Collection Guide
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Inventory of the Ben Madson Papers,
D-108
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Table of contents
Creator:
Madson, B. A. (Ben Adolph), b. 1887.
Title: Ben Madson Papers
Date (inclusive): 1920-1956
Extent:
0.5 linear feet
Abstract: Ben Madson (1887-1974) served as Professor of Agronomy (1928-1954) and Director of
Agricultural Field Stations (1948-1954) at the University of California. His papers contain correspondence,
field station research and progress reports, range management investigations and budgets, committee
materials regarding the development of the University of California, College of Agriculture (now the
University of California, Davis), and several photographs of field test plots.
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-108
Language of Material: Collection materials in English.
Ben Madson (1887-1974) graduated in 1907 from Iowa State College. After working as an assistant chemist at
the college and as chief chemist for the Iowa Sugar Company, in 1910 he came to the University of California
as an assistant in agronomy. He went on to serve as chairman of the Agronomy Department from 1927-1948.
In 1948 he was made director of Agricultural Field Stations, a new position that was charged with
administering the outlying research areas established by the University of California for more effective
local area service to the state. He held the position until his retirement in 1954.
Madson was also active in community affairs. He served on the Davis City Council in 1939-1947 and again in
1957-1960. He was city treasurer in 1951, and mayor of Davis in 1947-1948. He was active in the Davis
Chamber of Commerce and served as Chamber president in 1955 and in 1964. He was named Davis Citizen of the
Year in 1952.
Source:
Love, R.M., Miller, M.D., and Myler, J.D. "Ben Adolph Madson."
In Memoriam. [Berkeley, Calif.
: Academic Senate], 1977.
The Ben Madson Papers contain correspondence, field station research and progress reports, range management
investigations and budgets, committee materials regarding the development of the University of California,
College of Agriculture (now the University of California, Davis), and several photographs of field test
plots.
The Papers are arranged into four series: 1. Correspondence, 2. University of California, College of
Agriculture, 3. Reports, and 4. Photographs.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online
public access catalog.
Madson, B. A. (Ben Adolph), b. 1887.--Archives
Hutchison, C. B. |q (Claude Burton), 1885-1980
University of California, Davis--Faculty--Archives
University of California (1868-1952). College of
Agriculture--History
Hopland Field Station (Hopland, Calif.)
Desert Research and Extension Center
Agricultural experiment stations--California
Range management--California
Collection is open for research.
Sara Gunasekara processed these papers and created and encoded this finding aid.
[Identification of item], Ben Madson Papers, D-108, 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, General Library,
University of California, 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.