Pennsylvania and Penn State's Agricultural Heritage:
A Chronology
 1950-1999 
Hildebrandt Library Home
1950-1959
1950
 Milton Stover Eisenhower, brother of General (later, U.S. President Dwight David Eisenhower) becomes president of the College.
Department of Botany faculty member J. P. Kelly retires (Kern, n.d., p. 6).
Leon R. Kneebone and R. W. VanNorman (Plant Physiology) join the Department of Botany (Kern, n.d., p. 7; 14).
Dr. Frank D. Kern, head of the Botany Department and the first Dean of the Graduate School, retires. Dr. H. W. Popp succeeds Dr. Kern as the Head of the Department of Botany (Kern, n.d., p. 9).
1951
W. S. Westerfeld joins the Department of Botany; his responsibilities include General Botany and Taxonomy (Kern, n.d., p. 14).
December 31: Ralph U. Blasingame retires as Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering. Arthur W. Clyde is appointed as Acting Head of the Department (Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, "Brief History of the Department," n.d.). 1952
W. A. Chandle, a specialist in fungicides, and Mary E. Hawthorne, who will focus upon General Botany and cytology, join the Department (Kern, n.d., p. 14).
1953
"'Penngift' crownvetch, a groundcover developed by F. V. Grau and H. B. Musser, is released by the Pennsylvania Experiment Station." The plant is "used by PennDOT for erosion control" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
J. R. Bloom and W. J. Stambaugh join the Department of Botany. Bloom will specialize in plant pathology; Stambaugh will specialize in forest pathology (Kern, n.d., p. 14-15).
Dr. J. W. Sinden resigns from the Department of Botany (Kern, n.d., p. 6).
Julia M. Haber retires from the Department of Botany (Kern, n.d., p. 7).
Dr. Lee O. Overholts' manuscript for a manual of the pileate Polyporaceae is published posthumously under the title The Polyporaceae of the United States, Alaska, and Canada (University of Michigan Studies, Scientific Series, volume XIX).
November 14: "The Pennsylvania State University achieves formal recognition of its status as a university...by decree of the Centre Court of Common Pleas. Shortly thereafter, the undergraduate schools were designated as colleges" (Penn State University Libraries, 1996).
1954
 A referendum to change the name of State College fails to pass.
Dr. H. W. Thurston retires from the Department of Botany. Dr. Thurston joined the Department in 1920 (Kern, n.d., p. 6).
The following individuals join the Department of Botany during the year: Paul Grun (Cytogenetics), D. F. Mitchell (Genetics), Houston B. Couch (Forage Crop Pathology), and H. C. Fink (Plant Pathology). August 1: Frank W. Peikert is appointed Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering (Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, "Brief History of the Department," n.d.).
September 28: Approval is granted for joint administration of the Department of Agricultural Engineering by the Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering (Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, "Brief History of the Department," n.d.).
A second unit of the Botany Building (Buckhout Laboratory) is completed.
1955  "The Great Lakes Commission is established by joint legislative action by Pennsylvania and seven other states" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
R. W. VanNorman, W. A. Chandler, and Mary E. Hawthorne resign from the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. Dr. Henry W. Popp also steps down as department head (Kern, n.d., pp. 14-15). February 22: The University Park postal substation opens; the campus mailing address becomes University Park, 16802.
June: "United States' President Dwight David Eisenhower delivers the University's commencement address and is awarded Penn State's first honorary doctor of laws degree" (Penn State University Libraries, 1996).
June 14: Dr. W. S. Beach retires from the Department of Botany. Dr. Beach joined the Department as a faculty member in 1918 (Kern, n.d., p. 6). 1956
Penn State University president Milton Stover Eisenhower resigns to become president of Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. James Tammen joins the Botany and Plant Pathology Department faculty.
1955
1956
1957
State Senator Thomas P. Harney of Chester County introduces legislation in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to provide $50,000 for construction of a new research mushroom house at the Pennsylvania State University. The Assembly subsequently passes the legislation and it is signed into law by the Governor (Mushroom News 6, no. 3 (March 1960): 1).
