Collection 2316 - Arthur H. Post Papers, 1920-1982

Creator: Post, Arthur H., 1899-1982

Provenance Note: Personal and professional papers created or collected by Dr. Arthur H. Post relating to the fields of agronomy, and crop and soil science and to his career at Montana State University were donated to Special Collections by Arthur Post Jr. on January 17, 1995.

Historical Note: Arthur H. Post was born March 24, 1899 in Dunsmuir, California and was raised on a farm in the Spokane Valley. He married Margaret Campbell in 1927. Post attended Washington State University and received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in 1922 and 1923 respectively. In 1924 he joined the faculty at Montana State College (Montana State University). Post taught courses in crop and soil sciences, and with the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station he gave lectures throughout the state of Montana geared towards soil and crop improvement. Post then served as head of the Plant and Soil Department from 1937 to 1962. While teaching at M.S.U., Post received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1948. In 1962, his research was nationally recognized when he was elected Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy. He retired from M.S.U. in 1964. In 1980, M.S.U. presented him with the Blue and Gold award in recognition of distinguished services, and in 1981, M.S.U. named the field research laboratory west of Bozeman "The Arthur H. Post Field Research Laboratory" in his honor. Post was also a member of a number of community organizations and national societies, among those were: Phi Kappa Phi, American Society of Agronomy, Alpha Gamma Rho, Bozeman Lodge 18 and Western Societies of Crop and Soil Science. Dr. Post died in Bozeman on January 11, 1982.

Content Description Note: The Arthur H. Post papers consist of letters, research notes and lecture materials, printed materials, memorabilia, and photographs pertaining primarily to his career work. Materials are arranged in 6 series according to document type. Correspondence refers to work and studies while at M.S.U., specifically his selection of a Ph.D. program, his lectures through the Agriculture Extension Service and his own research. Incoming letters of a more personal nature can be found in Post's retirement scrapbook in the Memorabilia series. Biographical Materials pertain to Post's life from 1931-1982. Again, the focus of these materials is primarily on his professional life. Printed Materials refer to publications either created or collected by Post. Post's own course work from the University of Wisconsin and some of his teaching materials are found in Series 4, Course Work & Lecture Notes. Also within this series are Post's lectures prepared for the Extension Service. Memorabilia consists of items collected by Post of both a personal and professional nature. These documents indicate his civic and community involvement as well as his achievements in the fields of soil science and agronomy. The final series, Photographs, contains black and white photos of Post from 1921 to ca. 1970. The retirement photo album corresponds with the retirement scrapbook in the Memorabilia series.

Contents

Series 1	Correspondence, 1920-1982
Series 2	Biographical Materials, 1931-1982
Series 3	Printed Materials, 1925-1971
Series 4	Course Work & Lecture Materials, 1931-1964
Series 5	Memorabilia, 1921-ca. 1982
Series 6	Photographs. ca. 1921-ca. 1970

Series 1: Correspondence, 1920-1982

Correspondence pertain primarily to Post's academic career. Incoming letters are arranged alphabetically according to sender and contain information regarding his selection of a Ph.D. program, his lectures given in connection with M.S.U.'s Agriculture Extension service and his own research. Outgoing letters often correspond with the incoming and are arranged chronologically. A scrapbook of letters given as a retirement gift from faculty and students can be found in the memorabilia series, Box 5, file 1.

Box 1

1. Incoming Letters: Alpha Gamma Rho

2. American Crystal Sugar Company

3. American Society of Agronomy

4. Calcite Products Company

5. Canadian Dept. of Ag.--Lethbridge Experimental Station

6. Cornell University

7. Floyd

8. Grand Hotel

9. Iowa State College

10. Michigan State College

11. Montana Ranch-Farm & Business Opportunities Multiple Listing Service

12. Montana State College--Extension Services

13. Montana State University--College of Ag., Dept. of Plant and Soil Science

14. Montana State University--Office of the Dean

15. Montana State University--Renne Inaugural Committee

16. McKee, Clyde

17. Ohio State University

18. Pennsylvania State College

19. Phi Beta Phi

20. Purdue University

21. Renne, R. & P.

22. Rutgers University

23. State College of Washington

24. State College of Washington--U.S. Naval Unit

25. True, Louis & Mae

26. University of Idaho

27. University of Illinois

28. University of Minnesota

29. University of Missouri

30. University of Montana--Agriculture Experiment Station

31. University of Wisconsin--College of Ag., E. Truog

32. University of Wisconsin--Regent & College of Agriculture

33. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture--Bureau of Plant Industry

34. U.S. Dept. of the Interior--Office of Indian Affairs

35. Veterans Administration

36. Winn, Lora E.

37. Outgoing Letters: 1929

38. Outgoing Letters: 1931

39. Outgoing Letters: 1932-4

40. Outgoing Letters: 1935-6

41. Outgoing Letters: 1946-1952

42. Outgoing Letters: 1970-81

Contents | Special Collections

Series 2: Biographical Materials, 1931-1982

Newsclippings and M.S.U. documents pertaining to Post's life and academic career. Materials are arranged according to document type. Published works discussing Dr. Post are in files 43 & 44. Biographical information found in M.S.U. Plant and Soils Dept. papers are arranged in files 45 & 46.

Box 1 (cont.)

43. Newsclippings re: Post & Funeral Announcement

44. Newsletters/Publications re: Post

45. Appointment to Head of Agronomy Dept.

46. Arthur H. Post Field Research Lab Proposal

Contents | Special Collections

Series 3: Printed Materials, 1925-1971

Published materials created or collected by Post have been arranged according to document type and then alphabetized. Materials collected by Post are in Box 1, files 48-51. Post's published research has been placed in Box 2.

