Guide to the Karl Hobson Papers 1934-1978
Cage 866

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Creator
Hobson, Karl, 1906-1986
Title
Karl Hobson papers
ID
Cage 866
Date [inclusive]
1934-1978
Extent
3.25 linear feet of shelf space, 7 boxes
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
The Karl Hobson Papers consist of the research and professional papers of Karl Hobson as an agricultural forecasting expert at Washington State College and an independent forecaster and publihser of Hobson's Farm Forecast. Hobson worked for extension services at the University of Idaho and Washington State College and published Hobson's Farm Forecast with Elliot Marple from 1950 to 1955.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]. Karl Hobson Papers, 1934-1978. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biographical Note

Karl Hobson was born in 1906 on a farm near Sedan, Kansas. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Idaho and did graduate work at Cornell University. In 1935, he worked as a state specialist in forecasting and farm management for the Idaho Extension Service before joining Washington State College (now Washington State University) as a specialist in livestock marketing in 1947. In 1948, Hobson became a full-time specialist in farm forecasting

In 1949, Hobson met Elliot Marple and in 1950 they formed a joint-partnership to publish Hobson's Farm Forecast, a weekly newsletter directed to farmers in the Pacific Northwest. Marple, a Seattle-based business forecaster, published Marple’s Business Roundup, a weekly newsletter covering business market opportunities in the Pacific Northwest. Hobson, in Pullman, provided the text, while Marple, in Seattle produced the weekly publication through his existing Roundup operation. In December 1952, Hobson and Marple dissolved their joint-partnership and created Hobson's Farm Forecast, Inc., in part as a preventive measure against possible libel suits from disgruntled subscribers to the Forecast. Shortly afterwards, Hobson left the Bureau of Agricultural Extension at WSC and worked full-time for the corporation. In 1955, Hobson and Marple sold Hobson's Farm Forecast, Inc. to Doane Agricultural Service, Inc., of Carmichael, California. The publication of Hobson's Farm Forecast also ended in 1955 with its subscribers subsumed by Doane's Western Farm Forecast.

Hobson accepted a promotion with the Bureau of Agricultural Extension at WSC, while continuing to write for the Western Farm Forecast part time. Doane ceased publishing the Western Farm Forecast in 1957. In 1966, Hobson won the Western Farm Economics Association’s Outstanding Extension Program Award for his prediction of wheat scarcity in the mid-1960s. Hobson retired in 1971. In the 1970s, he and his wife, Dorothy, moved to Maui, Hawaii, where he died from cancer in 1986.

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Scope and Content

The Karl Hobson Papers consists of materials related to Hobson's work on farm forecasting. These papers include correspondence files for Hobson’s Farm Forecast as well as personal correspondence. The collection also contains files of clippings by or about Hobson, research files, and publications by Hobson including “Economic Facts for Idaho Farmers” and “World Food Needs and Productive Capacities.” Lastly, there are records from Hobson and Marple’s commodity trading partnership.

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Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series: Hobson's Farm Forecast and Research and Personal Papers.

Series 1: Hobson's Farm Forecast, 1947-1978. This series consists of records directly related to Hobson's Farm Forecast, a publication produced by Hobson and Elliot Marple. It is divided into two series, Correspondence and Research and notes.

Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1948-1975. This subseries consists of correspondence and surveys from subscribers to Hobson's Farm Forecasts.

Subseries 2: Research and notes, 1947-1978. This subseries consists of publications and articles about the newsletter and articles published in the newsletter.

Series 2: Research and personal papers, 1934-1976. This series consists of materials created and gathered by Hobson separate from his newsletter. This series consists of two subseries: Hobson and Marple commodity trading partnership and Work and education.

Subseries 1: Hobson and Marple commodity trading partnership, 1958-1968. This subseries consists of transaction records, tax forms, and business correspondence resulting from the trading of agricultural commodities conducted by Hobson and Elliot Marple.

