Erhardt Paul Sylwester papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: RS 9/18/51

Staff Only

Scope and Content

This collection (1936-1971, undated) contains a biographical sketch of Sylwester, his correspondence (1936-1970), Sylwester publications and manuscripts (1942-1955), clippings (1917-1977), committee files (1945-1971), agreements (1932-1960), reports and surveys (1926-1963), subject files (1898-1971), class notes (1926-1937), photographs, and sound recordings. Correspondence is primarily related to inquiries regarding weeds and plant diseases in Iowa, but also includes requests from other states and international inquiries. Material and pamphlets related to wildlife, farm safety, and weed control are in the collection as well. Among the manuscripts is a draft of Louis H. Pammel’s weed survey of Iowa, which Sylwester co-edited. Other manuscripts related to weed control written by Sylwester are in the collection. Much of the material is ephemera collected by Sylwester related to botany and natural sciences. Clipping files concern Barberry; 2, 4-D; “Bargain Seeds”; and clean seeds. Collection also includes sound recordings related to weed control.

Dates

1936-1971, undated

Access Restrictions

Open for research.

Use/Re-use Restrictions

Consult Special Collections and University Archives

Biography/Profile

Erhardt Paul (E. P.) Sylwester was born to John and Justina (Stelter) Sylwester on January 19, 1906, in Gaylord, Minnesota. He Received his B.A. (1930) from St. Olaf College and his M.A. (1931) and Ph.D. (1945) from Iowa State University. Sylwester taught at St. Olaf College, but spent most of his professional career at Iowa State. In 1935 Sylwester received an appointment with Iowa State Extension, where he worked for thirty years as an extension botanist and plant pathologist. He specialized in weed control, especially promoting cultural methods. He served as head of the Iowa State Seed Laboratory from 1946-1952. Sylwester helped found the North Central Weed Control Conference and served as president in 1950. He was the national chair of the Association of Regional Weed Control Conference in 1952-1953. He received numerous awards, including a Distinguished Faculty Citation from Iowa State in 1969.

Extent

7.00 Linear Feet (26 document boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is organized Alphabetically.

Items in related collections

RS 9/18. Iowa State University. Department of Plant Pathology records, 1917-2013

Processing Information

Released on 2018-11-01.

Subjects

Clippings (information artifacts) Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
Correspondence Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
Iowa State College--Alumni and alumnae Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Photographs Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
Plant pathology Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Publications (documents) Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
Reports Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
Science and Mathematics - Botany Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Science and Mathematics - Wildlife research Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Surveys (documents) Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source