Roderic Simpson papers, 1937-1984

Summary

Creator:
Simpson, Roderic
Physical description:
3.00 Linear Feet, 2.00 Boxes
Language:
English
Latin

Background

Scope and content:

The Roderic Simpson papers are a part of the Arthur Capper Cooperative Research Collection, a resource for the study of agricultural cooperatives. This collection includes papers, publications, photographs, film strips, 35 mm slides, and books related to Roderic Simpson's long career in agriculture, first as a fieldman with the Consumers Cooperative Association, followed by 15 years as a local cooperative fieldman for the Dodge City Exchange Cooperative, and finally as a territory fieldman for FAR-MAR-CO in Hutchinson, KS. Papers and publications include a variety of training programs and presentations, speeches and papers presented at professional farm cooperative associations, government circulars, industry printed materials, and periodical clippings. Photographs include tour groups and one photograph of the All Farm Supper, 1949. The film strips and 35 mm sides include educational materials and commemorative footage. Books include bound circulars and newsletters, as well as histories of farmer cooperatives. Additional items include film and slide projectors.

Biographical / historical:

Roderic Simpson, born in 1922, worked in cooperative agriculture. He was among the first to complete a pilot program under the aegis of the United States Department of Agriculture through Dodge City Community College (previously Dodge City Junior College) and received a certification in lieu of a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture, making him eligible to be a county Extension Service Agent. This program entailed 60 credit hours of science coursework at Dodge City Community College followed by three years of employment under the supervision of an Extension Agent.
After completing the certification, he worked for three months as Gray County Extension Agent in Cimarron, Kansas before receiving his draft notice in December 1944. After serving in the Navy, Simpson was brought on by his father to a series of cooperative projects in Mullinville, Kansas. Galvanized by the attacks of the National Tax Equality Association on cooperatives, he embarked on a career in cooperative agriculture.
Roderic Simpson began working in a management position at a general purpose cooperative in Peetz, Colorado; and then transitioned into work as a fieldman in eastern Nebraska and western Wyoming for the CCA (Consumers Cooperative Association, predecessor of Farmland Industries). He then worked for the Dodge City Cooperative Exchange for 15 years as a local cooperative fieldman, and later joined FAR-MAR-CO in 1971 as a territory fieldman based out of Hutchinson, Kansas.

Acquisition information:
Acqusition Source: Roderic Simpson Acqusition Method: Collection materials were donated to Special Collections through the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center connected with K-State's Agricultural Economics Department. Acqusition Date: 20170127
Processing information:

Finding Aid Author: Patrick C. Dittamo
Processing Info: Patrick C. Dittamo, graduate student at Kansas State University, processed the collection, and curator David Allen reviewed it, in July 2017.
Publication Date: 2017-07-10

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into 3 series by type of material: 1) Papers, circulars, and printed materials, 1937-1984, undated; 2) Film and slides, 1938-1940, undated; 3) Books and artifacts, 1949-1981.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Note:

URL provided to interview on Youtube by Seliese Barrett of the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center with Roderic Simpson (first interviewee) and John Minor.

General note:

Published

Dacs citation:

Preferred Citation: [Item title], [item date], Roderic Simpson papers, Box [number], Folder [number or title], Morse Department of Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.

Subjects

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Subjects:
Agriculture and rural life

Contents

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Restrictions:

No access restriction: All materials are open for research.

Terms of access:

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.