Grand Old Man of Purdue University and Indiana Agriculture: A Biography of William Carol Latta

by Frederick Whitford, Andrew G. Martin

Overview

William Carol Latta was the 13th member of the Purdue faculty. He became the driving force behind Purdue's world-famous School of Agriculture and initiated extension services that have lasted for more than a century. In 1890, he laid out the first permanent soil fertility field experiments, inaugurating a system of research considered one of the best in the country at that time. He administered Purdue's School of Agriculture until 1907.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781557533951
Publisher:	Purdue University Press
Publication date:	09/30/2005
Series:	The Founders Series
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Frederick Whitford works for the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service in the College of Agriculture. He received a BS in wildlife management from Louisiana Tech University, and an MS and PhD in entomology from Iowa State University. He has authored more than 250 research, extension, and regulatory publications, and has delivered at least 4,000 presentations to a wide array of audiences. He has written several other books about the history of Indiana agriculture, all published by Purdue University Press. Dr. Andrew Martin is a training specialist with the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, where he manages Indiana's commercial pesticide applicator training program. He received his bachelor's degree in soil and crop science, his master's degree in soil management, and his Ph.D. in education, all from Purdue University. Martin's professional interests include instruction in ethics and pesticide use, the history of pesticide applicator certification and training, and program evaluation. He resides in Delphi, Indiana, with his wife, Joyce, and children, Ruth, Andrew, and Daniel.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. The Education of William Carroll Latta: His Early Years
2. Building an Agricultural University: Politics, Vision, and Perseverance
3. The College Professor: Fulfilling a Dream of Teaching (1882–1911)
4. The Field Researcher: Using Science to Answer Agricultural Questions (1882–1901)
5. The Extension Specialist: Taking the University to the People (1889–1923)
6. The Purdue Politician: An Unwavering Belief in the University
7. Moral Obligations and Civic Responsibilities: A Life of Service
8. The Private Life of William Latta: A Time Away from Campus
9. Lasting Tributes: The Man Remembered
10. Epilogue: A Legacy of Caring and Commitment
Appendix 1. Selected Text of “Agricultural Education: Its Practical Value”
Appendix 2. Introductory Dates of Agricultural Practices and Innovations in Indiana
Appendix 3. Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletins Written by William Carroll Latta
Appendix 4. Selected Titles of Presentations Delivered at Farmers’ Institutes in Indiana from 1888 to 1907 321
Appendix 5. Yearly Attendance at Farmers’ Institutes in Indiana, 1889 to 1931
Appendix 6. Poems Written by William Carroll Latta
Appendix 7. Short Stories Written by William Carroll Latta
Appendix 8. Armed Guard Sailors Who Served aboard the SS W. C. Latta during World War II
Notes
Sources
Index