Collection Guide
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Guide to Agricultural Technology Manuals Collection
O-011
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Table of contents
Creator:
University of California, Davis. Library
Title: Agricultural Technology Manuals Collection
Date (inclusive): 1850-1982
Extent:
73.2 linear ft.
Abstract: Manuals created by manufacturers to assist in the operation, maintenance, repair, or
restoration of agricultural machinery.
Physical location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as
many are stored offsite.
Repository:
University of California, Davis. General Library. Department of Special
Collections.
Davis, California 95616-5292
Collection number: O-011
Language of Material: Collection materials in English
The Agricultural Technology Manuals Collection began as a series in the F. Hal Higgins Collection. In 1927
F. Hal Higgins began collecting materials relating to the history of combines and tractors. Over time the
collection expanded to include materials describing farm implements, farm commodities, and equipment for
logging, earthmoving and construction.
The Library, University of California, Davis acquired Higgins’ collection in 1959. Regular patron use of the
collection indicated a strong interest in the manuals for tractors and other farm machinery. In order to
better serve patrons, Library staff shelved the manuals together as they were found in the collection. This
arrangement also made it easier to acquire new titles. In 1983, the manuals that had been accumulated in the
F. Hal Higgins collection were removed from the collection and organized as the Agricultural Technology
Manuals Collection.
For this collection, a manual is defined as an illustrated handbook used to assemble, operate, repair, or
restore machinery. It may include parts books if the parts are depicted together functionally. Except where
noted, all manuals are originals, not facsimiles or reprints. The collection is limited to farm machinery
(from a simple garden plow to power farming machines) and some construction machinery (primarily road
construction). It does not include automobiles, urban vehicles (i.e., milk trucks, delivery trucks, fire
engines), or houseware (i.e., sewing machines, vacuum cleaners, radios).
The collection is not limited by geography or by date. Though items date from 1865 to 1982, the bulk of the
collection covers U.S. manufacturers from 1930 to 1960.
O-005, Agricultural Technology Brochures Collection
O-012, Agricultural Technology Catalogs Collection
D-004, Anthony W. Bakken Collection
D-056, F. Hal Higgins Collection
D-116, F. Hal Higgins Papers
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online
public access catalog.
Agricultural machinery
Farm equipment
Collection is open for research.
Original materials acquired from F. Hal Higgins, 1959.
Newly acquired manuals are regularly added to the Agricultural Technology Manuals Collection. Manuals have
come from donations from the National Agricultural Library, UCD Antique Mechanics Club, local farm equipment
dealers, and private collectors.
[Identification of item], Agricultural Technology Manuals Collection, O-011, Department of Special
Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis..
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17, of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to
publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections, University of
California, Library, Davis as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.