Benjamin H. Barrett Photograph Collection

Collection

Identifier: Photo 2081

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The Benjamin H Barrett photograph collection contains photographs, negatives, slides and films dating from 1947 to 1975. Many items in the collection are not dated. Mr. Barrett’s collection is eclectic, containing family images, as well as extension work images. Included with this collection are 390 4x5 film negatives and forty-five 5x7 film negatives. The collection has been arranged into eight series: NDAC, Benjamin H. Barrett family, Community, 4-H, Conservation, Extension, North Dakota and Slides.

The NDAC Series (59 prints) deals primarily with Mr. Barrett’s time at North Dakota Agricultural College as a student. It includes group portraits of the 1912 graduating class, and individual portraits of classmates; Alfred Anderson, Grace Briscoe, Harrison Bunt, Lucy Cockburn, Fern Dynes, Edwin Evingson, Amos Ewen, John Halland, Ella Heidner, Helen Hoover, Alma Leeby, Addie Stafford, Clarence Waldron, Roger Amidon, Maisie Griffin, Carol Griffin, Charles Hammond, Chester Holkesvig, Chester Miles, Carl Payne, Ira Slingsby, Harold Backman, Warren Dodds, Reginald Dynes, Mary Mae Miller, Maie Hooper, Levi Thomas, John Wentz, Ephriam Westlund, and Ray Towle. This series also contains some miscellaneous images of the Gold Star Band practicing on the campus grounds, a nice group portrait of the orchestra and a track meet. Seven NDAC – related images were moved to the University Archives photograph collection.

The Ben H. Barrett Family Series, includes twelve photographs of Ben Barrett at the time of his graduation from NDAC in 1912, Sadie Barrett, and children Robert and Kathleen.

The Community Series contains twenty-two images of social events such as a Lawrence Welk visit to North Dakota, the Kintyre Happy Mixed Club, Linton Farm Meeting, a community picnic, the Westfield Church remodeling, and the Westfield “Kitchen Band”.

The 4-H Series has thirty-three snapshots of Emmons County clubs with which Ben Barrett worked, including club projects and the 4-H Camp.

The Conservation Series (64 images) contains images of wind erosion, dam construction, shelter belts, all mostly taken in the 1930s during the years of drought. Some of the images are hand tinted. Of interest are image of fence rows and ditches filled with eroded top soil. Also included in this series are items related to rural electrification as well as agricultural equipment.

The Extension Series (101 images) documents Barrett’s work during the depression era of the 1930s in North Dakota, including his work with homemakers clubs and also extension work with farmers on crops, livestock and wildlife conservation. One file contains images from the extension office in Emmons County.

The North Dakota Series (54 images) contains snapshots of scenic views along the Missouri River Valley, Seeman Park in Linton, N.D., and an early photograph of the International Peace Garden cairn. There are also three photographs dealing with winter weather extremes of heavy snow and ice.

The Slides Series (1,269 slides) is arranged in the original order taken from index cards maintained by Mr. Barrett. All identifying information was transferred from the index cards to this list. Topically the collection deals with 4-H including achievement shows, livestock judging, crops, conservation, and the Camp Slade summer camp. There is also a series of slides from Strasburg including Anthony Ver Hoeven’s 100th birthday party and a visit from Lawrence Welk. There is a series of Hazelton’s 50th Anniversary of the founding of the town. The majority of these slides deal with Ben Barrett’s time as an extension agent in Emmons County. A typed index as well as photocopies of the index cards for the slide collection, are located in file one of the collection. Not all slides were retained, based upon quality of image or slide and repetitive subject matter.

The Negative Series contains 4 x 5, 5 x 7 and several 35mm film negatives. These negatives have been integrated into the Institute negative collections. They include the negative numbers 4x5P.461-851, 5x7P.357-402, and 35mm 0543-0546. They are mostly undated, and are arranged in no particular order. Many of the negatives did not have identification included, so in some cases identification was provided by the processor of the collection. Each negative was assigned a number and in cases where there was a print in the collection, cross referenced. Some of the negative appear to be from the 1910s to the 1940s. The content includes Barrett’s time as an Extension agent in Cavalier and Emmons counties, and many including family and friends. Photocopies of the index cards for negatives are located in file one of the collection. The 35mm negatives document Lawrence Welk and several of his musicians to his hometown of Strasburg, N.D. Although similar to the images found in file eight they are not the negatives for the prints.

Dates

1910s-1975

Creator

Barrett, Benjamin Harrison, 1889-1984. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.

Copyrights

Biography

Benjamin Harrison Barrett was born November 12, 1889 in Nebo, Steele County, North Dakota. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture in 1912 from North Dakota Agriculture College. In 1916 he married Addie Stafford, a former college classmate, and they had a son, Howard. Addie died in the 1918 influenza epidemic. Ben operated a dairy farm in Fargo, N.D., and worked in Staples, Minn. for thirteen years, returning to North Dakota to become Cavalier County extension agent in 1928. In 1934 he became the first extension agent for Emmons County, N.D. He married Gertrude Rose Wienecke in 1935. They had two children, Robert Edward and Kathleen Lou. As extension agent, Mr. Barrett introduced 4-H and homemaker clubs to Emmons County. He worked with the county residents in a variety of venues including parades, achievement shows, demonstrations, camps and meetings to develop fellowship and leadership. Conservation techniques were a vitally important part of his early work with the farm families in Emmons County since he started there in the Dust Bowl years. Ben worked for rural electrification and then telephone, speaking around the county. Continuing improvement of agriculture programs was a priority for Mr. Barrett. Ben Barrett died on November 17, 1984. He is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Fargo.

Extent

345 Photographic Prints (345 photographic prints)

390 Photographic Negatives (390 film negatives ; 4 x 5 in.)

45 Photographic Negatives (45 film negatives 5 x 7 in.)

14 Photographic Negatives (14 film negatives ; 35 mm.)

1 Linear Feet (1,269 slides)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

County agent and author, of Emmons County, N.D.; also known as Ben Barrett. The collection contains family images, as well as extension work images.

Provenance

Donated by Ben Barrett, 1982 (Acc. 2083).

Separated Materials

Manuscripts removed from collection and organized separately (Mss 255).

Separated negatives

Roll of 35mm black and white negatives of Lawrence Welk in Strasburg, N.D., added to the Institute 35mm negative collection. Negative numbers 543-546.