Box 1 (cont.)

47. Alpha Gamma Rho Newsletters

48. Commencement Programs--Washington State University, 1972 & The University of Wisconsin, 1948

49. Misc. Newsclippings and Advertisements

50. Programs re: M.S.U.

Box 2

Post, A. H., "The Field Error Obtained in Sampling Plots for Nitrogen," B.S. Thesis, State College of Washington, 1922.

Post, A. H., "Fertilizer Investigations in Montana in 1940" (Bozeman: M.S.C. Ag. Exp. Station, 1941).

Post, A. H., "Phosphorus and Iron Availability in Calcareous Soils as Measured by Chemical and Plant Culture Methods," Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wisconsin, 1948.

Summaries of Doctoral Dissertations University of Wisconsin, 1947-1949, vol. 10, (Madison: Univ. of Wisconsin Press, 1950).

Soil Science, vol. 63, no. 1 (Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Company, January 1947).

Truog, E., et. al., "Soils: Nature and Management," (Madison: Soils Dept. University of Wisconsin, 1947).

Contents | Special Collections

Series 4: Course Work & Lecture Notes, 1931-1964

Course Work and Lecture Notes examining primarily crops and soils are arranged chronologically, with the exception of Post's university transcripts and his civic or non-academic speeches which have been placed in Box 4, file 2 and Box 4, file 9 respectively. The notebook titles are those given by Post and overwhelmingly refer to his Ph.D. work. His lectures prepared for the M.S.U. Agriculture Experiment Station are in Box 4, files 3-7 and are arranged chronologically.

Box 3

Notebook: Physical Chemistry Laboratory, 1931

Notebook: Soils Research, 1931-2

Notebook: Plant Genetics, Soil Bacteriology & Physical Chemistry, 1931-2

Notebook: Plant Nutrition & Soil Science, and Plant Physiology, 1931-2

Notebook: Zoology Lab. 1932

Notebook: Climatology & Soil Classification, 1932

Notebook: Structure & Development of Flowering Plants, 1932

Notebook: Plant Physiology Experiments, 1932

Box 4

Notebook: Soil Bacteriology--Lab Work, 1932

Notebook: Soil Analysis--Lecture & Lab Work, 1932

Notebook: Phosphate Availability--Research Project, 1934-5

Notebook: Soil Science & Plant Nutrition, 1947-8

Notebook: Experimental Methods, 1948

Notebook: Soil Genesis, Classification & Mapping, 1948

Notebook: Misc. Soil & Fertilizer Notes

Box 4 Files:

1. Misc. Notes on Methods Analysis and on Phosphorus

2. University Transcripts

3. Agronomy Speeches, 1947-8

4. Agronomy Speeches, 1949

5. Agronomy Speeches, 1950-1

6. Agronomy Speeches, 1952-3

7. Agronomy Speeches, 1954-5

8. Lecture Notes re: Soil Conservation, 1963-4

9. Misc. Civic Organization Speeches

Contents | Special Collections

Series 5: Memorabilia, 1921-1982

Memorabilia collected by Post has been separated according to document type and then arranged according to document size. Paper items have been placed in files 1-4. Post's retirement scrapbook contains letters from faculty, staff and students with whom he worked during his academic career. It is detailed and comprehensive. Items relating to his wife, Margaret, have been placed in file 5. Post's yearbook and songbook collection from Washington State University are in Box 6.

Box 5

1. Certificates and Awards

2. Financial Records--Alpha Gamma Rho, 1926-1977 (scattered)

3. Misc. Memorabilia, Party invitations, WWII Ration Books

4. Retirement Scrapbook

5. Margaret Post's Dance Cards, 1920s

Scrapbook: "The Graduate's Happy Days"

Plaque: Service Recognition from The Flax Institute of the United States

Plaque: Contribution Recognition from Montana Plant Food Association

Plaque: Plant and Soil Science, M.S.U.

Box of Pins and Mementos: 50 year reunion pin, Mason's pin, Fraternities of Alpha Zeta and Alpha Gamma Rho, etc.

Box 6

Washington State College Favorite Songs (New York: Hinds, Hayden & Eldredge, Inc., 1921).

Chinook, 1921--Washington State College Yearbook

Chinook, 1922--Washington State College Yearbook

Chinook, 1923--Washington State College Yearbook

Contents | Special Collections

Series 6: Photographs, ca. 1921-ca. 1970

Photographs contains pictures, postcards, a slide and a steel etching either created or collected by Post. Pictures have been separated according to document type and then arranged chronologically. All photographs are black and white. The titles given on file folders indicated subject matter of the photos and/or images. Post Retirement Party Photo Album was a gift and corresponds with the Retirement Scrapbook found in the series containing memorabilia.

Box 7

1. Photographs #1-3, ca. 1921: Post at Washington State University

2. Photographs #4-7, 1924: Post and Friends at 16 Mile Canyon

3. Photographs #8-21, 1925-1937: Eastern Vacation, Logan Earthquake and Head of Dept. photos

4. Photographs #22-29, 1961-ca. 1970: Post at M.S.U.

5. Photograph Album #30, 1964: Post's Retirement Party

6. Misc. #31-32: Research Slide & Raised Paper Image of Post

7. Pacific Northwest Postcards and Steel Etching of Rheims Cathedral #33-36, 1912-1924

Contents | Special Collections

Updated: 5/11/09