Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Guide to the Washington Potato
Association Records
1952-1977
Cage
365
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
- Creator
- Washington Potato Association
- Title
- Washington Potato Association Records
- ID
- Cage 365
- Date [inclusive]
- 1952-1977
- Extent
- 4 containers., 4 linear feet of shelf space., 730 items.
- Language
- Collection materials are in English.
- Abstract
- Office files, such as correspondence, memoranda, financial records, meeting agendas and minutes, reports, committee lists, Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, and other records of an association of potato and onion growers, shippers and processors. Included are materials on related organizations such as the Washington Potato Commission, the State of Washington Potato Committee and various federal agencies.
Preferred Citation
[Item Description]. Cage 365, Washington Potato Association Records. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Biography/History
The Washington Potato Association was established in 1952 as the Washington Potato and Onion Shippers Association, Inc. The organization was created in the early days of the Korean War when OPS prices controlled the potatoes, onions, and packing shed service without adequate consultation with the industry. It was dedicated to promoting the general welfare of the shippers. In 1958 the organization expanded to include both growers and shippers.
One of the primary tasks of the organization was traffic management, which involved both rates and forms of transporatation for the produce. Advertising and promoting the sale of potatoes, onions, fruits, and vegetables were also important functions. The association acted as a spokesman for the industry when dealing with government agencies and also supported, sponsored, and developed agricultural research project. The organization encouraged discussions and understanding of mutual problems within the industry, promoted reduced insurance rates for members, and offered a variety of social functions at which members could get better acquainted.
In a special meeting on May 8, 1969, the name of the organization was changed to the Washington Potato Association and the by-laws and Articles of Incorporation were amended. This step insured that potato shippers and processors would be working together as part of one organization.
Scope and Content
The records of the Washington Potato Association and its predecessors, the Washington Potato and Onion Shipper's Association and the Washington Potato and Onion Grower's and Shipper's Association, are divided into two series: the Organizational Records Series, which includes material on the internal organization of the Association; and the Business and Professional Relations Series, which contains information about related organizations, associations, and institutions.
Arrangement
Organizational Records include the general records of the organization. Part of these files are arranged chronologically by year and part by general subject area. In general, the original order of the collection was maintained. General Records include correspondence, memoranda, financial information, meeting agendas and minutes, reports, committee lists, and Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws from 1952-1972. Bound volumes previously assembled by Association personnel have been treated as individual items.
Financial information, arranged chronologically, consists of material from 1959 through 1970 with the exception of fiscal year 1965-1966. Included in the financial information files are general ledgers, assessments received, accounts received, trial balances, processors' reports, reports of examination, income tax returns, and bills.
Correspondence is arranged chronologically from 1962-1966. The only named correspondence files were those of Don Trimble, the Association Manager; these are arranged by fiscal year. These files include memoranda and correspondence as well as financial information, minutes, reports, photographs, and meeting agendas.
The Social Activities files are arranged chronologically by year from 1962-1969. They include memoranda, correspondence, financial information, ticketing information, and reports about the preparation and execution of Potato Night, golf activities, Ladies' Luncheons, and other functions.
The Washington Potato Commission and the Washington Potato Association share many members and some documentation of the Commission's activities is included in the records of the Association. This information includes advertising and promotion campaigns sponsored by the Commission as well as information about the basic organization of the Commission, such as a description of its organization, lists of potato growers, and the rules and regulations of the Commission from 1953-1963. A file containing documents on the suit brought by the Idaho Potato Commission against the Washington Potato Commission includes court proceedings and preliminary findings from the 1975 case. Other records concerning the Washington Potato Commission include correspondence, employee income tax information, financial data, shipping orders and invoices, Annual Reports, and meeting minutes and agendas arranged chronologically by year from 1957-1972. Copies of "Spud Topics", a publication of the Washington Potato Commission, are also included for the period from 1959 to 1971.
The State of Washington Potato Committee's Annual Reports are arranged by fiscal year from 1964-1975. A Committee Book from 1968-1969 includes that year's financial reports, correspondence, memoranda, and minutes. The Potato Committee's Disposition Reports from 1954-1977 are arranged chronologically by year.
The National Potato Council file contains memoranda, correspondence, reports, and copies of the "Potato Digest" from 1965-1966.
Papers and reports from Washington State University are filed chronologically by year from 1958-1977. These include reports on research activities and the Othello Seed Lot Trials. Potato Advisory Council Meetings at WSU from 1958-1963 consist of personal memoranda, schedules, reports and related correspondence.
Several Federal agencies have been involved with potato development and research and records of their activities are arranged chronologically within subject areas. Newspaper clippings, court proceedings, charges, and related correspondence about the Enabling Act of 1955 are included as well as Annual Reports and Summaries of Work performed by the USDA at Union Gap,WA from 1957-1960.
The proceedings of the Washington State Potato Conference and Trade Fair, 1962-1977 inclusive with the exception of 1967, are arranged chronologically by year. General reports submitted to the Association as well as to and from other industries related to the growing, shipping, and processing of potatoes are arranged chronologically by year from 1955-1968
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections © 2012
http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/
Terrell Library
P.O. Box 645610
Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA
509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research use.
Acquisition Information
The records of the Washington Potato Association were donated by the Association through George O'Leary in September 1977 (77-52).
