Records of the Virginia Cooperative Extension

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
Newman Library
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
560 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research, except for boxes 22 and 23 which are restricted for confidentiality and personally identifiable information.

Restricted due to confidentiality and personally identifiable information.

Terms of access:

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Records of the Virginia Cooperative Extension, RG 26, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
29.32 Cubic Feet 35 boxes
Creator:
Virginia Cooperative Extension (1995-), Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, Virginia Cooperative Extension (1995-), and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Extension Division
Abstract:
This collection contains the administrative records of the Virginia Cooperative Extension, including correspondence, reports, financial documents, slides, videos, and the records of Bob Swain and Edwin J. Jones. The collection also documents the VCE's role in Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, Virginia Association of Extension Secretaries, and their work within rural communities.
Language:
The materials in the collection are in English.
Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Records of the Virginia Cooperative Extension, RG 26, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains the administrative records of the Virginia Cooperative Extension, including correspondence, reports, financial documents, slides, videos, and the records of Bob Swain.

The records are divided into eight seires. The first series, Rural Communities, contains videotapes from Rural Communities and notes. Series II, Reports and Statistics, includes statistical and narrative doruments, annual reports, plans of work, and progress reports.

The third series, Bob Swain records, are subdivided chronologically. This series includes budgets, financial statements and reports, allotment estimates, salaries, expenditures, legistlative documents, treasurer's statements, interest on federal funds, and extension donations.

Series four, Extension Administration Records, is restricted due to the contents containing perosnal information. The fifth series, JLARC, contains action reports, correspondence, news and media, recordings and other documents relating to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission from 1862 to 1993. Series six, Virginia Association of Extension Secretaries, contains correspondence, meeting notes, newsletters, and other documents from 1958-1993. The seventh series contains papers from the presentation Lucy is Still Here, and the last series, Slides, contain slides from New 4-H leader orientation and inflation.

Additional audiovisual tapes and reels are available, and a separate inventory is online.

Memorandum of Agreement between CES, Soil Conservation Soceity of America and the Va. Resource Education Council

Payroll reimbursements, Budget purposal, extension staff support, group statistics, outreach service consideration

This series includes administrative and financial documents relating to Virginia Cooperative Extension. Materials date from 1915 to 1997. Administrative documents contain the USDA administrative expectations for Cooperative extension programs and VCE specific policies. Other materials include publications, meeting minutes, photographs of newly trained extension workers, newspaper clippings, and a study of Virginia Cooperative Extension completed by the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget. A report about Seaman A. Knapp, produced by his college, is also a part of the contents. District Financial Records contain documents relating to the budget, appropriations, and employment, separated into three subgroups. Records by Date, containing budget requests, is organized by year, from 1968 to 1982 and 1994. Records by District contain budget requests, correspondence regarding appropriations and employment opportunities. The materials are organized by district and further by unit, either a county or city, following the Virginia Cooperative Extension assignment of local offices.

To learn more about local offices are organined, see: https://ext.vt.edu/offices.html

The 1995 Budget Restoration contains news articles specific to the VCE budget restoration efforts, letters of support, thank you letters, and signed county resolutions.

Biographical / historical:

"Extension work at the university can trace its roots to 1906, when an extension program was established in Virginia. After the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 was passed, overall administration of extension, or demonstration, work was transferred to Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI), with Hampton Institute (later Hampton University) as a division initially serving Black communities. At that time, it became the Agricultural Extension Service, also called the Cooperative Extension Service. In 1930, Virginia State College (later Virginia State University (VSU)) took over the extension responsibilities of Hampton Institute.

In 1966, the Virginia General Assembly established the VPI Extension Division, which combined the Cooperative Extension Service, General Extension Division, State Technical Services, and Continuing Education Center. After passage of the 1977 U. S. Farm Bill, VSU's extension program became an equal partner to VT's program, rather than a division reporting to VT. In 1995, the Division became the Virginia Cooperative Extension and Agricultural Experiment Station Division, often shortened to the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), still operated jointly by VT and VSU today."

Edwin Jones became the director of Virginia Cooperative Extension and associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in April 2011. Prior to that he served as associate director and state program leader for Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Community and Rural Development; associate state program leader for Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Community and Rural Development; assistant department head and department extension leader in forestry; and as extension wildlife specialist and professor of forestry at NC State University. He has also served as extension wildlife specialist at Mississippi State University. Jones earned a bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of Washington, and master of science and a doctoral degree from Virginia Tech in fisheries and wildlife science. He has held leadership positions in the Extension Disaster Education Network, the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, and the Southern Region Program Leader Network.

Acquisition information:
The Records of the Virginia Cooperative Extension were transferred to Special Collections and University Archives in 2015 and 2016. Series IX. Office of the Director, Edwin J. Jones, Records were tranferred in June 2021.
Appraisal information:

Duplicate budget books were removed from this collection and destroyed.

Processing information:

Initial minimal description of the Records of the Virginia Cooperative Extension was completed in August 2019. The processing, arrangement, and description was completed in December 2019. Series IX. Office of the Director, Edwin J. Jones, Records was integrated in July 2021.

Additional unprocessed records and ephemera are available upon request. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives staff for more information.

Arrangement:

The Records of the Virginia cooperative Extension are organized into the following series:

  • Series I. Rural Communities, 1993-1994
  • Series II. Reports and and Statistics, 1926-1949
  • Series III. Bob Swain Records, 1907-1990
  • Series IV. Extension Administration Records, 1994-1997
  • Series V. Joint Legistlative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), 1962-1993
  • Series VI. Virginia Association of Extenison Secretaries, 1958-1993
  • Series VII. Lucy Is Still Here papers, 1980-1989
  • Series VIII. Slides, 1980-1989
  • Series IX. Office of the Director, Edwin J. Jones, Records is arranged by material type, with most of original order retained, into two subseries:
    • Subseries A: Administrative Documents. This includes meeting minutes, USDA budgets, newspaper clippings, and speeches. Materials are organized by type. Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
    • Subseries B: District Financial Records. These are divided into three subgroups; Records by date, organized chronologically; Records by District, arranged alphabetically by county name with the individual folders organized chronologically; 1995 Budget restoration, including newspaper articles, correspondence, and budget reports, arranged alphabetically.

This series is arranged into two subseries by material type.

Subseries A: Administrative Documents. This includes meeting minutes, USDA budgets, newspaper clippings, and speeches. Materials are organized by type. Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Subseries B: District Financial Records. These are divided into three subgroups; Records by date, organized chronologically; Records by District, arranged alphabetically by county name with the individual folders organized chronologically; 1995 Budget restoration, including newspaper articles, correspondence, and budget reports, arranged alphabetically.

For the most part, the original order is retained.

Physical / technical requirements:

Audiovisual materials require special equipment to access. Special Collections and University Archives has equipment for accessing DVDs and VHS tapes. Other audiovisual materials in this collection may not be accessible due to format.