Practical Farmer

mc00202 Guide to the Wilbur Fisk Massey Papers, 1857 - 2000 MC 00202 Finding aid prepared by Processed by: Jaime L. Margalotti; machine-readable finding aid created by: Jaime L. Margalotti Special Collections Research Center 2003 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2011-12-20T16:06-0500 Finding aid written in English Wilbur Fisk Massey Papers MC 00202 Special Collections Research Center 0.5 Linear feet 1857 - 2000 This collection is chiefly made up of materials collected by James R. Troyer in preparation for the composition of a biographical article on Wilbur Fisk Massey. Massey had a varied career, working as a horticulturist, professor, and an agricultural journalist. He taught at a wide variety of universities and schools. He spent 1889-1901 teaching at North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University), while also holding the position of horticulturist of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Massey left North Carolina to explore agricultural journalism, acting as editor for the Practical Farmer and going on to hold positions at several other publications. The personal material includes information of a biographical nature, including Troyer's article on Massey. The professional series primarily focuses on Massey's work at the North Carolina Experiment Station, but also includes information on his teaching experience at North Carolina State College and his work in agricultural journalism. The photographs series includes portraits of Massey from about 1880. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff. 1 archival storage box Massey, W. F. (Wilbur Fisk), 1839-1923 Restrictions to Access

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Deposit of Wilbur Fisk Massey materials made by J. R. Troyer in 2003.

Acquisitions Information

Gift of J. R. Troyer.

Provenance

Unknown

Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], Wilbur Fisk Massey Papers, MC 202, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, North Carolina.

North Carolina State University does not own copyright to this collection. Individuals obtaining materials from the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections Research Center are responsible for using the works in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.

Biographical Note

Wilbur Fisk Massey was a horticulturist, educator and agricultural journalist. He was born in Onancock, Virginia, in 1839. He attended Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, and Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He went west in the late 1850s to work on railroads and upon his return to Virginia, he served in the Civil War. After the war, Massey became an administrator in the Kent County, Maryland school system and developed a nursery and florist business. In 1884, he went to the Miller School near Charlottesville, Virginia as a professor of horticulture. He joined the first faculty of North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University), 1889-1901, and served as the horticulturist of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Massey left North Carolina to become an editor for the Practical Farmer, published in Philadelphia. He continued his career in agricultural journalism with publications such as: the Southern Planter, Southern Farm Gazette, Market Grower's Journal, Southern Agriculturalist, and the Progressive Farmer.

Scope and Content Note

This collection is chiefly made up of materials collected by James R. Troyer in preparation for the composition of a biographical article on Wilbur Fisk Massey. Massey had a varied career, working as a horticulturist, professor, and an agricultural journalist. He taught at a wide variety of universities and schools. He spent 1889-1901 teaching at North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University), while also holding the position of horticulturist of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Massey left North Carolina to explore agricultural journalism, acting as editor for the Practical Farmer and going on to hold positions at several other publications.

The Wilbur Fisk Massey Papers is divided into three series, Personal Papers, Professional Papers, and Photographs. The personal series includes information of a biographical nature, including Troyer's article on Massey. The professional series primarily focuses on Massey's work at the North Carolina Experiment Station, but also includes information on his teaching experience at North Carolina State College and his work in agricultural journalism. The photographs series includes portraits of Massey from about 1880. The material is not necessarily original, but it made up of research done by James R. Troyer in the production of his article on Massey.

Organization of Collection

This collection is divided into three series: Personal, Professional, and Photographs. Materials in each series are arranged chronologically within each folder.

Related Material MC 335 North Carolina Botanists MC 107 Larry Alston Whitford UA 100.12 Department of Botany Collection Massey, W. F. (Wilbur Fisk), 1839-1923 North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts--Faculty. North Carolina State University--Faculty--History. Shaw University. Troyer, James R. Horticulture--North Carolina Journalism, Agricultural Photographs Publications Personal Papers Series 1 0.25 Linear feet 1857 - 2000 .5 Archival Box Scope and Contents note

The Personal series is made up of biographical information. It includes Troyer's article on Massey, miscellaneous research on Massey's life, information on colleges Massey attended, and honors he received.

Wilbur Fisk Massey (1839-1923): North Carolina Botanist, Horticulturist, and Agriculturist, 1 1 2000 Biographical Information 1 2 1889 - 1978 Colleges Attended 1 3 1857 - 1979 Honors 1 4 1919 - 1999 Professional Papers Series 2 0.25 Linear feet 1889 - 1987 .5 Archival Box Scope and Contents note

The Professional series is made up of information concerning Massey's work and research at the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, his time teaching at North Carolina State College, publications he produced either for or outside the scope of the Experiment Station, and his career as an agricultural journalist.

North Carolina Experiment Station 1889 - 1987 General 1 5 1891 - 1905 Farmers Institute 1 6 1900 - 1928 Pest Control 1 7 1889 - 1900

Online Content

Southern Pines 1 8 circa 1923 - 1987 Waldensians 1 9 circa 1982 Teaching 1890 - 1972 North Carolina State College 1 10 1890 - 1972 Shaw University 1 11 1958 - 1966 Publications 1900 - 1979 Agricultural Journalism 1 12 1905 - 1979 Non-Station Publications 1 13 1900 - 1901 Photographs Series 3 0.02 Linear feet circa 1880 1 folder Scope and Contents note

The Photographs series is a very small series of one folder containing portraits of Massey dating from 1880.

Portraits 1 14 circa 1880 Tobacco photos 1 unknown