Names and Subjects
Corporate Name(s)
Creator(s) :
- Washington Potato Association--Archives
Subject(s) :
- Washington State Potato Commission
- State of Washington Potato Committee
Personal Name(s)
Donor(s) :
- O'Leary, George. WaPS
Subject(s)
- Agriculture--Washington (State)--Societies, etc.--Records and correspondence
- Potatoes--Washington (State)
- Agriculture
- Washington (State)
Detailed Description of Collection
Series 1: Organizational Records |
||||
Subseries 1.1: General records |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
1952-1956 1 |
1 | 1 | ||
|
1956-1958 1 |
1 | 2 | ||
|
1958-1964 1 |
1 | 3 | ||
|
1967-1969 7 |
1 | 4 | ||
|
1970-1971 1 |
1 | 5 | ||
|
1971-1972 1 |
1 | 6 | ||
|
Annual Meeting 1965-1966 13 |
1 | 7 | ||
|
Employment Security Meetings 1966 22 |
1 | 8 | ||
|
Pre-harvest Meeting 1965-1966 11 |
1 | 9 | ||
|
"Articles, By-Laws, Membership Agreements" 1952-1972 6 |
1 | 10 | ||
Subseries 1.2: Financial Information |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
1959-1960 1 |
1 | 11 | ||
|
1960-1961 1 |
1 | 12 | ||
|
1961-1962 1 |
1 | 13 | ||
|
1962-1963 2 |
1 | 14 | ||
|
1963-1964 1 |
1 | 15 | ||
|
1964-1965 1 |
1 | 16 | ||
|
1966-1967 62 |
1 | 17 | ||
|
1967-1968 5 |
1 | 18 | ||
|
1968-1969 4 |
1 | 19 | ||
|
1969-1970 2 |
1 | 20 | ||
Subseries 1.3: Correspondence |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
General 1962-1974 8 |
2 | 21 | ||
Don Trimble |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
1963-1964 35 |
2 | 22 | ||
|
1963-1964 20 |
2 | 23 | ||
|
1964-1965 20 |
2 | 24 | ||
|
1965-1966 19 |
2 | 25 | ||
Subseries 1.4: Social Activities |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
1962-1966 84 |
2 | 26 | ||
|
1967 60 |
2 | 27 | ||
|
1968 52 |
2 | 28 | ||
|
1969 35 |
2 | 29 | ||
|
|
||||
Series 2: Business and Professional Relations |
||||
Subseries 2.1: Washington State Potato Commission |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
Promotion and Advertising 1953-1963 27 |
2 | 30 | ||
|
Organizational Information 11 |
2 | 31 | ||
|
Idaho Potato Commission vs. WSPC 1975 3 |
2 | 32 | ||
|
General Financial Information 24 |
2 | 33 | ||
|
Annual Reports 1957-1970 |
2 | 34 | ||
Meeting Minutes |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
1956-1957 1958-1959 2 |
2 | 35 | ||
|
1959-1964 24 |
2 | 36 | ||
General Records |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
1965-1966 2 |
2 | 37 | ||
|
1966-1967 1 |
2 | 38 | ||
|
1967-1968 1 |
2 | 39 | ||
|
1971-1972 1 |
3 | 40 | ||
Spud Topics |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
1959 1961 1966-1971 |
3 | 41 | ||
|
1971-1977 5 |
3 | 42 | ||
| box | folder | |||
|
The Potato Grower Handbook 1 |
3 | 43 | ||
Subseries 2.2: State of Washington Potato Committee |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
Annual Reports 1964-1975 5 |
3 | 44 | ||
|
Committee Book 1968-1969 1 |
3 | 45 | ||
Potato Disposition Reports |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
1954-1962 1 |
3 | 46 | ||
|
1963-1973 5 |
3 | 47 | ||
|
1973-1977 9 |
3 | 48 | ||
Subseries 2.3: National Potato Council |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
1965-1966 24 |
3 | 49 | ||
Subseries 2.4: Washington State University |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
"Marketing, Handling and Horticultural Research" 1958-1964 20 |
3 | 50 | ||
|
Othello Seed Lot Trials 1963 1970-1977 8 |
3 | 51 | ||
Subseries 2.5: Federal Agencies |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
"Enabling Act, 1955--Judicial Proceedings" 1960-1961 10 |
4 | 52 | ||
|
HR 11243 Subcommittee Hearing 1969 1 |
4 | 53 | ||
|
USDA Entomology Research 1958-1961 13 |
4 | 54 | ||
"Union Gap, WA" |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
Annual Report Summaries and Programs of Work 1957-1961 1965 10 |
4 | 55 | ||
Annual Reports |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
1956 1 |
4 | 56 | ||
|
1957 1 |
4 | 57 | ||
|
1959 1 |
4 | 58 | ||
|
1960 1 |
4 | 59 | ||
Subseries 2.6: Washington State Potato Conference and Trade Fair |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
1962-1964 3 |
4 | 60 | ||
|
1966-1969 4 |
4 | 61 | ||
|
1970-1972 3 |
4 | 62 | ||
|
1973-1977 5 |
4 | 63 | ||
|
1970 1 |
4 | 64 | ||
|
1958 1960-1961 15 |
4 | 65 | ||
Subseries 2.7: Reports |
||||
| box | folder | |||
|
1955-1970 25 |
4 | 66 | ||
|
1968 2 |
4 | 67 | ||
|
|
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