"The Penn State Solar Poultry House, which uses energy from the sun to dry litter, is designed and tested. This work will lead to today's environmentally controlled poultry house" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
1958
1959
"Agronomic research is initiated at the Rock Springs Agricultural Research Center, nine miles from the main campus" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
June: "Participants in the Fourth Mushroom Industry Short Course" tour the "new research mushroom house at the Pennsylvania State University" (Mushroom News 6, no. 3 (March 1960): 1).
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1960-1969
1960s
Plant pathologist Lee Schisler and former graduate student David Carroll Jr. patent a delayed-release mushroom nutrient. The patent is subsequently licensed to Spawn Mate, a California firm (Pennsylvania State University, Senior Vice President for Research, "History of Research at Penn State," 2006). 1960
House Bill No. 1755 is signed into law by the Governor of Pennsylvania. The bill is "'for use of the School of Agriculture for expenditure by the Agriculture Experiment Station for the erection of experimental mushroom houses and research in the communicable diseases of mushrooms and other phases of the mushroom industry the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).' This appropriation is for the 1959-1961 biennium" (Mushroom News 6, no. 3 (March 1960): 1,11).
June 20-22: The Fifth Mushroom Industry Short Course is held at the Pennsylvania State University with J. Roger Deas, representative of the Corporate Offices of the American Can Company delivering the keynote address. Other highlights of the three-day program include presentations by: Dr. E. B. Lambert on "Deep Fills vs Shallow Fills," Campbell Soup Company on "Factors Affecting Average Size of Mushrooms," and Grocery Store Products Company on "The Nature of Compost Drain Water and Mushroom House Wash-water and Satisfactory Methods of Disposal of these Materials." Also, "researchers from the University of Delaware will report on their work on discoloration and marketing procedures. Papers from Penn State will include reports on the effect of pH on yield, mummy diseases, and proper use of chemicals" (Mushroom News 6, no. 5 (May 1960): 1).
The Jordan Soil Fertility Plots are discontinued. The plots were established by agricultural chemist Whitman H. Jordan around 1882.
1961
"The Delaware River Basin Commission is established by Pennsylvania and three other states and Congress to provide for the apportioning of water use and to protect water quality in the Delaware River" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
1962
Rachel Louise Carson (1907-1964) writes Silent Spring, a book that "raises awareness about the impact pesticides have on the environment" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
"'Nittany Lion Red G54' is released and patented. it is the first commercially successful geranium grown from seed" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
1963
Dr. james Tammen becomes the first head of the newly constituted Department of Plant Pathology.
1964
The Kinzua Dam on the Allegheny River is built to help control flooding on the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers. However, the project forces the relocation of the Seneca tribe from lands that had been granted to them by the
1794 Treaty of Canandaigua. (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
1965
May 1: William Merrill, Jr. is hired as an assistant professor in plant pathology.
1966
Dr. Richard R. Nelson (1926-1991) joins Penn State's Department of Plant Pathology faculty.
1967
1968
The Great Lakes Commission is granted Congressional consent.
"The 'Living Filter' concept of applying treated municipal effluent on agricultural and forested land is developed" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
The Ph.D. program in Agricultural Engineering is approved (Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, "Brief History of the Department," n.d.). 1969
Pennsylvania has 8,901,000 acres of farmland; the value of the state's farm products is US$945 million (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
"The Sports World benefits as 'Pennfine' perennial ryegrass is released" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
"The Sensory Evaluation Laboratory in food science begins using people from the community for taste tests to gauge consumer reaction to chemical and physical changes to foods" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
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1970-1979
Continually growing gypsy moth populations cause millions of dollars in damage to Pennsylvania forests.
1970
"The Department of Environmental Resources (DER) is created by combining the departments of Forests and Waters, Mines and Minerals and elements from the Health Department." The Department is "Pennsylvania's first agency with the responsibility to protect the environment" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
The first Natural and Wild Area is established on Pennsylvania state forest land. The Area is intended to protect endangered species.
"The Office for Remote Sensing of Earth's Resources (ORSER) is established at Penn State to combine and analyze information from satellites, aircraft, ground research, and existing maps. ORSER studies will include soils, surface mine runoff, and pollution potential in watersheds" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
"The Fusarium Research Center is established, making Penn State a world center for the study of Fusarium, a genus of fungus that attacks many plants, horses, and occasionally even people" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
April 22: The first nationwide Earth Day celebration takes place in the United States.
