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Frederick Wendell Miller papers

 Collection
Identifier: RS 21/7/196

  • Staff Only

Scope and Content

This collection (1885-2000, undated) documents the agricultural enterprises of F. Wendell Miller and the means by which he managed his several farms outside of Rockwell City, Iowa. The collection includes financial ledgers, production data, records related to seed and fertilizer costs, and reports for the farms. Additionally, the collection contains, Miller family materials, personal and corporate financial records, and photographic slides that document Miller’s world travels.

Dates

  • 1885-2000, undated

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Open for research. This collection is stored offsite. Please contact the department at least 3 working days in advance.

Use/Re-use Restrictions

Consult Special Collections and University Archives

Biography/Profile

Frederick Wendell Miller was born in Altoona, Illinois, on March 21, 1898. He graduated from Polytech School in Riverside, California, in 1916, Grinnell College in 1920 and received a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1923.

In 1923, Miller began working at the Sargent, Gamble, and Reed Law Firm in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1930, he accepted a position as an attorney for the Santa Fe Railroad. Upon returning to Rockwell City, Iowa, in 1939, Miller began his private law practice and by 1944 had begun managing the family farm enterprises.

During World War I, Miller served in the United States Navy and in the United States Army during World War II. Miller was a member of the Masonic Lodge, American Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association, and National Rifle Association.

Miller documented his world travels through journals and an extensive collection of photographic slides of local flora, fauna, architecture, and items of agricultural interest. He was also an avid flower gardener. Miller’s philanthropic interests included Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. Donations by Miller funded a number of programs at Iowa State including the F. Wendell Miller Scholarship Program in the Graduate College, the Miller Lecture Series, and the Miller Faculty Fellowship.

Miller died on March 29, 1995.

Extent

47.22 Linear Feet (32 records center cartons, 9 oversized boxes, and 1 document boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

F. Wendell Miller, attorney, operated and managed his family farm operations near Rockwell City, Iowa. Wendell was also an avid traveler. Upon his death he bequeathed his estate to the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. This collection documents the operations and finances of F. Wendell Miller’s farms in incredible detail over several decades through correspondence, financial ledgers, receipts, contracts, deeds, and reports. The collection also includes materials that document land purchases and easements, Miller family finances, and Miller’s travels abroad.

Arrangement

This collection is organized into four series:

Series 1, Miller family papers, 1915-1995 (alphabetical)

Series 2, Personal and corporate finances, 1910-1996, undated (alphabetical)

Series 3, Farm records, 1885-2000, undated (alphabetical)

Series 4, Travel files, 1922-1978, undated (alphabetical)

Physical Location

This collection is stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives at least 3 working days in advance.

Subjects

Collecting Areas

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
RS 21/7/196. Frederick Wendell Miller papers, 1885-2000, undated
Date
July 1, 2020
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives Repository

Contact:
403 Parks Library
701 Morrill Road
Iowa State University
Ames Iowa 50011-2102 United States
(515) 294-6672