Bess and Fred E. Ferguson papers
Scope and Content
This collection (1887-1986, undated) contains biographical materials, transcripts and articles, correspondence, and farm records. The bulk of the collection documents the life work of Elizabeth "Bess" Storm Ferguson. These materials include personal and professional correspondence, transcripts, and writings. Much of her writings focus on foods and nutrition, growing and cooking with herbs, and other topics of interest to homemakers. Materials related to Fred include biographical information, some of his agricultural writings, and farm records of the Ferguson Brothers Farm. The farm records consist of extensive correspondence between Fred and his brothers as they manage the family farm through depression, drought, and war. The letters document interactions between Fred, his brothers, bankers, livestock dealers, and grain buyers. The collection also contains family correspondence of both the Storm and Ferguson families.
Dates
- 1887-1986, undated
Creator
- Ferguson, Bess (Person)
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
Open for research.
Use/Re-use Restrictions
Consult Special Collections and University Archives
Biography/Profile
Elizabeth "Bess" Storm Ferguson was born in Nevada, Iowa, on July 8, 1897. She received her B.S. (1921) in home economics and journalism from Iowa State College (University). As a student at Iowa State, Bess studied journalism, English, sociology, and psychology. She was an active member of several student publications, including the I.S.C. Student and the Iowa Agriculturist, and also founded and was the first editor of the Iowa Homemaker (call no. TX1 Io9), a special interest magazine dedicated to home economics majors.
During her career, Bess achieved a wide variety of accomplishments. She edited journals such as The Journal of Nursery Education and the National Association of Foreign Student Affairs newsletter; she coauthored several books including Charles Atherton Cumming, Iowa's Pioneer Artist-Educator (call no. ND237.C848 F47) and A Century of Home Economics at Iowa State University (call no. TX174.I6 E6x); and she was an Instructor (1969-1971) in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at Iowa State. Bess was a regular guest on WOI AM-FM radio during Martha Duncan's "Homemaker's Half-Hour" and also appeared on the WOI-TV program "Sixty-Plus." She was very involved with the Octagon Center for the Arts (Ames, Iowa) and wrote her own book, A Careful Writer (call no. PN147.F47x). She received the first Iowa Woman of Achievement Award from Iowa Press Women, Inc. and was the recipient of the Professional Achievement Award in Home Economics from Iowa State and the Alumni Merit Award (1971) from the ISU Alumni Association.
In addition, Bess was also very interested in growing and cooking with herbs. She was a member of several herb societies including the Herb Society of America and she wrote several pieces dealing with cooking and the use and production of herbs.
Fred E. Ferguson was born in 1898 in Laurens, Iowa. He received his B.S. (1922) in animal husbandry and journalism from Iowa State College (University). Following graduation, Fred worked as Field Secretary (1922-1924) for the Iowa State Dairy Association. Fred joined the staff at Iowa State as Publications Editor (1924-1953) for Iowa State and the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station. He, along with his brothers, also managed the family farm.
Fred and Bess met while working together on the Iowa Agriculturist at Iowa State. They were married in 1923 and had four children. Fred died in 1953 and Bess passed away on May 23, 1997.
Extent
5.46 Linear Feet (13 document boxes)
Abstract
Elizabeth "Bess" Storm Ferguson, a 1921 graduate of Iowa State, was a homemaker and journalist. Her husband, Fred, who was a 1922 graduate of Iowa State, was Publications Editor (1924-1953) for Iowa State College (University) and the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station. This collection includes the papers of both Bess and Fred Ferguson and contains biographical information, personal and professional correspondence, professional writings, and farm records. Bess's professional works focus mainly on recipes and food, the aging and elderly, and techniques for writing while Fred's writings discuss agricultural issues. Records for the Ferguson Brothers Farm include correspondence, ledgers, and some blueprints.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into five series:
Series 1, Bess Ferguson Papers, 1916-1984, undated
Series 2, Bess Ferguson Writings and Published Works, 1927-1983, undated
Series 3, Fred Ferguson Papers, 1910-1953, undated
Series 4, Ferguson Brothers' Farm Records, 1887-1951, undated
Series 5, Storm and Ferguson Family Materials, 1897-1983, undated
Processing Information
Released on 2018-11-01.
- Agricultural journalism--Iowa Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Family farms--Iowa Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Farm life--Iowa Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Ferguson, Bess
- Home economics extension work--Iowa Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Home economics--Study and teaching Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Iowa State College--Alumni and alumnae Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Iowa State University. Department of Journalism and Mass Communications--Faculty Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Journalists--Iowa Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Periodical editors--Iowa Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Rural journalism--Iowa Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- WOI (Radio station : Ames, Iowa)
- WOI-TV (Television station : Ames, Iowa)
- Women authors--20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women journalists--Iowa Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women periodical editors--Iowa Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- RS 13/13/52. Bess and Fred E. Ferguson papers, 1887-1986, undated
- Date
- January 23, 2019
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
- Box: 1 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 2 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 3 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 4 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 5 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 6 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 7 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 8 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 9 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 10 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 11 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 12 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 13 (Mixed Materials)
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives Repository
403 Parks Library
701 Morrill Road
Iowa State University
Ames Iowa 50011-2102 United States
(515) 294-6672
archives@iastate.edu