1971
"The Susquehanna River Commission is established to help coordinate joint action on water quality and quantity issues" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
"The Fruit Research Laboratory at Biglerville is dedicated" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
1972
The use of the pesticide Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane
(DDT) is outlawed in the United States.
Hurricane Agnes causes US$2.3 billion in damage.
The Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers Act (Act 283) is passed.
"Ag engineers develop and patent the cold flow ammonia process of applying fertilizer to soil" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
1973
Pennsylvania voters approve a constitutional amendment (Joint Resolution #1) "to preserve farmland through preferential property tax assessments" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
1974
The Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act (Act 24) is passed.
The Clean and Green program is adopted in Pennsylvania "to implement the constitutional amendment to preserve farmland through preferential property tax assessment" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
Dr. Richard R. Nelson (1926-1991) is named Evan Pugh Professor at Penn State.
"Studies begin on behavior and control of the gypsy moth" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
1975
The Nature Conservancy--Pennsylvania Chapter is established.
August 31: Frank W. Peikert retires as Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering. Howard D. Bartlett is appointed Acting Head of the Department (Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, "Brief History of the Department," n.d.). 1976
Dr. Fred H. Lewis retires from Penn State.
January 12: "The Agricultural Engineering Extension Section [is] integrated into the Department of Agricultural Engineering" (Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, "Brief History of the Department," n.d.).
June 1: "Harold V. Walton [is] appointed Head of the Department Agricultural Engineering" (Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, "Brief History of the Department," n.d.).
1977
"Researchers in forest resources demonstrate that sewage sludge and effluent facilitate reclamation of coal mining refuse banks" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
1978
1979
The Pasto Agricultural Museum opens at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs.
"Seed of 'Pennfresh ADX,' a high-sugar sweet corn hybrid, is released by the station to industry partners, including Agway, Inc. and Green Giant Development Company" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
"Horticulturists and agricultural engineers begin development of energy conservation methods for greenhouses" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
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1980-1989
Gypsy moths continue to defoliate Pennsylvania forests, causing millions of dollars in damage.
1980
The Pennsylvania Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program receives federal program approval. The Program provides "coordinated resource management, protection, and development oversight to" the state's 63-mile long Lake Erie and 57-mile Delaware Estuary coastal zones (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
Richard Nelson "and David MacKenzie attempt to introduce
certain wild-rice genes into a cultivated variety to breed in resistance to the rice blast fungus and make possible the growing of rice on dry land"
(Pennsylvania State University, Senior Vice President for Research, "History of Research at Penn State," 2006). 1981
The Agricultural Area Security Law authorizing Pennsylvania counties to create Agricultural Security Areas to preserve farmland is passed.
"As a result of seven years of soil testing for nitrogen availability, the Penn State Soil Testing Service lowers the fertilizer recommendations for Pennsylvania's main agronomic crop--corn. By using the new recommendations, farmers in the state can save about $18 million a year in fertilizer costs" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
John Almquist "is awarded
the International Wolf Prize, agriculture's equivalent of the Nobel Prize, for his studies on the cryopreservation of sperm and the advantages of antibiotics and milk extenders in preserving semen" (Pennsylvania State University, Senior Vice President for Research, "History of Research at Penn State," 2006). 1982
The Wild Resource Conservation Act creates Pennsylvania's first statewide program to "protect nongame endangered plants and animals" as well as the Wild Resources Conservation Board (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
"Blue Duikers, tiny South African antelopes with a digestive system similar to that of a cow, are brought to Penn State because their small size will allow scientists to accelerate digestive trials" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
1983
February 2: The Master of Agriculture degree program in Agricultural Mechanization [is] approved (Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, "Brief History of the Department," n.d.). 1984
"Seed of 'Pennspanish,' a genetically superior variety of Scotch pine, are released to the Pennsylvania Tree Improvement Program, a nonprofit cooperative dealing in forest research. This Spanish pine with hybrid backcrossing offers a better Christmas tree with deeper color, denser crown, and greater symmetry" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
1985
The Chesapeake Bay Commission Agreement Act (Act 25) is passed. The Act "commits Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
"Horticulturists working with geranium producers through the Ben Franklin Partnership Program develop improved geranium cultivars and cultural regimes" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
Dr. Richard R. Nelson (1926-1991) retires from Penn State with Emeritus rank.