Subseries 2: Work and education, 1934-1976. This subseries consists of research Hobson performed as an employee of Washington State College and the University of Idaho, clippings on Hobson's work, Hobson's thesis for the University of Idaho, and a dossier for the Outstanding Extension Program award from the Western Farm Economics Association.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2017

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 and available for research use.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated to the Washington State University Libraries in multiple installments. Elliot Marple donated materials in 1997 and 1999 (MS.1997.40 and MS.1999.12) and the Hobson family donated the remaining materials in 2010, via Jeff Hobson (MS.2010.20).

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Samantha Case and Steven Bingo in 2017.

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Related Materials

Related Material

Related materials may be found in the Hobson's Farm Forecast Records (Cage 608)

Separated Material

Several 1945 and 1949 issues of the Washington State University extension publication titled "Economic Land Class Maps of Washington County" were added to the Agricultural Extension Publications (WSU 17-42). Issues of "Keeping Upon the Farm Outlook" from 1948-1953 were removed, but can be found in the Extension Circular Series (WSU 17-41). Issues of the Agricultural Prices and Prospects from July 1954-December 1961 (retitled Farm Outlook in 1957) have been placed in WSU Publications (WSU 17-42).

The March 20, 1951 and May 26, 1952 issues of Hobson's Farm Forecast were added to the run currently housed with the Hobson's Farm Forecast Records (Cage 608).

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Names and Subjects

Personal Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • Hobson, Karl, 1906-1986 -- Archives.

Subject(s)

  • Agriculture -- Forecasting.
  • Agricultural prices -- United States.
  • Agriculture
  • Businesses and Corporations
  • Colleges and Universities

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Detailed Description of Collection

