Wilmon Newell Papers, 1908-1935.
     1.3 linear ft. (1 carton)

     Wilmon Newell was born March 4, 1878, in Hull, Iowa.  He was educated in Iowa and received his B.S. and M.S. from Iowa State University in 1897 and 1899 respectively.  He served briefly at experiment stations before being appointed State Entomologist of Georgia in 1903.  In 1905, he was appointed Entomologist of the Louisiana Experiment Station and Entomologist and Secretary of the Louisiana Crop Pest Commission. It was at Louisiana that Newell made important contributions in the control of the Cotton Boll Weevil including the first use of powdered lead arsenate.  In 1910, he returned to Texas as Professor of Entomology and Experiment Station Entomologist at Texas A & M College.  In 1915, he became Florida's first Plant Commissioner in the newly created State Plant Board.  Newell directed the successful campaign to eradicate citrus canker.  He served as Commissioner until his death.  In 1921, the Florida Board of Control selected Newell to head the University of Florida's College of Agriculture and its Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.  In 1929,  the USDA asked him to head its eradication campaign against the Mediterranean Fruit Fly in Florida.  Newell's efforts in this campaign were also successful.  In 1938, the post of Provost for Agriculture was created by the Board of Control and Newell held that title until his death on October 25, 1943.
     The Wilmon Newell Papers consist of manuscripts for some of his publications and speeches; several reprints of journal articles; an incomplete bibliography of his publications written prior to 1932; two "spiel" books containing notes and syllabi for speeches and clippings of published speeches made during his tenures as Entomologist at the Louisiana and Texas experiment stations; two field notebooks containing observations of pest control measures in cotton and rice crops in Louisiana; a record of cotton and corn growth at unidentified fields; and Newell's calendar diaries for 1922-1935.  The latter do not contain a detailed record of his daily activities, but rather random notes related to issues and projects, newspaper clippings, and trip notes.  Some diaries, particularly the later ones, contain few entries and little information.  Also included are copies of his 1907 and 1909 Biennial Report to the Governor of Louisiana as Secretary of the Louisiana Crop Pest Commission.
 
Contents list

Vol. 1             Spiel Book--Crop Pest Commission
Vol. 2             Spiel Book--Vol. II
Vol. 3             Records of growth, cotton and corn, 1908-1911
Vol. 4             Cotton--Field Book, 1909
Vol. 5             Rice--Field Book, 1909
Vol. 6             Notes of a trip to Sandusky, Ohio
Vols. 7-20      Diaries (calendars), 1922-1935

Louisiana.  State Crop Pest Commission. Biennial report to the governor.
 1906-1907
 1908-1909

Folder 1 Speeches

 Agricultural Education for Young Men, 1926
 Forestry and Improved Pastures, 1929
 Horticultural and other activities of the College of Agriculture of the University of Florida, 1930
 Radio talk, Garden Club series, 1932
 Address before the Federation of Garden Clubs, 1933
 Some Remarks on Economic Entomology in the South, 1937
 The Experiment Station and the Citrus Industry, 1938
 Harcourt A. Morgan, 1940
 Commercial Clubs and the Cooperative Marketing of Agricultural Products, n.d.
 Up and Doing, n.d.
 Agricultural Florida
 The College of Agriculture
 Untitled speech on cattle industry and the College of Agriculture
 Protecting Florida Plant Life Against Insect Pests and Diseases
 Comments on Entomology in the South During the Past Twenty-five Years
 The Modern Trend in Entomology, 1929
 Affidavit re pest and disease hazards to citrus
 Serious aspects of the present quarantine situation.

Folder 2

  Article reprints and a bibliography of Newell's writings prior to 1932.
 
 
 

University of Florida Archives