July 31: "Harold V. Walton retires as Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering" (Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, "Brief History of the Department," n.d.).
August 1: "Dennis E. Buffington [is] appointed Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering" (Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, "Brief History of the Department," n.d.). 1986
The Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation is established.
"By treating pigs with somatotropin (growth hormone), animal scientists increase growth weight by 16 percent and decrease carcass fat by 70 percent" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
"Penn State and the American Cocoa Research Institute establish a $1.5 million endowed research program for study of the molecular biology of the cocoa plant" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
1987
 Pennsylvania voters approve a US$100 million bond issue (Act 54) to preserve farmland. Later in the year, The Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Program Act is passed to implement the program.
"To pinpoint the causes of Pennsylvania forest decline, the college begins a four-year cooperative study with Ohio State University, the state Bureau of Forestry, and the federal Forest Service. A $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service supports this research as part of the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program" ("Milestones, 1855-1987," Penn State Agriculture, Spring 1987, p. 7).
1988
February-March:
A new 4,000-square-foot greenhouse, located behind the Forest Resources Lab, will be used by Plant Pathology and Forestry "researchers to study " problems such as "the impacts of acid rain, ozone and sulfur dioxide on vegetation" (B. Vanferden, "Greenhouse to Aid in Acid Rain Research," The Daily Collegian, March 7, 1988).
1989
"The Great Lakes Protection Fund Act (Act 34) is passed. The Fund's purpose is "finance research and other efforts to protect the Great Lakes from toxic pollutants" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
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1990
Legislation (Act 14) banning the practice of backhauling (hauling food in vehicles that contain waste or hazardous chemicals) is passed in Pennsylvania.
November 9: The Department of Agricultural Engineering is renamed the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, "Brief History of the Department," n.d.). 1991
Dr. Richard R. Nelson, Professor Emeritus of Plant Pathology, passes away.
1992
1993
A new Pennsylvania law (Act 1) designates each April 22nd as Earth Day.
The Pennsylvania legislature passes the Nutrient Management Act (Act 6), requiring "farms to develop a nutrient management program to manage the manure they produce" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
A new Pennsylvania law (Act 11) creates the Agricultural Advisory Board within the Department of Environmental Resources (DER). The Board is to review "all regulations that have an impact on agriculture" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
1994
A new Pennsylvania law (Act 128) "directs the Department of Agriculture to establish a pilot program to construct anaerobic manure digesters to demonstrate their effectiveness" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
A new Pennsylvania law (Act 129) "directs the Department of Agriculture to create a sustainable agriculture program within the Department of Agriculture" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
The Pennsylvania General Assembly "authorizes a loan program (Act 130) to implement farming practices that reduce nutrient runoff (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
A new Pennsylvania law (Act 131) transfers the eating and drinking place and egg sanitation program from the Department of Environmental Resources (DER) to the Department of Agriculture and establishes an organic foods labeling program" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
1995
The Pennsylvania "General Assembly passes a new law (Act 18) splitting the Department of Environmental Resources (DER) into the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to house traditional environmental protection programs and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to house State Parks and State Forest programs" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
A new Pennsylvania law (Act 26) creates an Agricultural Education Program and advisory council within the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
September: A drought is declared in 23 Pennsylvania counties.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) creates the first Pennsylvania Office of the Great Lakes.
1996
January: The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) establishes the Wetlands Replacement Fund and Wetlands Registry to encourage landowner preservation and creation of wetlands" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
March: The "Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Education Agriculture, and Penn State co-sponsor first Building A Sustainable Future in Pennsylvania: A Conference on Sustainable Development in Harrisburg," Pennsylvania (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
July 1: Harvey Manbeck is appointed interim head of the
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, "Brief History of the Department," n.d.). December: The Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education is established by Governor Ridge.
1997
The Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission begins implementation of a "new program requiring Nutrient Management Plans for farms under [the] Nutrient Management Act" (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection).
1998
July 1: "Roy E. Young [is] appointed Head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering" (Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, "Brief History of the Department," n.d.). 1999
William Merrill Jr. retires as a professor emeritus.
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