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Inventory of the Milton D. Miller Papers, 1939-1992
D-043
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Creator:
Miller, Milton D. (Milton Davis), 1911-
Title: Milton D. Miller Papers,
Date: 1939-1992
Extent:
12.8 linear feet
Abstract: The Milton D. Miller Papers includes University of California, Davis Agricultural
Extension Agronomist Milton D. Miller's work in the field of rice, cereal crops, oilseed crops, and food
procurement. The collection spans the years 1939-1992 and contains research proposals and reports, publications,
photographs, articles, and notes relating to international agricultural development, with an emphasis on rice
production. The collection also documents Miller's World War II service in the Australia Branch Section of the
United States Army Subsistence Procurement Branch.
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: D-043
Language of Material: Collection materials in English
Milton Davis Miller (1911-d.?) was born in Melmont, Washington in 1911 and later moved to Huntington Park,
California with his parents. After his high school graduation in 1928, Miller continued his education at the
University of California, Davis, where he received his bachelor's degree and a master's degree in agronomy.
In 1936, Miller was appointed Extension Farm Adviser in Ventura County, California. He held this position
until 1941, when he took military leave to serve in the United States Army. During his four years serving in
World War II, Miller was stationed in Australia, where he served as Technical Adviser to the United States Army
and to the Australian government on food production. Miller ultimately rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
After the war, Miller returned to agricultural extension service in California. He was assigned to the
University of California, Davis (known at the time as the College of Agriculture at Davis) as Coordinating
Extension Agronomy Specialist. His field assignments were in production of forage seed and in rangeland
improvement. In 1949 Miller transferred to Glenn County, California, where he re-established the County
Extension Service. Miller continued his work on forage seed and rangeland improvement and began work on rice
culture, which would become the major focus of his career.
Miller left Glenn County in 1955 and returned to the University of California, Davis. From 1955 to 1964 he
served as Extension Agronomist, was named assistant state director in 1964, and in 1966 at his request was once
again Extension Agronomist. From 1966 to his retirement in 1974, Miller had state-wide Extension
responsibilities for the University of California in rice, oilseed crops, and applied research on plant growth
regulators. He was also appointed Unit Coordinator for the University of California's Extension programs.
In 1966, Miller was part of a team of University of California scientists that went to Thailand to aid
Kasetsart University in developing its agricultural research and education programs. Miller also helped to train
Peace Corps volunteers for three years. From 1971 to 1974, Miller worked with the Development and Resources
Corporation to help design a twelve-year rice research program for Iran. In 1975, Miller served in Romania as a
consultant to the World Bank and undertook a complete review of Romania's agricultural sector. In 1977, Miller
was in Egypt as the Crop Specialist member of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Study Task Force.
Source: Milton D. and Mary M. Miller Fellowship Fund brochure, Milton D. Miller Papers,
D-043, Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis.
The Milton D. Miller Papers span the years from 1939-1992. The collection contains material related to Miller's
work as an Agricultural Extension Agronomist at the University of California, Davis. Also present are research
proposals and reports; working papers and notes relating to the California Rice Research Board; publications,
articles, and notes relating to international agricultural development with an emphasis on rice production; and
reports, scrapbooks, and films documenting Miller's World War II service in the Australia Branch Section of the
United States Army Subsistence Procurement Branch. The collection also includes a small set of mounted grain
specimens.
The following items have been separated from the Milton D. Miller Papers and are now part of the Special
Collections Library:
Krantz, Bertil Allan.
Not So Long Ago. 1981.
Krantz, Nell Morris.
Around the World by Land, Sea, and Air. 1978.
Krantz, Nell Morris.
When the Twain Meet. 1978.
The following collections at Special Collections may also be of interest:
D-342, AgRISTARS/LACIE Collection, circa 1970-1980: This collection documents one of the first automated efforts to
monitor worldwide crop production.
D-418, Francis DuBois Papers, 1930-2001: This collection contains files on rice research, Demeter Corporation,
and DuBois' involvement with the California Crop Improvement Association and the California Rice Research Board.
D-087, Richard Rominger Papers, 1977-2000: This collection contains correspondence, clippings, budget papers,
agendas, and meeting notes relating to Rominger's work with the Department of Food and Agriculture; and files on
pesticides, water appropriation, soil erosion, farm labor, and natural resources
D-255, Frank J. Veihmeyer Papers, 1924-1959: This collection contains research notes, publications, and
pamphlets pertaining to Veihmeyer's work in crop irrigation, particularly on the movement of water through soil
and its availability to plants; and papers on the effects of cultivation and crop irrigation.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public
access catalog.
Miller, Milton D. (Milton Davis), 1911---Archives.
Agricultural development projects--Egypt.
Agricultural development projects--Iran.
Agriculture--Romania.
Agricultural education--Thailand.
Maha¯witthaya¯lai Kase¯tsa¯t
Rice--Research.
United States. Army. Services of Supply, South West Pacific Area
World War, 1939-1945--Food supply--Australia.
University of California (System). University Extension.
Collection is open for research.
Gift of Milton D. Miller, 1993.
[Identification of item], Milton D. Miller Papers, D-043, 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.