Office of International Agricultural Programs records
Scope and Content
The collection contains records of the Office of International Programs, which administered University of Minnesota-based programs for international students studying agriculture and agriculture-related study programs in foreign countries. The collection consists of training materials, grant proposals, work plans, reports, course materials, committee minutes, conference materials, correspondence, legislative requests and programs files for foreign and domestic programs the Office administered.
The collection consists of two series: Program Files and Subjects. The Program Files covering the period from 1963 to 1999 and are subdivided into eight sub-series by geographic area: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, South America and the Soviet Union. The two most extensive sub-series are Africa and South America. The Africa sub-series includes grant materials, program and personal correspondence, reports, trips files, work plans and instructional material for programs in Morocco and Tunisia. The Moroccan materials are extensive, and chronicle the development of collaborative agronomy and forestry programs between the Institute of Agriculture and the Hassan II Institute. Also included are Peace Corp recruitment and training for Moroccan and Tunisian agricultural projects. A small amount of material is in French.
The South America sub-series is primarily focused on the Office’s work in Chile and with Chilean students at the University of Minnesota. Materials in the subseries include grant reports, program and personal correspondence, trip reports, newsletters and studies. Other countries included in the South America subseries are Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. There is a small amount of material in Spanish.
The two subseries for Russia and the Soviet Union reflect the fact that an exchange program between American and Soviet scholars began in the 1970s before the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Materials from the 1990s are filed under Russia.
There is a very little material in the program files between 1979 and 1991, save for several folders focusing on a Rwandan program between 1987 and 1989.
The Subject series is an alphabetical list of materials covering administration, development and consortial activities related to the Office. The series includes grant proposals and reports, correspondence, teaching materials, conference and travel information, legislative requests, and program reviews. The series includes questionnaires, correspondence and a program proposal dating from the mid-1950s: these materials preclude the creation of the Office of International Programs in 1964. Most materials in the series date from 1970-1974; inclusive dates for the series are 1953-1998.
Dates
- Creation: 1953-1954, 1963-1999
Creator
Language of Materials
Collection material in English and French
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.
Historical Note
As a result of a faculty committee study, the Office of International Agricultural Programs was established in 1964 to give the Institute of Agriculture a new "fourth dimension" along with its traditional programs of instruction, research, and extension. The Office was created “to extend the Institute of Agriculture's technical services abroad and to help students prepare for professional agricultural careers in other countries.” Its programs were “largely concerned with research on, and efforts to deal with, world food supply problems.”
The Office managed activities for grant-funded and collaborative projects in Tunisia, Morocco, Rwanda, Chile, Indonesia, Malawi, China, and other nations; programs for Peace Corps volunteer training; and initiatives for enrichment in international affairs, undergraduate and graduate instruction, and exchange programs.
Office of International Agricultural Programs heads and their titles:
- John Blackmore, Director, 1964 to 1976
- Pierre Antoine, Program Director, 1976 to 1978
- Malcolm Purvis, Interim Assistant Dean and Assistant Dean, 1978 to 1983
- Delane Welsch, Acting Assistant Dean and Assistant Dean, 1984 to 1992
- William Fenster, Interim Director and Director, 1992 to 1998
- Steven Clarke, Acting Director, 1998 to 1999
- Richard Swanson, Assistant Dean and Director, 1999 to 2001
- John Vreyens, Director, 2001 to 2006
Extent
21.0 Cubic Feet (21)
Abstract
Collection contains records of the Office of International Programs, which administered University of Minnesota-based programs for international students studying agriculture and agriculture-related study programs in foreign countries. The collection consists of training materials, grant proposals, work plans, reports, course materials, committee minutes, conference materials, correspondence, legislative requests and programs files for foreign and domestic programs the Office administered.
Source of acquisition
The materials were deposited in University Archives in 1972, 1976, and 1995.
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
- Office of International Agricultural Programs Records, 1953-1954, 1963-1999
- Author
- Susan Hoffman and Valerie MacDonald
- Date
- December 2010
- 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