Lawrence Root Waldron Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 36

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Lawrence Root Waldron Collection is an artificially assembled collection of papers compiled by the Institute staff documenting the life of L.R. Waldron. The collection has been organized into two series: correspondence and subject files. The Correspondence File Series contains only a few letters. The early letters include one with an impressive NDAC letterhead concerning the herbarium, and the others are copies of letters he wrote to H.L. Bolley while doing graduate work at Michigan. The correspondence from 1932 to 1952 consists of original letters from John H. Gerbracht of Hettinger, N.D. The final letter is from Merton Field reminiscing about his career. The Subject Files Series contain a wide variety of material. The articles about Waldron consist mainly of manuscripts written by H.L. Walster with a few other printed articles. The file of his writings contains various articles dealing mainly with the history of wheat breeding in North Dakota. Other files include a seven-page bibliography of his writings, bookplate mockup for a L.R. Waldron Memorial Library, a transcript of the 1954 dinner program honoring Waldron and C.I. Nelson, and a collection of newspaper clippings on Waldron and his family. Also there are files on a pedigree chart for North Dakota Number One wheat, a small collection of some of Waldron's publications, some research notes on his life by Walster and Bill G. Reid and several writings/speeches about Waldron including several by Walster.

Dates

1901-1954.

Creator

Waldron, Lawrence Root, 1875-1954. (Person)

Access

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

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are held by the NDSU Archives.

Biography

Lawrence Root Waldron was born October 20, 1875 near Ionia, Michigan in Ronald Township to David S. and Louisa (Root) Waldron. There he grew up and in 1896 matriculated at the North Dakota Agricultural College in Fargo where his brother C.B. Waldron was on the faculty. Upon graduation in 1899 he taught at the college for several years. In 1901 he continued his education at the University of Michigan where he received an M.A. degree in 1902. Waldron returned to the North Dakota Agricultural College where he became assistant botanist. Also during this period, Mr. Waldron married Emma A. Grafenstein on August 14, 1903 who was from Jamestown, North Dakota.

In 1905 Waldron was appointed superintendent of the newly created Dickinson Experiment Station. He was successful in firmly establishing this new substation and did extensive research on grasses, alfalfa, and dry-land farming. In 1916 Waldron was transferred to the main Experiment Station in Fargo and became a plant breeder, a position he held his entire career. In 1928 he received his PhD degree from Cornell University.

Mr. Waldron is best known for his development of Ceres, Rival and Mida strains of wheat as part of his program to combat rust, drought, and climatic conditions. He was also a prolific writer, publishing both popular and scientific articles in a wide variety of publications. In 1933 he was accorded the high honor of election to the Linnean Society of London. In addition he was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society of Naturalists, American Genetic Association, Sigma Xi, and the Minnesota Horticultural Society.

In 1952 Mr. Waldron retired from his full-time status on the Experiment Station staff. He received many honors throughout his career, the last being in 1954 only months before his death on August 22, 1954 in Fargo. He was buried beside his wife, who died in 1944, at Highland Cemetery in Jamestown. They had five children, Heber, Frederick, Charles, Lois and Ruth Ann.

Extent

.2 Linear Feet (.2 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Waldron was a North Dakota Agricultural College wheat breeder. The collection includes several letters, articles by and about Waldron, list of his publications, newspaper clippings, speeches, pedigree of North Dakota No. 1 Wheat, and copies of some of his articles.

Provenance

Donated by Jim McMillan, 1981, and compiled by NDSU Archives staff.

Separation Record

The following non-manuscript items have been removed from the L. R. Waldron Collection and sent to the section indicated. Photographs (Institute Photograph 2200)

74 photographs showing H. R. Waldron examining wheat, baked bread, wheat price and production charts from 1903 – 1920, wheat field test plots, wheat heads and seeds, and wheat plants.