Academic Affairs. Dean, College Of Natural Sciences, Forestry, And Agriculture. Maine Agricultural & Forest Experiment Station. J. F. Witter Teaching and Research Center (University Of Maine) Records
Scope and Contents
The record group contains historical records of cattle herds maintained at the Orono campus of the University of Maine and other university farms, 1936-1946; records of various kinds of cattle sold, 1957-1967; as well as general information about the relocation of the Witter Center and some of its programs.
The record group also contains a few records about the sheep flocks maintained at the University of Maine.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1936-1973
- 1916-1992
Creator
- J. F. Witter Teaching and Research Center (Organization)
Restrictions on Access
Kept at Fogler Library's offsite storage facility. One week's notice required for retrieval.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Information on literary rights available in the Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections Department.
Historical Note
The J.F. Witter Teaching and Research Center, the livestock research facility at the University of Maine, often referred to as the Witter Farm, consists of 300 acres of land in Old Town, Maine, near the campus. Until the facility was constructed in 1972, livestock such as cattle and sheep were housed in barns on the main part of the campus in Orono. The need for more space on campus and a fire at one of the campus dairy barns in 1972 led to the construction of the Witter Center. The center operated until 1996, when it was briefly closed after it had fallen into disrepair. Using proceeds from the sale of the livestock, it was renovated and reopened in 1998. It now includes a dairy, a livestock barn, a horse barn, classroom and laboratory space and a house for the livestock program manager. Animals at the center include a herd of Registered Holsteins, Black Angus and Belted Galloway brood cows, a flock of Suffolk sheep and a herd of standardbred horses used for teaching and research purposes.
The Center is integrated into the University’s teaching mission and is heavily used by many students. According to its web site, current research includes studies of fertility problems in horses and cows, nutrient use by dairy animals, and ways to improve forage quality through biological additives.
Extent
2 boxes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Historical records of cattle herds maintained at the experimental farm at the University of Maine and at other university farms.
Arrangement
Physically the material is arranged by subject. Some file names and dates were changed to make them more meaningful and to correct errors. Material was rehoused into archival quality storage.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source of acquisition--Gift of the Witter Center in Nov. 2008.
Accruals
Accruals from the J. F. Witter Teaching and Research Center are anticipated.
General
Formerly SpC MS 1496.
Processing Information
Processed by Matthew Revitt, December 2017, Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections Department. Processing involved the creation of this finding aid.
- Agricultural experiment stations -- History -- Maine Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Brochures Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Cattle -- Research -- Maine Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Certificates Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- J. F. Witter Teaching and Research Center -- History
- Sheep -- Maine -- Research Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- University Of Maine. J. F. Witter Teaching and Research Center Records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Matthew Revitt
- Date
- December 18, 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Raymond H. Fogler Library University Archives Repository
5729 Raymond H. Fogler Library
University of Maine
Orono ME 04469-5729 United States
207-581-1686
