Kane County Farm Bureau Records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: RHC-RC-076

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The records contained in this collection document the activities of the Kane County Farm Bureau from 1919 to 1971, with the bulk of the material covering the years 1920 to 1967. The collection contains three basic series: minutes, financial records, and printed material. Series one includes the minutes of the Executive Committee, by-laws, amendments, agendas, and reports and minutes of various committees for the period 1919 to 1957. Also in this series are lists of the Board of Directors and organizational committees, 1940 to 1952. Most of the material is typed or duplicated but original minutes from 1929 to 1940 are included. Expecting membership rolls, records are lacking for the formative years of the Bureau, 1913 to 1918. Series two consists primarily of general ledgers and journals, 1920 to 1967. There are membership records, regarding dues, for the years 1930 to 1947, with 1933, 1940, and 1943 missing. Patronage records, December 1935 to March 1942 reflect commercial activities in the prevention and treatment of animal diseases. Insurance records, vouchers, statements, and receipts for the fiscal year August 1956 to July 1957 give a glimpse of typical organizational finances. Series three, printed materials, is composed mainly of the Kane County Farmer, the official publication of the Kane County Farm Bureau. There are sporadic gaps in the years represented, 1952 to 1971. Also included is the Prairie Farmer’s Director of Farmers and Breeders: Kane County Illinois (1918), the Illinois Agricultural Association’s Annual Report (1940 to 1966), the IAA Record (1969 to 1971), various pamphlets and reports dealing with reviews of legislation (1955, l96l) and problems of the Farm Bureau in Illinois (1953). Various publications from the national organization during the 1950’s complete the series.

Dates

created: 1919-1971
Other: Date acquired: 09/09/1979

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access to the materials in the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights to the records belong to the Kane County Farm Bureau. Literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Biographical or Historical Information

The Kane County Farm Bureau began June 1, 1913 as the Kane County Farm Improvement Association. The first president was J.P. Mason and the first farm adviser was Jerome F. Readhimer. The organization changed its name on January 24, 1920. ln 1912 DeKalb and Kankakee counties pioneered the farm bureau idea and the advancement of scientific agriculture. Kane County quickly followed in 1913, hiring its first county agent. When county farm advisers organized as the Association of County Agriculturists in 1913, they elected J.E. Readhimer president. The Farm Bureau soon added legislative, commercial, and public information services to its program. For example, the Kane County Service Company, began in 1930, serves Farm Bureau members as well as urban patrons. In June 1960 it opened a modern farm store, the first of its kind in Illinois. Kane County Farm Bureau’s official publication, the Kane County Farm News began as a bi-monthly in 1922. In 1946 it became the Kane County Farmer, a bi-weekly newspaper. Located in Geneva until 1958 the Kane County Farm Bureau moved its office to St. Charles where it has remained.

Note written by

Extent

8.50 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

The collection contains three basic series: minutes, financial records, and printed material.

Source of Acquisition

Mr. Eldon Gould

Method of Acquisition

Mr. Eldon Gould, President, Board of Directors, deposited the records of the Kane County Farm Bureau on September 6, 1979.

Related Materials

The researcher should note that complementary material may be found in the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, Winnebago County Farm Bureau, and Pure Milk Association Records.