Gordon K. Middleton Papers 1959-1964

Dr. Gordon Kennedy Middleton, Sr., was born on October 28, 1895 and died in January 1986. He received his B.S. in agriculture from NC State College (now NC State University) in 1917; his M.S. in 1920 and his Ph.D. in 1930, both from Cornell University. Dr. Middleton served as an agronomist at N.C State University from 1928-1966.

As an agronomist he began as an extension Specialist in Seed Improvement at NC State University from 1929 to 1935; Director of the North Carolina Crop Improvement Association from 1939-1945; Plant Breeder for the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station in charge of corn breeding 1936-1940, in charge of peanut breeding 1936-1944 then headed the small grain breeding program from 1936 to 1961. He taught as a professor of Field Crops at NC State University from 1928 to 1966. Dr. Middleton was head of the Field Crops Section of the Department of Agronomy at NC State University from 1939 to 1948. He was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Science from NC State in 1972. He was also one of the founders of the North Carolina Crop Improvement Association.

While in Thailand from 1955 to 1956 he researched rice breeding under a Point Four program sponsored by the International Corporation Administration.

In 1920 he married Celia Herring. They had two sons, David L. Middleton and Dr. Gordon Middleton Jr. and three daughters, Beverette Middleton (Price), Mary Sue Middleton (Willis), and Celia Middleton (Nissen). Dr. Middleton authored and co-authored many technical articles and experiment station bulletins.

This collection contains reports, a cd, two photos of Gordon K. Middleton, Sr., and photographic slides featuring his agronomy research trip to Thailand, family trips, and personal memories.

This collection is arranged chronologically and then alphabetically.

The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.

The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.

[Identification of item], Gordon K. Middleton Papers, MC 00411, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Gift of Dr. Gordon K. Middleton, Jr., 2011 (Accession no. 2011-0123)

Finding aid created by Judy Allen Dodson, 2011 June; Collection processed and finding aid updated by Emily Kerr-Denton, 2025 September