Collection Guide
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Agricultural Technology Manuals Collection
O-011
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Davis Library, Dept. of Special Collections
Title: Agricultural Technology Manuals Collection
Creator:
University
of California, Davis. Library
Identifier/Call Number: O-011
Physical Description:
74 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1850-1991
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.
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
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, Special Collections, UC Davis Library,
University of California, Davis.
All applicable copyrights for the collection are protected under chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code. 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 Regents of the University of California as the owner of the physical items. It is
not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Agricultural technology
Agricultural machinery