Early American Agricultural Societies and Organizations: Educational Activities and Numerical Growth at Key Periods Until 1900

• Published in: Journal of agricultural & food information Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 17 - 31
• Main Author: ALLEN, Robert S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Binghamton, NY Taylor & Francis Group 01.07.2007; Haworth Press
• Subjects: agricultural history; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; associations; Biological and medical sciences; clubs; educational history; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Generalities. Biometrics, experimentation. Remote sensing; Generalities. Information. Documentation. Research; Information and communication sciences; Information science. Documentation; organizations; Sciences and techniques of general use; Societies; United States; North America; America; associations; Professional organization; Organization; educational history; American; Professional association; Century 19th; Increase; Societies; History; Socioeconomics; agricultural history; Information science; Education; clubs; organizations; Agriculture; Society
• ISSN: 1049-6505; 1540-4722
• DOI: 10.1300/J108v08n03_03

This paper examines early agricultural societies in the United States. A literature review of pre-1900 agricultural societies was conducted, focusing on federal and secondary sources. The earliest societies and reasons for their formation are discussed; the different types of early agricultural societies and organizations are characterized and described; and the numerous educational activities of agricultural societies are explored, with particular emphasis on library development, adult education, publishing, research, and experimentation. The effect of the American Civil War on agricultural societies is discussed and the growth of agricultural societies throughout key periods of development is shown numerically in tabular form.