William R. Page Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 241

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The William Page Papers consist primarily of Mr. Page's diaries from 1937 to 1983, together with a correspondence series and subject files series.

The Diary Series is complete and contains detailed information on his daily activities. They document both his work as Grand Forks County Agent and his family life. Also scattered throughout the diaries are various newspaper clippings concerned mainly with his work and various scattered correspondence. The diaries give a good account of the activities of a county agent and a man in retirement life.

The Correspondence Series including both incoming and outgoing correspondence related to his experiments in growing fruit trees at Grand Forks. The correspondents are from all over the United States, including universities in Iowa, Oregon, Minnesota, New York and Canada.

The Subject Files Series contains a variety of items related mostly to his horticultural interests. There are a number of articles written by Mr. Page, including several published in the Minnesota Horticulturist. There are a number of typed sheets of notes regarding early farming at Gilby, North Dakota, and John W. Scott and growing potatoes. The authorship is not given, but likely they were compiled by Mr. Page. Mr. Page was a North Dakota delegate at the National Dairy exposition held at Milwaukee in 1924. The formal certificate he received was signed by Thomas Hall, secretary of state and R.A. Nestos, governor. The file of notes regarding the raising of various fruit varieties are maintained as found when donated. It contains a variety of handwritten notes by Mr. Page together with a small amount of correspondence. The Speeches file contains handwritten and typed notes for speeches given by Mr. Page when a county agent. The topics covered include “Technology on the Farm,” “Economics of AAA Program,” “Cooperative Movement,” and “Land Use Planning Defined.”

Dates

1937-1991.

Creator

Page, William Ralph, 1896-1991. (Person)

Access

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

Copyrights

Copyrights to most of this collection is held by the NDSU Archives with the older diaries dedicated to the public domain.

Extent

3.6 Linear Feet (3.6 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Page served as a Grand Forks County agricultural extension agent. He deposited his diaries with the Institute. The diaries document his work as a county agent and his family life.

Provenance

Donated by William R. Page, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1987 (Acc. 2047, 2068, 2217), and his daughters, 1998.

Separation record - Photographs (Institute photographic collection 472)

The following photographs were removed from the William R. Page Papers and placed in the Institute photograph collection (Photo 472).

8 items: Planting shelterbelts (1947), home in Grand Forks, with other men, hunting trip with game caught, Phineas S. Shearer, and group on Soil Conservation tour beside bus (1952).

Biography

William Ralph Page was born February 13, 1896 on his parents' farm at Hamilton, North Dakota. There he attended school and high school, graduating in 1914. He then worked on the farm until enrolling in 1916 at Iowa State University. After a year there, Mr. Page returned to operate the family farm since his brothers were serving in World War I. In 1919 he returned to Iowa and graduated in 1922 with a degree in Animal Husbandry. Mr. Page's first employment was with the North Dakota State Dairy Department at Bismarck where he was a creamery and cream station inspector. In the winter he lectured at Farm Institutes on dairy husbandry. From 1924 to 1927 Mr. Page became County Agricultural Agent at Grand Forks for-the Great Northern Agricultural Development Department. In 1927 Mr. Page became County Agricultural Agent of Grand Forks County, which he held until his retirement in 1953. After retirement he remained in Grand Forks taking an interest in hunting, photography and horticulture. In the latter area he has spent much time in special studies and tests on marginally hardy fruits and the cold tolerance of dwarf apple stock. He was a member of the Western Canadian Society of Horticulture, Minnesota Horticulture Society and the North Dakota Horticulture Society.

Mr. Page married Mae Walker of Valley City on October 23, 1926 and had two daughters. Mrs. Page died September 17, 1968. On December 28, 1969 he married Mae Park of Poplar, Montana. Mr. Page died August 2, 1991 in Grand Forks.