Series 1 Hobson's Farm Forecast 1947-1978 

Subseries 1 Correspondence 1948-1975 

box folder

A   1952-1973  

1 1

B   1961-1976  

1 2

C   1972-1973  

1 3

D   1953-1955  

1 4

E   1953-1955  

1 5

F   1973-1976  

1 6

G   1952-1954  

1 7

H   1968  

1 8

I   1954-1955  

1 9

J   1953-1970  

1 10

K   1953-1968  

1 11

Financial correspondence   1948  

1 12

Mc   1953-1975  

1 13

N   1974-1975  

1 14

T. Nishimura   1953  

1 15

Max Nishioka   1953  

1 16

Chester Noh   1952  

1 17

Keish Noriyuki   1954  

1 18

Willis Nutzman   1954-1955  

1 19

John O'Donnell   1954  

1 20

Tak Ogawa   1953  

1 21

Yosie Ogawa   1952  

1 22

Emil Ohme   1953  

1 23

Verl S. Okelberry   1952  

1 24

L. P. Olenslager   1954  

1 25

Elmer J. Oliver   1952-1953  

1 26

N. N. Olsen   1952  

1 27

William O. Olsen   1952  

1 28

C. A. Olson   1953  

1 29

Walter W. Olson   1952  

1 30

Oscar Oltmanns   1952  

1 31

Melvin Oppliger   1953  

1 32

Lee Ormond   1952  

1 33

Murray O'Rourke   1952  

1 34

Frank L. Orth   1952-1953  

1 35

Raymond E. Osborne   1953  

1 36

Milton Osterhout   1953  

1 37

Lyman Otteson   1953  

1 38

Tak Oyama   1953  

1 39

P   1952-1974  

1 40

D. L. Pace   1953  

1 41

H. L. Pace   1953  

1 42

L. C. Pace   1953  

1 43

Richard C. Pajarola   1952  

1 44

R. J. Palisch   1952-1953  

1 45

Rudolph Pancheri   1952  

1 46

Howard G. Parish   1952  

1 47

C. L. Parkinson   1953  

1 48

B. L. Patrick   1952  

1 49

Floyd Patterson   1952  

1 50

J. K. Patterson   1953  

1 51

Ed B. Patton   1952  

1 52

H. G. Peckham   1952-1953  

1 53

Vernon Pendlebury   1952  

1 54

Jake F. Perry   1953-1955  

1 55

Ray Pershall   1953  

1 56

E. H. Persigehl   1953  

1 57

Clem F. Peters   1952  

1 58

Frank A. Petersen   1953  

1 59

O. E. Petersen and Son Don   1954  

1 60

Peterson Orchards   1953  

1 61

A. O. Peterson   1953  

1 62

C. J. Peterson   1953  

1 63

Earial Peterson   1952  

1 64

Henry M. Peterson   1954  

1 65

L. W. Peterson   1953  

1 66

Lloyd H. Peterson   1952-1953  

1 67

O. H. Peterson   1954  

1 68

Omar C. Peterson   1953  

1 69

Reuben Peterson   1952  

1 70

Spencer H. Peterson   1952  

1 71

Mrs. Henry Petrick   1953  

1 72

H. R. Pettijohn   1953  

1 73

Alfred Pettygrove   1952  

1 74

Jud Pettygrove   1952  

1 75

Joe C. Pharris   1952-1953  

1 76

Edward J. Phillips   1954  

1 77

L. B. Piercy   1953  

1 78

R. D. Plessinger   1953  

1 79

Ray S. Pocock   1952  

1 80

J. C. Poe   1952  

1 81

Kenneth H. Poe   1952  

1 82

H. Michael Porter   1953  

1 83

Anton Potucek   1952  

1 84

Clarence Poulsen   1953  

1 85

Floyd T. Powell   1953  

1 86

Aubrey Pratt   1954  

1 87

Cliff Precht   1953  

1 88

James Prestidge   1952  

1 89

Joe Pretl   1954  

1 90

Sheldon Pulley   1953-1954  

1 91

R   1955-1974  

1 92

N. R. Raedels   1952  

1 93

Paul B. Ragan   1953-1954  

1 94

Richard Rambach   1953  

1 95

D. D. Ramseyer   1953  

1 96

H. F. Ramseyer   1953  

1 97

Edgar Randall   1953  

1 98

Lloyd F. Randall   1953  

1 99

Pete M. Rarick   1953  

1 100

Max D. Rector   1952  

1 101

D. B. Reed   1954  

1 102

Elmer Rees   1953  

1 103

Bruce C. Regua   1952-1954  

1 104

Conrad Rehn   1953  

1 105

Edward Reichert   1952  

1 106

Fred Reichert   1952  

1 107

Robert Reichert   1953  

2 108

Eldro J. Reid   1953  

2 109

Henry Reil   1954  

2 110

Ernest A. Reinke   1953  

2 111

Louis E. Reinke   1953  

2 112

J. J. Remington and Sons   1953  

2 113

L. E. Remington   1952-1953  

2 114

Herman E. Renfrow   1953  

2 115

Allen L. Richards   1953  

2 116

Chas C. Richards   1952  

2 117

L. Lalovi Rigby   1953  

2 118

S   1975  

2 119

Alfred Simmons   1952-1955  

2 120

T   1956  

2 121

Roy Toft   1952  

2 122

Cecil Toner   1953  

2 123

J. M. Topsick   1953-1954  

2 124

Mat Toupin   1952  

2 125

Dave Tracy   1953  

2 126

Evan R. Tracy   1953  

2 127

Eugene S. Trask   1952-1953  

2 128

C. A. Traughber   1953  

2 129

Fred Treasure   1953  

2 130

Herschel Trunnell   1953-1954  

2 131

James Turnbull   1953  

2 132

W. A. Turner   1954  

2 133

U   1952  

2 134

Leslie Ude   1952  

2 135

