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W. D. Bentley Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 1955-013

Scope and Contents

Collection contains correspondence, reports, crop records, minutes of meetings, legislation, articles, and photographs* from Texas and Oklahoma relating to Walter Dimmitt Bentley (1856-1930) and his work with the Farmers' Cooperative Demonstration Work, Oklahoma A & M College's Extension Division and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) field work.

*Photographs housed separately

Dates

  • 1902-1920

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the Oklahoma Open Records Act (http://www.odl.state.ok.us/lawinfo/docs/2006-LibraryLaws-PartE.pdf), and other relevant regulations. Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which Oklahoma State University Libraries assumes no responsibility.

Conditions Governing Use

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, Oklahoma State University Archives will provide information about copyright owners and related information. Securing permission to publish or use material is the responsibility of the researcher. Note that unless specifically transferred to Oklahoma State University Libraries, any applicable copyrights may be held by another individual or entity. Copyright for material published by Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College/Oklahoma State University is held by the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges. All rights reserved.

Further information about copyright policy can be obtained by contacting Oklahoma State University Archives by email at libscua@okstate.edu or by phone at 405-744-6311.

Finding aid © 2016 Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges. All rights reserved.

Biographical Sketch

Farmers' Cooperative Demonstration Work was a program sponsored by the USDA under the direction of Dr. Seaman Knapp. Its purpose was to demonstrate to farmers improved and diversified methods of farming to combat the devastation caused by the cotton boil weevil in the south. This was accomplished by agents traveling the area, lecturing and demonstrating the methods of using pure seed, deep plowing, frequent shallow cultivation and growing all home supplies. Bentley included instructions to boys, girls and women, setting up Boys and Girls Corn Clubs and Ladies Canning Clubs. Bentley began work in Texas in 1904 as special agent for the Farmers' Cooperative Demonstration Work. Western Oklahoma was added to his region in 1907 and in 1908 he was assigned all of Oklahoma. In 1914 as a result of the Smith-Lever Act the FCDW was combined with the Extension Division at Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater and Bentley became the first director. In 1916 Bentley was appointed USDA Federal Field Agent in charge of the cooperative extension work in Oklahoma and Texas. In 1918 he returned to Oklahoma and served as Assistant Director and for a time Director of the Extension Division at OAMC until his retirement in 1929.

Extent

4.25 Linear feet ([3 record storage boxes, 1 legal box, 1 oversized folder (photographic materials: 1 letter box)])

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Arranged into 11 series.

Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog or contact the Oklahoma State University Archives Reference staff.

Related Archival Materials

Bentley Family Album, call number 929.20973 B477Zf1 (in OSU Book Collection, box 538)

Bentley Family Genealogy, call number 929.20973 B477Zj9 (in OSU Book collection, box 538)

Processing Information

Processed by SCUA Staff.

Updated by Anna Davis, 2011.

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
W. D. Bentley Papers Collection Number 1955-013
Status
Completed
Author
SCUA Staff
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Oklahoma State University Archives Repository

http://info.library.okstate.edu/scua/home
Contact:
204 Edmon Low Library
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater 74078-1071 USA

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