This collection documents the history of the University of California Agricultural Cooperative Extension in San Joaquin County from 1914 to 1994. It affords insights not only into the relationship between the U.S. government, the University of California, and San Joaquin County farmers, but also into the course of local agriculture during the first half of the twentieth century. Also of note is material related to the history of the U.C. Agricultural Cooperative Extension Service throughout California, related legislative issues, and the history of the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau. The collection includes staff reports written yearly, monthly, and weekly; descriptions of projects and experiments; administrative files; published research; and photographs of staff members, projects, experiments, technologies, educational programs, and farm animals.

At the turn of the previous century, growing concern over the quality of life for rural Americans prompted President Theodore Roosevelt to appoint a Commission on Country Life in 1908. One of the direct outcomes of the Commission's recommendations was the passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914, which established a national extension service to place the knowledge generated at land-grant universities into the hands of farmers and rural citizens. The Agricultural Extension Service formalized and built upon existing efforts of land-grant universities to enhance the knowledge of farmers and apply scientific discoveries for improved agricultural practices. Beginning in 1913, the Agriculture Extension Service, later known as UC Cooperative Extension, placed farm advisors employed by the University of California in every county that formed a Farm Bureau and agreed to sponsor Extension Service work. While arrangements have evolved, advisors continue to work in all California counties today and address problems ranging from soil conditions and land reclamation to irrigation; from livestock breeding to improved varietals; and from mechanization to disease and pest management, to enable farms to increase efficiency and productivity.

11.3 linear feet

This collection is intended to support teaching, research, and private study. Copyright belongs to the Regents of the University of California. Use of the materials beyond that allowed by fair use or by any Creative Commons licenses assigned requires the written permission of the copyright owner(s). For further information, please contact the University of California, Merced Library at library@ucmerced.edu.

Collection is open for research by appointment at the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum, Lodi, California.