North Carolina State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Genetics Records 1941-2001

Summary
Contents
Names/subjects
Using these materials
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Creator
North Carolina State University. Department of Genetics
Size
1.75 linear feet (3 archival boxes, 1 half box)
Call number
UA 100.021

The records of the North Carolina State University Department of Genetics contain brochures, correspondence, grants and fellowships information, courses and curriculum material, a departmental history, facilities and equipment information, faculty and student records, research project files and reports, seminar and lecture materials, and other publications. Materials range in date from 1941 to 2001.

No formally organizated of genetics department existed at North Carolina State University until 1951. Until that time, the subject of genetics was distributed to several long-established departments within the School of Agriculture. By the 1930's, departments such as Agronomy, Zoology, and Plant Pathology (among others) were beginning to take an interest in genetics and the possible ways in which it could be integrated into their coursework and research projects. In 1951, the Department of Genetics was formally organized.

Biographical/historical note

No formally organization of a genetics department existed at North Carolina State University until 1951. Until that time, the subject of genetics was distributed to several long-established departments within the School of Agriculture. By the 1930's, departments such as Agronomy, Zoology, and Plant Pathology (among others) were beginning to take an interest in genetics and the possible ways in which it could be integrated into their coursework and research projects. These departments had for some time employed geneticists on an individual basis to help conduct research projects and teach courses (such as cytology) in Agronomy and other biological sciences that focused on subjects such as plant and animal breeding. Eventually, the University decided that the field had becomre important enough to create a department devoted entirely to genetics for graduate degrees and more basic research.

In 1951, the Department of Genetics was formally organized with Dr. S. G. Stephens as chairman. The faculty consisted of many professors who had taught and conducted research in other departments in the School of Agriculture. The department was temporarily housed with the Botany Department in Winston Hall, and relocated to the newly built Gardner Hall in 1952. During Dr. Stephens' tenure as chairman, the graduate program, including the Ph.D. degree, new faculty, a genetics garden, greenhouse and an experimental station were added to the department. In 1958, Dr. H. F. Robinson became the new head of the department, and established a genetics nursery and obtained a significant amount of funding for increased research. In that same year, Genetics became the first North Carolina State College department to employ an African-American woman, Justina Williams, who worked in the Drosophila research lab.

In 1964, Dr. T. J. Mann took over leadership of the department after Dr. Robinson's promotion to Director of Biological Sciences. Dr. D. F. Matzinger became acting department head after Dr. Mann's departure in 1974 and in 1975, Dr. John G. Scandalios became the new department head. Under the leadership of these individuals, the department expanded and earned national recognition and distinction.

In 2013 the programs of the Department of Genetics were subsumed under the new Department of Biological Sciences in the new College of Sciences.

Department Heads
1951 - 1958
S. G. Stephens
1958 - 1963
H. F. Robinson
1964 - 1973
Thurston J. Mann
1974 - 1975
Dale F. Matzinger
1975 - 1985
John G. Scandalios
1985 - 1986
Dale F. Matzinger
1986 - 1988
William Atchley
1989 - 1991
Dale F. Matzinger
1991 - 1993
Dale F. Matzinger
1994
Stephanie Curtis

Scope/content

The records of the North Carolina State University Department of Genetics contain brochures, correspondence, grants and fellowships information, courses and curriculum material, a departmental history, facilities and equipment information, faculty and student records, research project files and reports, seminar and lecture materials, and other publications. Materials range in date from 1941 to 2001.

Some records in the collection relate to a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, which funded a project in 1959, called Quantitative Genetics. Progress reports from 1959 - 1963 include the yearly results from this project. In 1960, the Genetics Department proposed and received new appropriations for a program called Graduate Training and Research in Quantitative Genetics Breeding Methodology. A progress report from 1963 includes remarks on the progress of this new program. Among other things, these grants made it possible for students from Central and South America to receive graduate training in quantitative genetics.

The collection also houses many records relating to the courses and curriculum of the department from 1953 - 1977. These records include course descriptions, criteria and syllabi for a variety of genetics courses. Course proposals and revisions from 1954 - 1987 are also included, as well as, outlines, brochures and programs, flyers and announcements for genetics seminars and lectures from 1955 through 1977.

