Inventory of the Ben Madson Papers,
Sara Gunasekara
Department of Special Collections
General Library
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA 95616-5292
Phone: (530) 752-1621
Fax: (530) 754-5758
Email: speccoll@ucdavis.edu
© 2008
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
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.
Biography
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.
Scope and Content
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.
Arrangement of the Collection
The Papers are arranged into four series: 1. Correspondence, 2. University of California, College of
Agriculture, 3. Reports, and 4. Photographs.
Indexing Terms
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
Access
Collection is open for research.
Processing Information
Sara Gunasekara processed these papers and created and encoded this finding aid.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Ben Madson Papers, D-108, Department of Special Collections, General Library,
University of California, Davis.
Publication Rights
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.
Series 1.
Correspondence
1950-1953
Physical Description:
14 folders
Scope and Content Note
Contains correspondence regarding the University of California field stations.
Arranged in two subseries: Incoming and Third Party.
Subseries 1.1
Incoming
1950-1953
Physical Description:
9 folders
Scope and Content Note
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Box 1:1
Baker, Frederick S.
1953 April 7
Box 1:2
Brown, Lloyd
1950 Novembe 13
Box 1:3
Hartsook, Richard F.
1953 August 4
Box 1:4
Hutchison, Claude B.
1948 October 28
Box 1:5
Ittner, N.R.
1953 July 21
Box 1:6
McElvy, Carl
1952 December 9
Box 1:7
Metcalf, Woodbridge
1953 June 18
Box 1:8
Pillsbury, Arthur
1953 July 13
Box 1:9
Winkler, A.J.
1953 May 19
Subseries 1.2
Third Party
1950-1953
Physical Description:
5 folders
Box 1:10
Hutchison, Claude B. to Beck, Julian
1948 October 28
Box 1:11
Hutchison, Claude B. to Forsyth, R.L.
1949 November 9
Box 1:12
Hutchison, Claude B. to Keller, William
1948 October 28
Box 1:13
Tufts, Warren to Briggs, F.N.
1953 May 7
Box 1:14
Unidentified to Corley, J.H.
1950 October 31
Series 2.
University of California, College of Agriculture
1920-1948
Physical Description:
3 folders
Scope and Content Note
Contains two committee reports and related materials dealing with the development of the University of
California, College of Agriculture, now the University of California, Davis, and a scroll presented to
Madson.
Box 1:15
Development of the College of Agriculture Committee
1920-1921
Scope and Content Note
Contains the committee report, minutes, and correspondence.
Box 1:16
Postwar Planning Committee, College of Agriculture
1943-1945
Scope and Content Note
Contains committee correspondence, progress reports, and minutes.
Box D Folio 2
Scroll presented to Madson
1948 September 8
Series 3.
Reports
1949-1956
Physical Description:
22 folders
Scope and Content Note
Contains field station research and progress reports, as well as range management investigations and
budgets.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Box 1:17
Agricultural Advisory Council of the Sub-Committee on Field Station Problems, Report to
undated
Box 1:18
Antelope Valley Field Station
1949
Box 1:19
Antelope Valley, Report on College of Agriculture Field Station
1953
Box 1:20
Brush Problems in California
undated
Box 1:21
Cooperative project agreement of the California Agricultural Experiment Station, University
of California and the Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture relative to the
erosion control investigations in the interior dry farm belt of California
undated
Box 1:22
Deciduous Fruit Field Station: San Jose
1953
Box 1:23
Hopland Field Station
1950
Box 1:24
Hopland Field Station
1951
Box 1:25
Hopland Sheep Range Station
1953
Box 1:26
Imperial Valley Field Station, progress report
1949-1950
Box 1:27
Imperial Valley Field Station, progress report
1951
Box 1:28
Imperial Valley Field Station, summary of field crop experiments
1951-1952
Box 1:28
Imperial Valley Field Station, truck crops, progress report
undated
Box 1:30
Ranches inspected in Mendocino County on July 18 and 18 as possible sites for the
University Range Experiment Station
undated
Box 1:31
Range Improvement Demonstration Project
1949
Box 1:32
Range Improvement Demonstration Projects, proposed
1949
Box 1:33
Range Management, budget reports
1953-1954
Box 1:34
Range Management Investigations, progress report
1951 March
Box 1:35
Range Management Investigations
1954-1955
Box 1:36
Range Management Investigations
1955-1956
Box 1:37
Westside Experimental Range Plots
1950-1953
Series 4.
Photographs
undated
Physical Description:
5 prints
Box 1:38
Field test plots
undated
Physical Description:
5 prints
