University of California Cooperative Extension Records, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties UCCE.HUM
University of California, Merced Library
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Merced Library
Title: University of California Cooperative Extension Records, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties
Identifier/Call Number: UCCE.HUM
Physical Description:
8 Linear Feet
Date (bulk): 1914-2000
Language of Material:
English
.
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.
This collection is open for research. A portion of the records have been digitized and are freely available online. Per the
request of the Humboldt County, UC Cooperative Extension office, materials in this collection are located at their office.
There is an exception, however, for Series 5: Photographs and Audiovisual Materials. These objects (except for the scrapbooks)
are located at the UC Merced Library. For help locating archival materials at the Humboldt County, UC Cooperative Extension
office, please contact (707) 445-7351. For help locating photographic materials, contact archives@ucmerced.edu.
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.
Humboldt county was the first in California to establish a Cooperative Extension Office with Andrew H. Christiansen serving
as the first farm advisor. Christiansen began his tenure by addressing the needs of farmers in the region which included conducting
soil and water tests, giving advice, and demonstrating cultivation techniques. Over the years, farm advisors in Humboldt county
have focused on three main areas: dairy and cattle, forestry, and farm experiments.
Before World War II, Humboldt county farm advisors focused on the use of records to maintain herd health, which aided in eradicating
tuberculosis and brucellosis. They also implemented calf diet supplementation; promoted cow testing; and wide-ranging forage
trials. After the war, their focus shifted to assisting dairy farmers with marketing milk production. In the 1940s, farm advisors
tackled the major issue of the Klamath weed, which had infested 150,000 acres of rangeland. Through the introduction of the
Klamath weed beetle, UCCE conducted the first successful eradication of an invasive species using a biological method in California.
Humboldt county farm advisors also worked with landowners to address a number of forestry issues, including the fighting of
wildfires, utilizing wood, milling, planting, and management issues. Due to increased demand for wood products following WWII,
Humboldt county hired Robert Krohn in 1964, to work as a specialist in silviculture and management of second-growth forests.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the focus expanded to pest control.
Fruit and vegetable experiments comprise the third area of focus in Humboldt county. In the 1920s, farm advisors worked with
the Fruit Growers Association on cultivating apples, peaches, and berries. They also performed experiments on carrot fertilization
and other vegetable production and varieties, including tomatoes, asparagus, and potatoes. These trials continued through
the 1980s.
An important aspect of UCCE's Humboldt county office is its long history and involvement in 4-H, a youth development and mentoring
organization. Humboldt was the first county in California to form 4-H Clubs, with the establishment of clubs in Arcata, Ferndale,
and Fortuna in 1913. In 1946, Humboldt County appointed Ruth Crawford as the first county Home Demonstration Agent. Crawford
focused on teaching the community about food preservation, sewing, clothes, recycling, mattress making, and home improvement
projects. In the 1960s, the focus of the Home Demonstration Agent shifted to 4-H, with hands-on projects involving engineering,
animal science, gardening, and woodworking.
A more comprehensive history of UC Cooperative Extension in Humboldt county is found on their website: http://cehumboldt.ucanr.edu/cooperativeextension/Oral_history_project_and_historic_timeline/
The University of California Cooperative Extension Records for Humboldt County span the years of 1914-2000. Records include
reports and information on wildfire management, the 1955 and 1964 floods, disaster response, farm management, soil and timber
surveys, floriculture, and plant management. A large portion of the records are related to livestock and animal husbandry
in Humboldt County, Del Norte County, the North Coast, and California and include trial reports and reference material on
ranch water quality, pest control, grazing, cattle reproduction and management, horse breeding and management, and dairy management.
This collection also includes reports and information on the work of the Home Demonstration Agents, who later became the 4-H
advisors. Home demonstration and 4-H subjects include: home economics, nutrition education, home gardens, home beautification,
and youth development. The collection includes a wide variety of formats: typed reports, data sets, local newsletters and
press releases, maps, audiovisual material, photographs, slides, scrapbooks, and a variety of publications from the county,
state, and national level. Portions of this collection are currently being processed.
University of California Cooperative Extension Records, Humboldt County, UCCE HUM, UC Cooperative Extension Archive, University
of California, Merced Library, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343
Administrative Files
Series 1 Administrative Files
A portion of the records in this series have been digitized and are freely available online. Per the request of the Humboldt
County, UC Cooperative Extension office, the physical materials in this series are located at their office. For help locating
archival materials at the Humboldt County, UC Cooperative Extension office, please contact (707) 445-7351.
Deborah Giraud Records
Series 2 Deborah Giraud Records
A portion of the records in this series have been digitized and are freely available online. Per the request of the Humboldt
County, UC Cooperative Extension office, the physical materials in this series are located at their office. For help locating
archival materials at the Humboldt County, UC Cooperative Extension office, please contact (707) 445-7351.
