Guide to the Bertram Rodney Bertramson Papers 1933-1979
Cage 458

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Creator
Bertramson, Bertram Rodney
Title
Bertram Rodney Bertramson Papers
ID
Cage 458
Date [inclusive]
1933-1979
Extent
5 containers., 5 linear feet of shelf space., 4520 items.
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
Correspondence, reports, minutes, speeches, articles and other papers principally relating to his editorial and executive positions with the American Society of Agronomy, including correspondence with Executive Secretary Mathias Stelly; recognition awards for Orville A. Vogel; and material, 1960-1971, on the Pullman beautification project.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 458, Bertram Rodney Bertramson Papers . Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biography/History

Bertram Rodney ("Rod") Bertramson was born on a livestock and grain farm near Potter, Nebraska on January 25, 1914, to James W. and Gladys Nelson Bertramson. He received his B.S. in agronomy and M.S. in soils from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1933 and 1937 respectively. In 1938 he married Eleanor Maloney of Omaha, Nebraska. Bertramson went on to further graduate study at Oregon State University where he earned his doctorate in soils in 1941.

After working with the Soil Conservation Service in Rapid City, South Dakota and teaching at Colorado State University (then Colorado A & M) for a short time Bertramson was drafted in 1942 as a first lieutenant. He served with the Tank Destroyer Officer Candidate School in Fort Hood, Texas. Later Bertramson was promoted to Food and Agriculture Officer for the Rhineland and Gross Hessen regions in Germany. His job was to set up an administrative organization for food and general agriculture.

At the end of World War II, Bertramson reestablished his teaching career. Initially after his discharge in 1946 he was employed by the University of Wisconsin as an assistant soils scientist, but later that year moved to Purdue University as an associate soil chemist and assistant soils scientist.

In 1949 Bertramson became the Chairman of the Agronomy Department at Washington State University and served in this capacity for eighteen years. He was appointed Director of Resident Instruction of the College of Agriculture in 1967. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1979. During his thirty years at Washington State University Bertramson worked closely with a number of agriculture associations within the state and region. His administration was also identified with several historically significant events, including the release of high yielding Gaines wheat developed by Dr. Orville A. Vogel.

Bertramson authored or co-authored numerous articles published in various trade magazines such as Soil Scientist and Agronomy Journal. He was an active member of many professional and honorary agricultural organizations: Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, Soil Conservation Society of America and others. In 1960 he was elected Vice-President of the American Society of Agronomy and in 1961 served as President of the Society. Later, Bertramson was elected a Fellow of the ASA. He also served as the President of the Agronomic Science Foundation and editor of the Journal of Agronomic Education. In 1978, Bertramson was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Not all of Bertramson's activities centered around agronomy. He was active in civic affairs and the Pullman beautification projects of the mid-1960's. He also served as President of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, President of the Pullman Community Hospital Corporation, and a member of the Pullman City Council. For more information see "Biographical Sketch, 1967-1979," box 4, folder 107; and "Correspondence, 1946-1967," box 4, folder 110.

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Scope and Content

The papers of Bertram Rodney ("Rod") Bertramson are cover five series: American Society of Agronomy, 1952-1979; Journal of Agronomic Education, 1967-1976; Biographical Information Writings and Speeches, 1933-1979; Civic Services, 1960-1977; and Washington State University, 1942-1979.

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Arrangement

The first series, American Society of Agronomy, 1952-1979, has been divided into three subseries. Subseries one, Agronomy Advisory Board, 1952-1962, contains materials collected when Bertramson was Vice- President of the ASA. It includes general papers, an index of information, minutes, reports, and material concerning the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. The second subseries, Presidency of the ASA, is made up of Bertramson's presidential papers. Items such as Board of Directors' records, Committee Manual materials, correspondence, Executive Committee records, handbooks, headquarters building plans, news releases, notes on presidential addresses, luncheons, and publicity are part of this second subseries. Subseries three, General ASA Material, includes later papers pertaining to the ASA. It includes Agronomic Administrators Roundtable Committee records, an headquarters expansion study, fellow nominations, and Orville A. Vogel materials. All folders in this series have been arranged alphabetically by subject within their respective subseries.

Series II, Journal of Agronomic Education, 1967-1976, contains papers concerning meetings of the ASA Educational Board, correspondence, editorials and letters to the editor, information about professionalism, promotion, publishing policy and the Society, and work lists and files. All folders are arranged alphabetically by subject.

