UA 023.008 Guide to the University Archives Photograph Collection, 4-H Youth Development Photographs, 1911 - 1995

Restrictions to Access

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.

Acquisitions Information

This is an open collection created by the University Archives from various sources.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], University Archives Photograph Collection, 4-H Youth Development Photographs, UA 023.008, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Copyright Notice

The nature of the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NCSU Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Confidentiality Notice

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. 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 North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.

Processing

Processed by: Elizabeth Preston, Dawne E. Howard, Larry Gavin; slides processed by: Mary von der Heide;machine-readable finding aid created by: Dawne E. Howard and Mary von der Heide

Historical Note

The idea of 4-H began in the 1890s when one-acre corn contests for boys were organized in several states. In 1907, the first modern 4-H program began in Mississippi when the Mississippi State College of Agriculture sponsored 120 boys in a corn contest. This was the first cooperative effort between youth and university, and led to the 4-H youth program's important role in the nationwide land-grant college Extension program.

The beginnings of North Carolina 4-H go back to a 1909 Hertford County Corn Club. North Carolina became the first state to sign an agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture to sponsor Boys' Club work, and by 1910, there were some 4,000 boys involved. Girls' Clubs, based on tomato production, quickly followed. Canning foods was also a major learning activity for the girls.

The passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914 opened up the work of Extension greatly. The 4-H program took off, and the first annual statewide club meeting in Raleigh, called the Short Course, was held.

L. R. Harrill, North Carolina's first county 4-H agent, was appointed in Buncombe County in 1922. In 1926, he became North Carolina's first State 4-H Club Leader. By 1929, he had incorporated the Boys' and Girls' clubs under one banner and worked hard to bring more programs into effect, get more counties involved, and improve 4-H activities and facilities. By 1939, all 100 counties had 4-H programs. By the 1950s, North Carolina had more 4-H members than any other state in the country.

For several decades, North Carolina 4-H worked in conjunction with the public school systems. Major changes came in the 1960s when strong community sponsoring bases replaced the role of the local schools. What traditionally had been a program for rural youth expanded to offer the same opportunities to urban youth, thereby reaching out to a larger number of children statewide.

For more information about 4-H in North Carolina, please see the Guide to the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service, 4-H Youth Development Records, UA 102 and North Carolina Cooperative Extension, "Robeson County 4-H Youth Development Program."

Scope and Content Note

Chiefly black-and-white photographic prints and film negatives, 8 x 10 in. or smaller, providing a rich visual history of the people, activities, and events related to 4-H Youth Development Program in North Carolina from its beginnings to the early 1990s. Some photographs were taken by 4-H club members, Extension Service agents, professional and amateur photographers, newspaper photographers, and staff photographers from the North Carolina State College Visual Aids Department. Many photographers are not identified.

The collection includes portraits and group portraits of county agents, specialists, club members, early agricultural clubs, National 4-H Congress delegates, Extension Director I. O. Schaub, and State 4-H Club Leader L. R. Harrill ( "Mr. 4-H"). Other photographs show club activities, facilities, 4-H camps, 4-H Club Week, award presentations, war work, exhibitions at North Carolina state and county fairs, tours, and recreation. Images of 4-H projects, demonstrations, and demonstration winners depict various subjects, including livestock, poultry, swine, and other animals; crop production, gardening, and horticulture; forestry and wildlife conservation; rural electrification and tractor programs; food preparation, canning and preserving, home improvement, handicraft, sewing, 4-H Dress Revue, and other aspects of home economics; health and safety, featuring portraits of the Kings and Queens of Health; civic and cultural education, international exchange programs, spiritual development, and community service; music, theater, visual arts, communication, and personal development.

Some photographs from this collection originally appeared in Extension Farm-News, and others were used to illustrate the books Memories of 4-H (Raleigh: North Carolina State University Print Shop, 1967) by L. R. Harrill and Clover All Over: North Carolina 4-H in Action (Raleigh, North Carolina State University, 1984) by James W. Clark, Jr.

In May 2006, 597 slides related to 4-H activities were transferred to the collection. They are listed with similar materials, and can be found in albums 66 and 67.

Identification

UA 023.008

Creator

North Carolina State University. University Archives.

Quantity

26.0 Linear feet

General Physical Description note

67 albums [5,509 photographs (5,478 photographic prints, 31 photographic postcards): 5,373 b&w, 136 color; 8.5 x 11 or smaller ; 597 slides] ; 7 boxes (29 photograpic prints + 622 negatives + proofs)

Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff .

Language

English

Alternate Form of Material

Some images are available in digital form.

Related Material

How to use this collection

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice. For more information contact us via mail, phone, fax, or our web form.

Mail

Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Telephone

(919) 515-2273

Fax

(919) 513-1787