Putnam Family Collection (Harvard)

Collection

Identifier: RHC-RC-071

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Putnam Family Collection is a partial documentation of the breeding of Jersey cattle on the Russel E. Putman dairy farm in the 1940’s in Harvard, Illinois. Herd records, registration, awards, individual cow histories reveal important breeding data for these years. Included in the collection are related printed materials, an undated account ledger, and 4-H project records. Especially valuable in this regard is the Dairy Herd Improvement Association Herd Record Book. The researcher should note that there are no materials pertaining to the business, rather than the breeding, activities of Putnam’s Jersey Dairy.

Dates

created: 1940-1952
Other: Date acquired: 06/28/1979

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access to the collection

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights in the collection are held by the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Biographical or Historical Information

A major business enterprise in McHenry County and other portions of northern Illinois since the 1860’s and 1870’s has been that of dairy farming. It remains so today. In 1967 the production of milk was the largest single cash farm crop in the county. In addition to 1,000 dairy farms, there were also three large commercial dairy processing plants, including a Borden’s plant in Woodstock and two Dean Company facilities in Harvard and Huntley. The Russel Putnam family farm, located in McHenry County in Harvard, Illinois, is one important representative of the dairy industry. In the 1940’s, the period for which we have records, it was active in a variety of dairy and breeding concerns. It was also in the 1940’s that Harvard, “Milk Center of the World”, began its annual Harvard Milk Festival held each June to honor its dairy farmers. A distinctive feature of the Putnam farm, which is no longer operational, was its breeding of Jersey, rather than Holstein or Hereford, cattle.

Note written by

Extent

1.50 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Source of Acquisition

Mrs. Russel E. Putnam

Method of Acquisition

Mrs. Russel E. Putnam donated the Putnam Family Collection to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on June 28, 1979.

Related Materials

Those interested in the dairy business may wish to consult the following Regional History Center collections: the DeKalb Milk Consumers Association Records (RC 15), the Gurler Family Papers (RC 25), the Pure Milk Association Records (RC 62), and the John P. Case Farm Records (RC 86).