The third series, Biographical Information, Writings, and Speeches, 1933-1979, includes papers on agronomy, biographical sketches and personal correspondence, dedications, publications and various speeches on a wide variety of topics. All folders have been arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series IV, Civic Services, 1960-1977, is made up of papers collected during Bertramson's community work in Pullman on a number of projects centering around city beautification. The series includes records of clean-up projects, mass transit studies, shopping centers, and environmental quality. All folders are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series V, Washington State University, 1942-1979, contains various material which Bertramson collected in his association with the College of Agriculture at Washington State University. The material spans the period from 1942 through 1979 and includes such things as reports (e.g., from the Seed Laboratory), a history of the Department of Plant Pathology, correspondence regarding WSU short courses, College of Agriculture Awards, committee work, and a file called "Archives" which consists of material relating to agriculture. This series has been arranged alphabetically by subject.

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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 papers of Bertram Rodney ("Rod") Bertramson were donated to Washington State University in 1979 by Dr. Bertramson in two groups (MS 79-26 and UA 79-9) which were later combined.

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Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • American Society of Agronomy

Personal Name(s)

Creator(s) :
  • Bertramson, Bertram Rodney --Archives
Subject(s) :
  • Vogel, Orville Alvin, 1907-
  • Stelly, Matthias

Subject(s)

  • Civic improvement--Washington (State)--Pullman
  • Agriculture
  • Washington (State)

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Detailed Description of Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series I. American Society of Agronomy 1952-1979 

Agronomy Advisory Board 1952-1962 
box folder

General Correspondence 1959-1962  339 items.

 1 1-5

Index of Information for Agronomy Advisory Board 1952  1 item.

 1 6

Minutes: 
box folder

General 1952-l960  275

 1 7-9

Meetings 1959-1960  55 items.

 1 10-11
box folder

Report on Research for Meeting 1952  1 item.

 1 12

Washington Association of Wheat Growers 1956-1958  22 items.

 1 13

Presidency of ASA 1959-1966 
box folder

Award for Industrial Agronomists 1960-1962  50 items.

 1 14

Banquet Program and Other Details 1961  35 items.

 1 15

Board of Directors: 
box folder

Bylaws: Revisions 1960  15 items.

 1 16

Committee Reports 1962  30 items.

 1 17

Directors--General Correspondence 1959-1961  81 items.

 1 18-19

Meeting Session I 1961  150

 1 20

Minutes 1950-1962  50 items.

 1 21

Committee Manual: 
box folder

Comments on 1961  31 items.

 2 22

Manual 1961  1 item.

 2 23

Supplements 1961  2 items.

 2 24

Correspondence: 
box folder

Bertramson as President, ASA 1961  35 items.

 2 25

Congratulations to Bertramson: 
box folder

President of ASA 1960-1961  30

 2 26

Vice-President of ASA 1959-1960  19

 2 27
box folder

Matt Stelly 1961  50 items.

 2 28
box folder

Early Daze 1960  8 items.

 2 29

Executive Committee: 
box folder

General Correspondence 1960-1962  91 items.

 2 30-32

Meetings 1961-1962  81 items.

 2 33

Reports 1960-1961  40 items.

 2 34-35

Secretary 1960-1963  91 items.

 2 36-37
box folder

General Big Meeting Program 1961  21 items.

 2 38

Handbook for President and Vice-President 1961  6 items.

 2 39

Headquarters Building: 
box folder

General Correspondence 1959-1962  195

 2 40-42

Site and Plans 1961  18 items.

 2 43

Tjog Case: 
box folder

Correspondence 1961  36

 2 44

Replies for Material 1961  26

 2 45
box folder

News Releases 1960-1961  15 items.

 2 46

Option Number Four--ASA Dues 1960-1961  35 items.

 2 47

President: 
box folder

Address 1961-1964  34 items.

 2 48

Luncheons 1954-1961  7 items.

 2 49

Publicity on 1961  12 items.

 2 50

Welcome to Students 1961  4 items.

 2 51
box folder

Programs 1960  46 items.

 2 52

Regional Branch Officers' Handbook 1962-1966  1 item.

 2 53

Stelly, Matthias: 
box folder

Employment as Executive Secretary 1960-1961  42 items.

 2 54

Personal 1961  3 items.

 2 55
box folder

Tax Exemption/ASA and Legal XXXII 1960-1961  11 items.

 2 56

General ASA Material 1968-1979 
box folder

Agronomic Administrators Roundtable Committee 1969  11 items.

 3 57

American Society of Agronomy: 
box folder

ASA General Correspondence 1968-1979  348

 3 58-69

Council for Agricultural. Science and Technology 1972-1978  38 items.

 3 70

Feasibility of Headquarters Expansion Committee 1974-1975  17 items.

 3 71

Fellow Nominations 1977-1979  25 items.

 3 72

Journal of Agronomic Education 1978  33 items.

 3 73-74

Meetings 1973-1974  41 items.

