Skip to main content

Western Society of Soil Science records

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_COLL MSS 267

Scope and Contents

The majority of the Western Soil Science Society records are secretarial files consisting of correspondence and meeting papers (1955-1987). There are also programs, abstracts, newsletters, and papers in preparation for the annual meetings of the WSSS and the Pacific Division of American Association for the Advancement of Science (1947-1990). Three ledger books are included in this collection. The first two contain WSSS financial records for 1956-1975. The third book is a record of meeting attendance and notes for the Western Society of Soil and Science starting in 1935. Each book has a table of contents in the front.

The first three boxes contain programs, preliminary announcements, abstracts, bylaws, and a few letters, all for the annual meetings of the WSSS and the PDAAAS.

Boxes 4-7 are secretarial files compiled by the secretary-treasurer. (These secretarial files were in binders when they arrived at Special Collections and Archives. Their organization was retained during processing and the titles used previously are identified in brackets {} on the inventory.)

Box 4 holds the papers kept by C. D. Moodie while he served as secretary-treasurer, 1955-1958.

Box 5 consists of the papers and correspondence collected by Sterling J. Richards, secretary-treasurer 1958-1960, and the papers of Albert W. Marsh, secretary-treasurer 1960-1962.

Box 6 and 7 contain the papers and correspondence gathered by Sterling Olsen, secretary-treasurer 1962-1964 and other miscellaneous secretarial records from 1964 to the present.

Box 8 consists of the files of W. H. Gardner for the years 1976-1987 and various financial files. (These files are separated by year and arranged in chronological order, the most recent year coming first.)

Box 9 holds the rest of the financial records for the Western Society of Soil Science and the three ledger books. Books 2 and 3 contained loose papers, which were removed and placed in folders behind the books.

  1. WSSS: Western Society of Soil Science
  2. ASA: American Society of Agronomy
  3. SSSA: Soil Science Society of America
  4. AAAS: American Association for the Advancement of Science
  5. PDAAAS: Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Dates

  • 1925-1998

Language of Materials

Material in English

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Western Society of Soil Science Records must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Historical Note

The Western Society of Soil Science began in 1922 in Salt Lake City under the name Western Society of Soil Management and Plant Nutrition. A letter by D.S. Jennings, the original secretary-treasurer, states that the society was a result of a symposium on soil alkali held in conjunction with the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Salt Lake City, June 22-24, 1922. Starting in 1923, the society became an official affiliate with the Pacific Division of the American Association of the Advancement of Science. In 1925 the society adopted its current name. The WSSS became affiliated with the Soil Science Society of America in 1950. In 1953 the society became the western branch of the SSSA, and in 1954 the WSSS also became the western branch of the American Society of Agronomy. The WSSS has also held joint meetings with the Western Society of Crop Science every third or fourth year since 1971. The objective of the WSSS, as stated in their bylaws, is to "promote research, teaching, and extension in soil science and plant nutrition in the geographical area of the Western Region of the United States and the western provinces of Canada, and to cooperate with other societies and organizations concerned with soil and plant nutrition problems in this area." The membership of the WSSS in 1994 was 243, consisting of academic teachers and researchers in the area of soil science and related fields (WSSS business meeting notes for 1994, box 7, Fd 13).

Biographical Note

Walter H. Gardner was vice president of the Western Society of Soil Science in 1965-1966 and then president for the years 1966-1967. Walter Gardner received his BS in 1939, his MS in 1947, and his PhD in 1950, all from Utah State University in physics. Agronomy News, in August of 1984, published the following profile:

WALTER H. GARDNER, professor emeritus, Washington State University, assumed the office of president of the Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Gardner is also presently serving as past president of the Soil Science Society of America. He is widely known for his research and writing in soil physics and soil-water-plant relations. His time-lapse motion picture, "Water Movement in Soil," is used worldwide as a teaching aid. (p.5) Gardner's correspondence is found throughout this collection reflecting his service in different positions and on different committees in the WSSS. He wrote a history of the Western Society of Soil Science in 1993 which is included in this collection (box 7, Fd 9). Gardner is responsible for collecting these WSSS records and encouraging the society to archive them at Utah State University.

Gardner has donated one other manuscript collection (MS 57) to Special Collections and Archives. This collection consists of WWII reports of US strategic bombing surveys and related information compiled by Captain Gardner when he served in the military.

Walter's father, Willard Gardner, was a professor of physics at Utah State and a world-renown soil physicist. Walter's cousins, Wilford and Eldon, were professors at Utah State. Eldon was dean of graduate studies and professor of zoology. Wilford received his BS at Utah State, and later in his career returned to teach soil science after teaching at Wisconsin, Arizona, and California Universities.

Extent

9 boxes (4.5 linear feet)

Abstract

The majority of the Western Society of Soil Science records are secretarial files consisting of correspondence and meeting papers (1955-1987).

Arrangement

Arranged by subject matter and in chronological order.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was donated to Special Collections and Archives by Wilford R. Gardner in 1998. Walter Gardner turned over these records to his cousin, Wilford, who apparently volunteered to oversee their transfer to Special Collections & Archives. Both Walter and Wilford were professors in the field of soil science and members of the WSSS.

Wilford Gardner, physicist and educator, graduated from Utah State University in 1949 with a BS He received hi MS from Iowa State University in 1951 and his PhD in 1953. Wilford has taught at colleges in Wisconsin, Arizona, California, and Utah. He has been a member and served on many committees for organizations in the field of soil science. Wilford donated his collection of files and materials to Special Collections and Archives in March 2000 (COLL MSS 269).

Related Materials

Captain Walter H. Gardner World War II papers, (1944-1950) COLL MSS 57

Source:

  • Some Notes From Western Society of Soil Science Records! composed by Walter H. Gardner in 1993 (box 7, fd 9).

Processing Information

Processed in June of 2000.

Title
Guide to the Western Society of Soil Science records 1925-1998
Author
Finding aid/Register created by Jolyn Hunting
Date
©2011
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English.

Revision Statements

  • 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)