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Harold Macy papers

 Collection
Identifier: ua-00273

Scope and Content

The Harold Macy papers consist of correspondence, reports, talks and writings and historical materials generated during Macy’s college years as a student at Cornell University through his years of service to the University of Minnesota as professor, agricultural experiment station director and dean of the Institute of Agriculture. The collection is composed primarily of professional correspondence and talks that Macy gave based on his research interests, principally the use of technology in mold prevention in dairy products.

The collection is arranged in four series:

Series 1, Associations, Organizations and Committees, contains correspondence, reports, questionnaires, meeting minutes and conference materials from national, regional and state agricultural and scientific organizations Macy was involved with, as well as selected University of Minnesota committees and boards.

Series 2, Correspondence, contains primarily personal correspondence, the bulk of which covers the late 1940s to the mid 1960s.

Series 3, Subject Files, includes Macy family biographical information, correspondence concerning awards and honors bestowed on Macy during his career, many of his college and graduate school notebooks, and family photographs.

Series 4, Talks and Writings, are primarily typescripts of technical and professional papers that Macy wrote about dairying concerns, including mold prevention and spoilage in milk, butter and cream, and dairy animal health. Often the papers formed the basis of talks Macy gave to commercial farm and dairying groups. Most of the writings date from the late 1920s when Macy taught dairy bacteriology in the department of animal husbandry. Two folders of collected talks cover Macy service to the University as assistant director and director of the agricultural experiment station on the St Paul campus.

Dates

  • 1910-1982

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection materials in English

Use of Materials

Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Copyright

Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). Requests to publish should be arranged with the University of Minnesota Archives.

Biographical Sketch of Harold Macy (1895-1986)

Harold Macy B.S. (1917), Cornell University; graduate work, University of Minnesota, (1919-1926); Ph.D. (1929), Iowa State College. Assistant professor of dairy bacteriology (1918), associate professor (1929-1935), professor (1935-1953); associate director of the Agricultural Experiment Station (1939), director (1950); dean, Institute of Agriculture (1953-1963), University of Minnesota. Known for his work exploring the effects of bacteria on dairy products.

Harold Macy was born January 23, 1895 in Hudson, New York. He served as a bacteriologist and chief sanitary inspector for the American Red Cross from 1917-1918, and studied and worked at the Yale Army laboratory school. During WWII, Macy served with the Army Sanitary Corp in France. He was awarded the Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor and the Order of Public Health from the French government for his work helping to control epidemics in human populations and delivering sanitation supplies to medical outposts during the closing months of the war.

Macy came to the University of Minnesota in 1918 as assistant professor of dairy bacteriology, being promoted to professor in 1935. While at the University, his research on mycology and bacteriology helped improve the quality of Minnesota dairy products. He also taught short courses to producers and published over 150 technical bulletins based on his work. As dean of the Institute of Agriculture, he oversaw the administrative transition of the department of Agriculture to the Institute of Agriculture and the broadening of the Institute’s activities to include international collaborations in the field and classrooms. Harold Macy died on November 30, 1986.

Extent

7.5 Cubic Feet (6 boxes)

Abstract

collection is composed primarily of professional correspondence and talks that Harold Macy gave based on his research interests, principally the use of technology in mold prevention in dairy products.

Source of acquisition

The collection was deposited in University Archives in 1971. Additional deposits were made to the collection in 1972, 1988 and 1991.

Related Materials in University of Minnesota Archives

University of Minnesota. Division of Entomology and Economic Zoology, Entomology papers

Processing Information

This collection was processed with funds provided by the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Historical Society from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

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Title
Harold Macy papers, 1910-1982
Author
Karen Spilman
Date
April 2005
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Collecting Area Details

Contact The University Archives Collecting Area

Contact:

612-624-0562