (Ohio) Emergency Farm Labor
Subject	Agriculture
Introduction	The Emergency Farm Labor records of the Cooperative Extension Service span from 1943-1948, with the majority of materials covering the range of 1944 through 1945. This collection consists of correspondences between local and state agents, as well as with military personnel. In addition, the collection contains such records as applications for employment, laws and regulations, farm labor handbooks, and the leases of land used for a prisoner of war camp. This register was compiled by Matthew Kilmer on April of 2013. This collection is a part of the local government records preservation program and has no restrictions.
Agency History	The Cooperative Extension Service began as a mutual effort between land-grant universities and the United States Department of Agriculture to provide instruction on agricultural techniques and home economics. During the First and Second World Wars, the role of Cooperative Extension expanded to aid the needs of farmers and businesses in need of manual labor by acquiring the services of women, migrant workers, and prisoners of war. In Wood County, a county agent by the name of C.B. Stewart was assigned to assist the military in establishing a prisoner of war camp in Bowling Green for the purposes of providing laborers for regional growers. Furthermore, Stewart oversaw the employment of migrant workers from Mexico and Jamaica.
Scope and Content	The documents within this collection provide excellent material for a comprehensive study of the Emergency Farm Labor activities of the Cooperative Extension Service in Ohio, but may be lacking for a narrower regional study. The correspondences (1943-1947) are mainly between C.B. Stewart and a select number of other parties, including Guy Dowdy, the state supervisor of the extension service; Colonel McCormick, the man in charge of the prisoner of war camp; and regional businesses seeking manual labor. The land leases and contracts (1944-1945) regarding the prisoner of war camp are included in the collection. Furthermore, medical bills (1944-1948) highlight the types of illnesses and injuries sustained by migrant workers and various certificates of employment (1944-1945) demonstrate where these laborers were needed the most.
Series Description	CORRESPONDENCE CORRESPONDENCE 1943-1947 Arranged chronologically Includes correspondences between C.B. Stewart and Guy Dowdy; Stewart and Colonel McCormick; and Stewart and regional businesses. REPORTS ANNUAL REPORTS 1944-1945 Arranged chronologically Includes reports on Farm Labor Supplement. MONTHLY REPORTS 1944-1947 Arranged chronologically Includes monthly reports on farm labor. LEGAL DOCUMENTS LEASES 1944-1945 Arranged chronologically Includes Lease of Land Used for the prisoner of war camp. CONTRACTS 1944-1945 Arranged chronologically Includes a Release of Liability for all damages done to the land by the USA. FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS MEDICAL BILLS 1944-1948 Includes bills paid by the Cooperative Extension Service on behalf of migrant workers. PRINTED MATERIAL LIST OF MEXICAN WORKERS 1944-1947 Arranged by company Includes Mexicans employed by the Fremont Sugar Beet Co. and Hirzel Canning Co. CERTIFICATION OF NEED FOR EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR 1944-1945 Arranged chronologically Includes applications by farmers to acquire POW labor. FARM LABOR HANDBOOK 1945-1947 Arranged chronologically Includes three different publications. OHIO EXTENSION FARM LABOR BULLETIN 1943-1946 Arranged chronologically Includes agency news. CERTIFICATION FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT 1944-1945 Arranged chronologically Includes applications by local businesses. CERTIFCATES OF AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT WHEN ILLNESS BEGAN 1944-1948 Arranged chronologically Details where migrant workers were employed when illness befell them. REGISTRATION FOR PART TIME AGRICULTURAL LABOR 1945-1947 Arranged chronologically Names the laborer and provides minute details.
Inventory	Box 1 Folders Correspondence – Cooperative Extension Agents, July – Oct. 1944 Correspondence – Cooperative Extension Agents, Oct.- Nov. 1944 List of Mexican Workers – Wood County, 1944 List of Mexican Workers – Fremont Sugar Beet Co., 1944-1947 List of Mexican Workers – Fremont Sugar Beet Co., 1944-1947 List of Mexican Workers – Hirzel Canning Co., 1944 Correspondence regarding P.O.W. camp – Wood County, 1944-1945 Correspondence regarding P.O.W. camp – location, lease, and rent, 1944-1945 Certification of Need for Employment of Prisoners of War, 1944 Certification of Need for Employment of Prisoners of War, Mar. 1945 Certification of Need for Employment of Prisoners of War, May 1945 Certification of Need for Employment of Prisoners of War, June 1945 Certification of Need for Employment of Prisoners of War, July 1945 Certification of Need for Employment of Prisoners of War, Aug. 1945 Certification of Need for Employment of Prisoners of War, Sept. 1945 Certification of Need for Employment of Prisoners of War, Oct. 1945 Correspondence – Regional Businesses, 1944-1946 Correspondence – Jamaican labor, 1944-1945 Census of Jamaican Laborers, n.d. Correspondence – Quaker Maid Co. on behalf of tomato growers, 1944-1945 Box 2 Folders Farm Labor Handbook, 1945 Farm Labor Handbook, 1946 Farm Labor Handbook, 1947 Ohio Extension Farm Labor Bulletin Annual reports, monthly reports – farm labor, 1944-1947 Certification for Non-Agricultural Employment, 1944-1945 Correspondence to officers regarding servicemen released for agricultural work, 1943-1947 Correspondence to officers regarding servicemen released for agricultural work, 1943-1947 Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1944-1947 Correspondence- county agent, 1944 Medical care information, 1944-1947 Medical care information, 1944-1948 Box 3 Folders Certificates of Agricultural Employment when Illness Began, 1944 Certificates of Agricultural Employment when Illness Began, 1945 Certificates of Agricultural Employment when Illness Began, 1946 Certificates of Agricultural Employment when Illness Began, 1947 Certificates of Agricultural Employment when Illness Began, 1948 Invoices – medical care and bills, 1944-1948 Leases for Land Used – P.O.W. camp, 1944-1945 Publications regarding laws, 1944-1946 Box 4 Folders Registration for Part Time Agricultural Labor, Apr. 1945 Registration for Part Time Agricultural Labor, May- Nov. 1945 Registration for Part Time Agricultural Labor, Apr.- May 1946 Registration for Part Time Agricultural Labor, May- Oct. 1946 Registration for Part Time Agricultural Labor, Apr. – May 1947 Registration for Part Time Agricultural Labor, May- Nov. 1947