Wilbur Fisk Massey Papers 1857-2000

Summary
Contents
Names/subjects
Using these materials
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.
Creator
Massey, W. F. (Wilbur Fisk), 1839-1923
Size
0.5 linear feet (1 archival storage box)
Call number
MC 00202

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.

Biographical/historical 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/content

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.

Custodial history

Unknown

Arrangement

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

Use of these materials

North Carolina State University does not own copyright to this collection. Individuals obtaining materials from the NC State University 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.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Wilbur Fisk Massey Papers, MC 00202, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Related material

  • MC 335 North Carolina Botanists
  • MC 107 Larry Alston Whitford
  • UA 100.12 Department of Botany Collection

Source of acquisition

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

Gift of J. R. Troyer.

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

The collection is organized into three principal series:

Personal Papers 1857-2000 (Series 1)
Size: 0.25 linear feet

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.

.5 Archival Box

"Wilbur Fisk Massey (1839-1923): North Carolina Botanist, Horticulturist, and Agriculturist," 2000
Box 1, Folder 1
Biographical Information 1889-1978
Box 1, Folder 2
Colleges Attended 1857-1979
Box 1, Folder 3
Honors 1919-1999
Box 1, Folder 4
Professional Papers 1889-1987 (Series 2)
Size: 0.25 linear feet

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.

.5 Archival Box

North Carolina Experiment Station 1889-1987
General 1891-1905
Box 1, Folder 5
Farmers Institute 1900-1928
Box 1, Folder 6
Pest Control 1889-1900
Box 1, Folder 7
Southern Pines circa 1923-1987
Box 1, Folder 8
Waldensians circa 1982
Box 1, Folder 9
Teaching 1890-1972
North Carolina State College 1890-1972
Box 1, Folder 10
Shaw University 1958-1966
Box 1, Folder 11
Publications 1900-1979
Agricultural Journalism 1905-1979
Box 1, Folder 12
Non-Station Publications 1900-1901
Box 1, Folder 13
Photographs circa 1880 (Series 3)
Size: 0.02 linear feet

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

1 folder

Portraits circa 1880
Box 1, Folder 14
Tobacco photos unknown

After review, access to the digital copies may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.

The Special Collections Research Center, NC State University Libraries, has digital copies of some or all of these materials.

Album 1
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

Access to the collection

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to digital files may require additional advanced notice.

For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.

Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Phone: (919) 515-2273

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Wilbur Fisk Massey Papers, MC 00202, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Use of these materials

North Carolina State University does not own copyright to this collection. Individuals obtaining materials from the NC State University 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.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.