Perhaps some of the most important records in the collection relate to the conception and organization of the Genetics Department, which spanned several years and was finally achieved in 1951. The transition was a large collaboration between several different departments and members of the faculty. Many records exist that document the comments, correspondence, memos, etc., that were passed amongst them. The records relate plans for the transfer and purchasing of facilities and equipment, as well as plans for a possible new greenhouse and experimental garden.

One of the most interesting and valuable records found in the collection is a document called Outline of a Proposed Genetics Program for North Carolina State College. This document, written by Dr. S. G. Stephens to the Dean of Agriculture in 1952, contains many proposals and suggestions from the genetics faculty on what was needed to broaden and improve the newly developed genetics program. The proposals included the need for more highly specialized faculty, a greenhouse and experimental garden and more funding for research. During his tenure as Chairman of the Genetics Faculty, most of these proposals were implemented.

The collection also contains numerous other records relating to the Genetics Department such as departmental events flyers, programs and brochures, faculty correspondence and memos, research and facility and equipment procedures, guidelines and instructions. The records are arranged into three series: General Records; Grants and Proposals; and Research and Reports.

Arrangement

The records of the North Carolina State University Department of Genetics are arranged in four series: General Records, Grants and Proposals, Research and Reports, and Publications. Within each series, materials are arranged alphabetically by topic or title.

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University 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.

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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], North Carolina State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Genetics Records, UA 100.021, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Related material

Source of acquisition

Transferred from North Carolina State University, Department of Genetics.

Processing information

Processed by: Allison Hall; Pat Webber; Laura Abraham, 2009 July; machine-readable finding aid created by: Russell S. Koonts; Pat Webber; Finding aid updated by Laura Abraham, 2009 July; Cate Putirskis, 2009 July; collection reprocessed by Oliver Robinson, 2018 December; finding aid updated by Clara Wilson, 2019 June

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

The collection is organized into four principal series:

General Records 1945-2001

Contains brochures, correspondence, course information, facilities information, faculty and student lists, graduate studies material, program information and reviews, and seminar material.

Committees: Faculty appointments 1961-1979
Box 3, Folder 3
Committees: Organization of Genetics Unit 1950-1954
Box 3, Folder 6
Committees: Self-Study and Re-Evaluation 1971, 1976
Box 3, Folder 4
Comprehensive Review 1979
Box 1, Folder 1
Correspondence, E.W. Glazener 1965-1966
Box 3, Folder 5
Correspondence, H. F. Robinson 1958-1964, undated
Box 1, Folder 2
Course Description -- Cytogenetics 1961
Box 1, Folder 3
Course Information -- Correspondence 1950-1976, undated
Box 1, Folder 4
Course Information -- Student Enrollment 1960-1969
Box 1, Folder 5
Course Offerings -- Syllabi and Outlines 1953-1986, undated
Box 1, Folder 7
Course Outlines for Faculty 1961-1962, undated
Box 1, Folder 8
Course Proposals and Revisions 1952-1976, undated
Box 1, Folder 9
Departmental Brochure 1963
Box 1, Folder 10
Departmental Events and Parties 1966, undated
Box 1, Folder 11
Directory of Genetics Department, Faculty, Staff, and Students 1994 (Accession 2022.0117)
Half box 4, Folder 1
Faculty Information and Correspondence 1952-1977, undated
Box 1, Folder 12
Fellowships 1972, undated
Box 1, Folder 13
"Genetics and the Future of Man," by Carey H. Bostian 1970
Box 1, Folder 14
Genetics Planning Conference 1964
Box 1, Folder 15
Graduate Student Guidelines 1977, undated
Box 1, Folder 16
Library -- Genetics Resources 1951-1970, undated
Box 1, Folder 17
Organization of Genetics Unit 1950-1951
Box 1, Folder 18
Facilities and Equipment
General Records 1952-1977, undated
Box 1, Folder 19
North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station 1967-1972
Box 1, Folder 20
Pamphlets and Instruction Manuals 1950, undated
Box 1, Folder 21
Faculty and Student Lists 1962-1965
Box 1, Folder 22
Genetics 666, Laboratory Manual 1987 (Accession no. 8736)
Box 1, Folder 23
Genetics Symposium articles Oct. 2001
Box 3, Folder 1
Video of presentation from the Genetics Symposium, "Genetics and the New Millennium," Dr. M. J. Mehlman Oct. 2001