 3 75-76

Dr. Orville A. Vogel: 
box folder

Browing Award 1971-1972  33 items.

 3 77

General File 1972-1977  6 items.

 3 78

National Medal of Science Award 1975-1976  21 items.

 3 79

Wolfe Prize 1978  14 items.

 3 80

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Series II. Journal of Agronomic Education 1967-1976 
box folder

ASA Meetings of Educational Board, JAE 1972  24 items.

 3 81

Bertramson Expenses 1972  6 items.

 3 82

Correspondence: 
box folder

Authors 1972-1974  35 items.

 3 83

Beatty, Marvin T. 1971-1972  5 items.

 3 84

Carson, E. W. 1971  9 items.

 3 85

Cuyno, Rogelio V. 1971  6 items.

 3 86

Forward and Editorial 1971-1972  14 items.

 3 87

Form Letter to Association Editors undated  1 item.

 3 88

General 1970-1976  55 items.

 3 89-90

"Getting Started," 1971-1972  21 items.

 3 91

Larson, K. L. 1971  5 items.

 3 92

Reviewers 1971-1973  32 items.

 3 93
box folder

Editorials and Letters to the Editor 1973  26 items.

 4 94

Materials Concerning Professionalism and Promotion 1967  45 items.

 4 95

Publishing Policy and the Society 1970-1971  150 items.

 4 96

Work Files 1969-1974  87 items.

 4 97-99

Work Lists 1972-1973  8 items.

 4 100

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Series III. Biographical Information, Writings and Speeches 1933-1979 

Agronomy: 
box folder

Agronomy 1951-1956  27 items.

 4 101-102

Farm 1952-1956  53 items.

 4 103

Nebraska (thesis) 1936-1937  1 item.

 4 103.1

Program and Facilities 1950-1964  38 items.

 4 104

Publications 1965-1970  6 items.

 4 105
box folder

Appreciation of Dr. O. A. Vogel's Forty Years of Plant Breeding and Testing Program 1970  1 item.

 4 106

Biographical Sketch 1967-1979  14 items.

 4 107

"The Challenge to Students in Agriculture," 1975  1 item.

 4 108

Columbia Plateau Resource Council 1965-1968  30 items.

 4 109

Correspondence 1946-1967  28 items.

 4 110

Dedication of Compton Union Building 1969  25 items.

 4 111

Growth of WSCIA Pure Seed Project 1978  15 items.

 4 112

Kennewick Plant Dedication 1969  20 items.

 4 113

Making the Most of Seminars 1948-1960  17 items.

 4 114

Outlying Testing 1952-1954  20 items.

 4 115

Publications 1938-1979  101 items.

 4 116-119

Pullman Herald 1972  3 items.

 4 120

Remarks for Beef Center Dedication 1974  1 item.

 4 121

Salute to Paul Abendroth 1973  2 items.

 4 122

Studies on Phosphorus Assimilation of Higher Plants 1933 1946  2 items.

 4 123

Twenty-five Years: Retrospect and Predictions-- Regional Fertilizer Conference 1974  35 items.

 4 124

"What the Industry Looks for at Washington State University in Teaching," 1970  9 items.

 4 125

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Series IV. Civic Services 1960-1977 

Environment: 
box folder

Environment and Ecology 1970-1973  22 items.

 5 126

Environment Quality Commission 1970-1973  37 items.

 5 127

Miracle on the Land 1971  20 items.

 5 128

Role of Agriculture in a Quality Environment 1971  1 item.

 5 129

Pullman: 
box folder

Chamber of Commerce 1971-1977  16 items.

 5 130

City Beautification: 
box folder

 1964-1966  22 items.

 5 131

 1969-1971  200

 5 132
box folder

Clean-Up Project 1964-1965  186 items.

 5 133-135

Community Beautification 1960  3 items.

 5 136

Community Development 1968-1969  6 items.

 5 137

Mass Transit Feasibility Project 1974-1976  100 items.

 5 138

Shopping Centers 1971  25 items.

 5 139
box folder

Steptoe Canyon and Harry Sever 1967-1975  41 items.

 5 140

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Series V. Washington State University 1942-1979 
box folder

Agriculture Awards 1964-1979  11 items.

 5 141

The Agriculturalist 1942-1966  34 items.

 5 142

"Archives File," 1968-1979  25 items.

 5 143

Plant Pathology Department, History of 1949  2 items.

 5 144

Recognition Assembly, College of Agriculture 1950-1951  18 items.

 5 145

Seed Laboratory Report 1950-1951  9 items.

 5 146

Short Course 1951-1955  17 items.

 5 147-148

Soils Seminar 1952  11 items.

 5 149

Space Priorities Committee 1951-1953  8 items.

 5 150

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