Collection Guide
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Merced County, UC Cooperative Extension Records
UCCE.MER
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Table of contents
Description
The University of California Cooperative Extension Records for Merced County span the years of 1916-2000. Records include
reports and information on irrigation districts, fire protection districts, infrastructure improvement, economic outlook,
migrant workers, rodent eradication, WWI and WWII home front activities, Great Depression impact and relief programs, land
management, rural development, and correspondence. A large portion of the records are related to agriculture in Merced County,
San Joaquin Valley, and California and include trial reports and reference material on crops, domesticated animals, wildlife,
integrated pest management, fertilizer, pesticides, water, soil, and climate. These records also include reports and information
on the work of the Home Demonstration Agents, who later became the 4-H advisors. Subjects include: home economics, nutrition
education, home gardens, home beautification, youth development, and lesson plans. The collection includes a wide variety
of formats: typed reports, data sets, local newsletters and press releases, maps, audiovisual material, photographs, slides,
scrapbooks, and a variety of publications from the county, state, and national level.
Background
At the turn of the previous century, growing concern over the quality of life for rural Americans prompted President Theodore
Roosevelt to appoint a Commission on Country Life in 1908. One of the direct outcomes of the Commission's recommendations
was the passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914, which established a national extension service to place the knowledge generated
at land-grant universities into the hands of farmers and rural citizens. The Agricultural Extension Service formalized and
built upon existing efforts of land-grant universities to enhance the knowledge of farmers and apply scientific discoveries
for improved agricultural practices.
Extent
69 Linear Feet
Located at UC Merced Library
Restrictions
This collection is intended to support teaching, research, and private study. Copyright belongs to the Regents of the University
of California. Use of the materials beyond that allowed by fair use or by any Creative Commons licenses assigned requires
the written permission of the copyright owner(s). For further information, please contact the University of California, Merced
Library at library@ucmerced.edu.
Availability
This collection is open for research. A portion of the records have been digitized and are freely available online. Series
1 through 7 are located at UC Merced Library, Series 8 through 14 are located at the Merced Cooperative Extension Office.
For help locating material please contact library@ucmerced.edu.