Gary Markegard Records
Series 3: Gary Markegard
Language of Material: English.
A portion of the records in this series have been digitized and are freely available online. Per the request of the Humboldt
County, UC Cooperative Extension office, the physical materials in this series are located at their office. For help locating
archival materials at the Humboldt County, UC Cooperative Extension office, please contact (707) 445-7351.
Animal Husbandry and Dairy
Series 4: Animal Husbandry and Dairy
Language of Material: English.
This subseries consists of slides, publications, data, articles, newsletters, newspaper clippings, correspondence, photos,
and reports on animal husbandry. The topics covered in this subseries include: dairy economics, dairy laws, dairy cost studies,
diary quality, dairy housing, antibiotics in milk, cattle taxpayer numbers, diary marketing, milk testing, role of protein
in the milk industry, milk flavor issues, dairy feeds and feeding, dairy month, dairy management, dairy heifer replacement
study, diary water quality requirements, Dairy Products and Manufacturing, Humboldt County Wool Growers Association Picnics,
and Lamb Carcass Contest.
A portion of the records in this series have been digitized and are freely available online. Per the request of the Humboldt
County, UC Cooperative Extension office, the physical materials in this series are located at their office. For help locating
archival materials at the Humboldt County, UC Cooperative Extension office, please contact (707) 445-7351.
Photographs and Audiovisual Materials
Series 5 Photographs and Audiovisual Material
oversize-box Aerial Maps
Aerial Photographs
box 31, box 32, box 34
Photographs
box Freezer 1, item UCCE_HUM_AV_0001-UCCE_HUM_AV_0166, box Freezer 2, item UCCE_HUM_AV_0167-UCCE_HUM_AV_0345, box Freezer 3, item UCCE_HUM_AV_0346-UCCE_HUM_AV_0578, box Freezer 4, item UCCE_HUM_AV_0579-UCCE_HUM_AV_0793, box Freezer 5, item UCCE_HUM_AV_0794-UCCE_HUM_AV_1078, box Freezer 6, item UCCE_HUM_AV_1079-UCCE_HUM_AV_1147, 35mm negatives
Negatives
box 25
Open Reel Audiotapes
box 25
Home advisor Evelyn Wunderlich radio show recordings, KPLY 1977
Physical Description: 5 Reels
box 25
The Ray Heatherton Show 1975
Physical Description: 1 Reel
Scrapbooks and Albums
box 28
Maps and Soil Surveys
Series 6: Maps and Soil Surveys
4-H
Series 7 4-H
Language of Material: English.
This series consists of three scrapbooks from 1947-1967 and five photo books that reflect the activities and work that was
done by the 4-H advisor and 4-H clubs in Humboldt County, as well as publications that document the history of 4-H in Humboldt
county.
A portion of the records in this series have been digitized and are freely available online. Per the request of the Humboldt
County, UC Cooperative Extension office, the physical materials in this series are located at their office. For help locating
archival materials at the Humboldt County, UC Cooperative Extension office, please contact (707) 445-7351.
Publications
Series 8 Publications
Language of Material: English.
This series consist of publication on cattle, milk, bulls, steers, dairy breeding, crossbreeding, raising livestock, chickens,
peach trees, fertilizers, compost, soil, walnut trees, mushrooms, artichoke, vegetable planting and storage, tomatoes, celery,
weed control, pest control, apple trees, soil, oakworm control, cypress canker, elm leaf beetle, tree wounds, cucumbers, asparagus,
green peas, irrigation, sprinklers, water, fruit trees, grape industry, building ponds, small dams, saving water, corn silage,
soil, lily disease, raising geese, poultry diseases, turkey parasites, beekeeping, flowers, soybeans, safe food, forest land,
oak pit scales, elm disease, and brush management.
A portion of the records in this series have been digitized and are freely available online. Per the request of the Humboldt
County, UC Cooperative Extension office, the physical materials in this series are located at their office. For help locating
archival materials at the Humboldt County, UC Cooperative Extension office, please contact (707) 445-7351.
box 24, box 32, box 33
Forestry
Series 9 Forestry
This subseries consists of reports, raw data, slides, newspaper clippings, publications, and articles related to forestry.
The topics covered in this subseries include: Bishop Pine Study, Chetzem range, conferences, California Redwoods Association,
forest tours, bark beetles, oakworm, juniper twig girdler, pine tip moth, galls, hornflies, Redwood, and Douglas Fir.
A portion of the records in this series have been digitized and are freely available online. Per the request of the Humboldt
County, UC Cooperative Extension office, the physical materials in this series are located at their office. For help locating
archival materials at the Humboldt County, UC Cooperative Extension office, please contact (707) 445-7351.
Ephemera