Quantitative Genetics.

%xmlchars; ]> ua100_021 Guide to the North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Genetics Records, 1941 - 1987 Processed by: Allison Hall; Pat Webber; machine-readable finding aid created by: Russell S. Koonts; Pat Webber North Carolina State University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center

Campus Box 7111 Raleigh, NC 27695-7111

2004 Machine-readable finding aid derived from xml authoring program. Date of source: September, 2002 Finding aid written in English 2005Converted to EAD 2002 Guide to the North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Genetics Records, 1941 - 1987 UA 100.021 North Carolina State University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center Contact Information: &ncsuaddr; Processed by Allison Hall; Pat Webber Date Completed September, 2002 Encoded by Russell S. Koonts; Pat Webber Finding aid updated by Todd Kosmerick, 2008 April Descriptive Summary North Carolina State University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center North Carolina State University. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences The North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Genetics Records, 1941 - 1987 UA 100.021 2 records storage boxes 1 linear foot These records 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, and seminar and lecture material. This collection is currently housed off-site. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff. Information for Users Restrictions to Access

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

Items transferred from the North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Consult Departmental Accessions file for detailed information.

Acquisitions Information

Transferred from the North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Consult University Archivist for additional information.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Genetics Records, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, North Carolina.

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. 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. Today the department maintains a strong research and academic presence, including a nationally-ranked graduate program.

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

The collection consists of records on grants, progress reports, proposals, a history of the department, courses and curriculum, and faculty correspondence and comments.

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.

Related Materials North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Records, UA 100 North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Annual Reports, UA 100.002 North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Publications, UA 100.200 Benjamin Warfield Smith Papers, MC 135 Detailed Description of the Collection General Records, 1945 - 1986 1.50.75

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

11 Comprehensive Review, 1979 12 Correspondence, H. F. Robinson, 1958 - 1964, undated 13 Course Description -- Cytogenetics, 1961 14 Course Information -- Correspondence, 1950 - 1976, undated 15 Course Information -- Student Enrollment, 1960 - 1969 16 Courses and Curriculum - Faculty Memos, Correspondence and Comments, 1950 - 1976, undated 17 Course Offerings -- Syllabi and Outlines, 1953 - 1986, undated 18 Course Outlines for Faculty, 1961 - 1962, undated 19 Course Proposals and Revisions, 1952 - 1976, undated 110 Departmental Brochure, 1963 111 Departmental Events and Parties, 1966, undated 112 Faculty Information and Correspondence, 1952 - 1977, undated 113 Fellowships, 1972, undated 114 Genetics and the Future of Man, by Carey H. Bostian, 1970 115 Genetics Planning Conference, 1964 116 Graduate Student Guidelines, 1977, undated 117 Library -- Genetics Resources, 1951 - 1970, undated 118 Organization of Genetics Unit, 1950 - 1951 Facilities and Equipment 119 General Records, 1952 - 1977, undated 120 North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, 1967 - 1972 121 Pamphlets and Instruction Manuals, 1950, undated 122 Faculty and Student Lists, 1962 - 1965 123Genetics 666, Laboratory Manual, 1987Accession no. 8736 Seminars and Lectures 21 Brochures, 1960 - 1978 22 Class Notes, 1945 - 1968, undated 23 Flyers, 1964 - 1976 24 Visiting Lecturers, 1955 - 1973 Staff Meetings 25 Agendas and Comments, 1952, undated 26 Minutes, 1960 - 1966 27 Minutes, 1967 - 1975 28 Sub-Committee for Genetics and Evolution of National Academy of Sciences, 1964 29 Teaching Schedules, 1961 - 1974, undated Grants and Proposals, 1952 - 1969 0.250.125

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 210 Proposal, 1960 211 Report of Progress, 1962 212 Report of Progress, 1963 213 Outline of a Proposed Genetics Program, 1952 214 Proposal for a Doctoral Program in Genetics, 1952 215 A Proposal for an Expanded Doctoral Program in Physiological and Biochemical Genetics, 1964 216 Quantitative Genetics Project -- Budget Proposal and Information, 1959 - 1960 217 Outline of a Proposed Genetics Program, 1952 218 Quantitative Genetics Project -- Progress Reports, 1959 - 1963 219 Undergraduate Research Participation, 1969 Research and Reports, 1963 - 1972 0.250.125

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

220 Agricultural Research Classification Instructions, undated 221 Cytogenetics of Maize: Report of Progress [1962-1963], 1963 222 Director's Report -- Undergraduate Science Education, 1963 223 Problem Analysis (Quantitative Genetics of Forest Trees), 1964 224 Project Proposals and Outlines, Various, undated 225 Task Force 20 (USDA) Review -- North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, 1972