Vernon Pendlebury   1953  

2 136

M. R. Vanausdlen   1952  

2 137

Samuel E. Vance   1953  

2 138

Wilburn C. Vance   1952  

2 139

J. W. Vanderford   1952  

2 140

Joe Verbeck   1953  

2 141

Chas Verheyen   1954  

2 142

Edgar D. Vincent   1953  

2 143

Roger D. Vincent   1953  

2 144

Glenn Vining   1954  

2 145

Vinson Farms   1953  

2 146

Aubrey E. Vittetoe   1953  

2 147

W   1952-1974  

2 148

X, Y, Z   1953  

2 149

Subseries 2 Research and notes 1947-1978 

box folder

Commodity reserves   1951-1953  

2 150

Cotton research and correspondence with John Judge and Ralph Scanlan   1947-1949  

2 151

Idaho Potato Summaries   1950-1972  

2 152

International Wheat Agreement, World Food Board Proposals   1944-1946  

2 153

Marple's Business Newsletter   1976-1979  

2 154

Pacific Northwest Wheat Publications   1963-1970  

2 155

Pea seed dealers - Portland   1970-1973  

2 156

Stockpiling   1947  

2 157

Western Farm Forecast   1955-1957  

2 158

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Series 2 Research and personal papers 1934-1976 

Subseries 1 Hobson and Marple commodity trading partnership 1958-1968 

box folder

Commodity vouchers on expenses - correspondence and ledger sheets   1959-66  

3 159

Correspondence between Hobson and Marple   1964-68  

3 160

Walston and Co (completed transactions)   1958-60  

3 161

Goodbody and Co   1958-59  

3 162

Bache and Co   1960-64  

3 163

Siegel Trading Co   1966-67  

3 164

Income tax and financial summaries (1 of 2)   1958-68  

3 165

Income tax and financial summaries (2 of 2)   1958-68  

3 166

Subseries 2 Work and education 1934-1976 

box folder

Agricultural Outlook   1937  

4 167

Agricultural Outlook   1938  

4 168

Agricultural Outlook   1936  

4 169

Agricultural price supports   1949-50  

4 170

Agricultural prices post-World War II   1944-1947  

4 171

Alpha Zeta members (Idaho) and chapter history   1966  

4 172

Article, interview, and notes by Hobson   1934  

4 173

Articles by and clippings about Hobson   1952-1966  

4 174

Awards   1968  

4 175

Biographical file   1934  

4 176

Boise clippings   1953  

4 177

Bonneville Power Administration job correspondence   1944  

4 178

Civil service exhibit materials   1937-1941  

4 179

Clippings about Hobson   1952-1975  

4 180

Clippings about Hobson   1960-1968  

4 181

Clippings about Hobson   1931-1953  

4 182

Clippings by or quoting Hobson   1948-1949  

5 183

Clippings by or quoting Hobson   1951  

5 184

Columbia Basin project development   1954  

5 185

Correspondence and "Looking Ahead" articles   1956-75  

5 186

Desirable Adjustments in the Wheat Region of Washington   1935  

5 187

Economic Facts for Idaho Farmers   1939-1944  

5 188

The Economic Reserve System, by Ralph Scanlan (1 of 2)   1940s  

5 189

The Economic Reserve System, by Ralph Scanlan (2 of 2)   1940s  

5 190

Employment and education record   1942  

5 191

Epsilon Sigma Phi   1948-1954  

5 192

Extension correspondence   1948-1963  

5 193

Faculty Executive Committee   1945-1966  

6 194

Future Agricultural Development in the Pacific Northwest, preliminary draft (1 of 2)   1947  

6 195

Future Agricultural Development in the Pacific Northwest, preliminary draft (2 of 2)   1947  

6 196

Land Classification Maps   1945  

6 197

Legislative Hearing - Olympia, Late July, 1973   1973  

6 198

Price data   1945-1973  

6 199

Proceedings of the First Annual Poultrymen's Institute   1958  

6 200

Publication and curriculum vitae   1939-1947  

6 201

Publications by Hobson and others   1935-1969  

6 202

Reader correspondence   1974-1976  

6 203

Retirement letters and clippings   1971-1975  

7 204

Second Annual Washington State Potato and Vegetable Conference Proceedings   1958  

7 205

Seed pea meeting data   1973  

7 206

Speech and presentation notes   1953-1955  

7 207

Thesis   1941  

7 208

University of Idaho Extension publications by Hobson   1935-36  

7 209

Washington State University Extension publications on the Wheat Program   1963  

7 210

Western Farm Economics Association Outstanding Extension Program award   1966  

7 211

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