VHS cassette

Box 3, Folder 2
Seminars and Lectures
Brochures 1960-1978
Box 2, Folder 1
Class Notes 1945-1968, undated
Box 2, Folder 2
Flyers 1964-1976
Box 2, Folder 3
Visiting Lecturers 1955-1973
Box 2, Folder 4
Staff Meetings
Agendas and Comments 1952, undated
Box 2, Folder 5
Minutes 1960-1966
Box 2, Folder 6
Minutes 1967-1975
Box 2, Folder 7
Sub-Committee for Genetics and Evolution of National Academy of Sciences 1964
Box 2, Folder 8
Teaching Schedules 1961-1974, undated
Box 2, Folder 9
Grants and Proposals 1952-1969

Contains grants and proposals relating to work performed by the department. This material does not document particular research projects, but instead on the development of the department itself and some of its subsequent research and training activities.

Graduate Training and Research in Quantitative Genetics Breeding Methodology
Proposal 1960
Box 2, Folder 10
Report of Progress 1962
Box 2, Folder 11
Report of Progress 1963
Box 2, Folder 12
Outline of a Proposed Genetics Program 1952
Box 2, Folder 13
Outline of a Proposed Genetics Program - Duplicate 1952
Box 2
Proposal for a Doctoral Program in Genetics 1952
Box 2, Folder 14
A Proposal for an Expanded Doctoral Program in Physiological and Biochemical Genetics 1964
Box 2, Folder 15
Quantitative Genetics Project -- Budget Proposal and Information 1959-1960
Box 2, Folder 16
Quantitative Genetics Project -- Progress Reports 1959-1963
Box 2, Folder 17
Undergraduate Research Participation 1969
Box 2, Folder 18
Research and Reports 1967-1972

Contains reports and papers. This series a variety of research topics, from genetics research to departmental teaching activities and efficacy.

Agricultural Research Classification Instructions, undated
Box 2, Folder 19
Cytogenetics of Maize: Report of Progress [1962-1963] 1963
Box 2, Folder 20
Director's Report -- Undergraduate Science Education 1963
Box 2, Folder 21
Problem Analysis (Quantitative Genetics of Forest Trees) 1964
Box 2, Folder 22
Project Proposals and Outlines, Various, undated
Box 2, Folder 23
Task Force 20 (USDA) Review -- North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station 1972
Box 2, Folder 24
Publications 1959-1988

This series contains publications produced by the Department of Genetics.

Department of Genetics, North Carolina State University presents Dr. Robert Sinsheimer, Third Annual Distinguised Lecturer in Genetics 11 Mar. 1980
Box 3, Folder 7
Development of the Department of Genetics, North Carolina State University, 1924-1976 Feb. 1977
Box 3, Folder 8
Evening Lecture Series in the Summer Institute of Genetics for College Teachers 14 Jun.-Jul. 21 1960
Box 3, Folder 9
Final Announcement and Registration Forms : Second International Conference on Quantitative Genetics 31 May-5 Jun. 1987
Box 3, Folder 10
Genetics flyer Undated
Box 3, Folder 11
The Genetics Program : N. C. State College Oct. 1959
Box 3, Folder 12
GN301 : Genetics in Human Affairs 1988
Box 3, Folder 13
Graduate Studies and Graduate Opportunities in Genetic posters 1980-1983
Box 3, Folder 14
Graudate Studies in Genetics pamplet 1976
Box 3, Folder 15
Graudate Study in Genetics at North Carolina State University : Program and Admission Requirements Undated
Box 3, Folder 16
North Carolina State University at Raleigh, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Genetics 1975
Box 3, Folder 17
Summer Institute of Genetics for College Teachers 1960-1965
Box 3, Folder 18
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

Access to the collection

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to digital files may require additional advanced notice.

For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.

Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Phone: (919) 515-2273

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], North Carolina State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Genetics Records, UA 100.021, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University 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.

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.