Academic Affairs. Dean, College Of Natural Sciences, Forestry, And Agriculture. Maine Agricultural & Forest Experiment Station (University Of Maine) Records

Faculty and students at the University of Maine have been conducting experiments and research (particularly in agriculture) since its formation. In 1883, the Maine Board of Agriculture called for the establishment of a formal experiment station in Orono. With the support of state funds the Maine Fertilizer Control and Agricultural Experiment Station (later becoming the Maine Agricultural & Forest Experiment Station). Eventually the Station would expand its research into genetics and breeding, entomology, forestry, food, potatoes, blueberries, and dairy. Such studies have been funded by both state and federal agriculture grants.

Much of the Station's research has been published in reports (including to funding bodies) and the Maine Agricultural & Forest Experiment Station's Bulletin. One of the Stations’ research areas was blueberries to support this work a Blueberry Committee Advisory was established in 1944. One of the major research projects featured in this record group is on potato tax and the problems facing the Maine potato industry during the 1950s and 1960s looking particularly at storage, processing, marketing, and disease control.

Federal funds were first issued as part of the provisions of the Hatch Act of 1887. Subsequent federal funding including as a result of the 1906 Adams Act allowed the Station to expand its research including the building and expansion of Holmes Hall on campus and the establishment of various off-site laboratories.

Whitman H. Jordan was appointed the first director of the Station in 1887 a position he would hold until 1896 when he was succeeded by Charles D. Woods who would stay in post until 1920. From 1920-1931 Warner J. Morse was the director and Fred Griffee from 1931 until 1951. Much of the material in the record group was created during the tenure of George F. Dow (Class of 1927) who was director from 1957 until 1969 when he was awarded emeritus status. Succeeding Dow was future UMaine president (1992-1997) Dr. Frederick E. Hutchinson who was also dean of agriculture.

A number of prominent faculty have worked at the Station including the entomologist Edith M. Patch whose research is included in this record group.

Since the early twentieth century the Station has been closely connected to the various department of the College of Agriculture (later known as the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture and now known as the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture) and the Cooperative Extension Service. Today the Station is the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture’s center for applied and basic research in agriculture and food sciences, forestry and wood products, fisheries and aquaculture, wildlife, outdoor recreation, and rural economic development.

Today the station maintains its offices and principal research laboratories in Orono. Additional research facilities include Aroostook Farm in Presque Isle, Highmoor Farm in Monmouth, Blueberry Hill Farm in Jonesboro, J. F. Witter Teaching and Research Center in Old Town, the Lyle E. Littlefield Ornamentals Trial Garden and the Roger Clapp Greenhouses in Orono, and the Dwight B. Demeritt Forest in Old Town and Orono.