UMC; College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources; Agricultural Extension Service; James W. Burch Papers MU stacked logo in yellow and black -- links to main university of missouri at columbia web site MU Libraries -- links to home page of the University Libraries of the University of Missouri at Columbia University Archives -- links to home page of the University Archives of the University of Missouri at Columbia MU stacked logo in yellow and black -- links to main university of missouri at columbia web site University Archives -- links to home page of the University Archives of the University of Missouri at Columbia University of Missouri -- links to home page of the University of Missouri at Columbia spacerHeader graphic

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Call Number:
(C:3/37/7)

Box 1-UMLD1

Record Group: 3 C
Record Sub-Group: 11
Records Title: UMC; College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources; Agricultural Extension Service; James W. Burch Papers
Dates: 1928-1962
Volume: 1/3 cubic foot, 0.4 linear foot

Scope and Content Note

(A95-88)
This Record Sub-Group contains some of the personal and professional correspondence, speeches, and published and unpublished writings of James W. Burch. Burch was a widely recognized University of Missouri-Columbia Professor of Animal Husbandry, Director of UMC's Agricultural Extension Service for 25 years, and the "Father of Balanced Farming."

Included in this selection of Burch's personal and professional papers are newspaper clippings and magazine articles concerning Burch, Balanced Farming methods, and related topics. Also included in this Sub-Group are photographs of Burch, his family, and his co-workers, as well as biographical sketches (some written as memorials after Burch's death in 1962).

Biographical Note:

James W. Burch was born in December 1893, on a farm near Brookfield, Missouri. He received his B.S.A. from the University of Missouri in 1916 and his M.S.A., also from MU, in 1931. After serving as a County Extension Agent and Animal Husbandry Specialist for twelve years, Burch was appointed Director of Extension Services in Missouri. With the exception of a period of active service as an Army Officer during World War II, he continued as Director of Extension until his retirement in 1959. Burch is remembered as the "Father of Balanced Farming," for his pioneering efforts in the areas of land use optimization and crop diversity.

In addition to his long service as Extension Agent and Director, Burch also helped manage the New Deal Agricultural Adjustment Administration's Wheat Program in Missouri from 1933 to 1935. He was a tireless champion of Agricultural Extension, serving as Chairman of both the Extension Organization Committee of the Land Grant College Association and the Extension Section of the Land Grant Colleges Association. He was instrumental in securing State and Federal funding for the expansion of Agricultural Extension Services in Missouri and throughout the United States. His influential writings on Balanced Farming and related subjects have been widely published in professional journals.
Note to Researcher: For more on Professor Burch and "Balanced Farming," see Record Group 3 C, Sub-Group 26, Series 18 and Record Group 4 UW, Sub-Group 61, Series 4.

Series Descriptions:

This Record Sub-Group is not divided into separate record series. Arrangement follows the original, topical order.

Inventory

Box 1

FF 1 - Biographical sketches, memorials, award citations

FF 2 - General Extension Information and J.W. Burch's Speeches

FF 2a - General Extension Information and J.W. Burch's Speeches (cont'd)

FF 3 - "Balanced Farming" promotional buttons

FF 4 - News clippings, 1932-1947

FF 5 - News clippings, 1948-1957

FF 6 - News clippings, 1958-1962

FF 7 - Personal correspondence, 1928-1959

FF 8 - U.S. Army Captain's Commission

FF 9 - Agriculture essays and other writings: Livestock Marketing Problems, 1954; Agriculture's Contribution to the Economic Stability of the Area, 1961; Wasting the Labors of the People, 1961

FF 10 - Photographs

FF 11 - Gamma Sigma Delta (Agriculture Honor Society)

FF 12 - Miscellaneous

Restrictions Note: The Archives of the University of Missouri-Columbia is required by law and Board of Curator's policy to restrict access to some files and information. Student records are held as confidential under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and by University policy. Faculty promotion and tenure records and Academic Personnel files are restricted for 75 years, or the lifetime of the individual. All grievance, disciplinary, and medical records are treated as confidential files. Consultations with legal counsel, both in-house and external, are protected by the attorney/client privilege and will not be released.

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Copyright © Curators of the University of Missouri 1997 - 2002
Published by: University Archives muarchives.missouri.edu/
Originally Prepared: November 1999
Revised: 05 April 2002
URL: https://muarchives.missouri.edu/c-rg3-s11.html

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