Farm and Home Week programs

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 21-32-494

Scope and content

Programs for Farmers' Week and, later, Farm and Home Week; and programs for the Homemakers' Conference held in conjunction with that week. Also included are programs and flyers for concerts, plays, lectures, debates, art exhibits, and other events that were held at Cornell University in conjunction with Farm and Home Week, such as the New York State Community Dramatics Festival (hosted by Cornell University Theatre), the Eastman Stage in Public Speaking, the Rice Debate Stage, the Kermis Plays (sponsored by the Kermis Club), and concerts of the Cornell University Concert Band, the University Organist, and others. Also included are programs for the annual High School Natural Science Program organized by the New York State College of Agriculture and the Veterinary College at Cornell (1960-1961), and a monograph titled History of the Agricultural College Land Grant of July 2, 1862 (published in 1890).

Dates

1890-1960-(bulk 1910-1960).

Creator

New York State College of Agriculture (Organization)
Halliday, Samuel D. (Samuel Dumont), 1847-1907. (Title of work: History of the Agricultural College Land Grant of July 2, 1862..) (Person)
Cornell University. Theatre (Organization)
Cornell University. Concert Band (Organization)
New York State College of Home Economics (Organization)

Language of Material

In English.

Biographical / Historical

The first Farmers' Week at the New York State College of Agriculture was held in 1908. Originally held in the month of February, the program included lectures, demonstrations, competitions and contests, roundtable discussions, conferences, laboratory practice courses, entertainments, and conventions. With the creation of the New York State College of Home Economics, a Home Maker's Conference was added in 1926, and in 1928, the event was retitled Farm and Home Week. The event was part of the extension activities of the colleges.

Biographical / Historical

Beginning in 1908, two Agricultural Stages in public speaking were given under the auspices of the Agricultural Association, with small prizes awarded by the college. In 1910, trustee Almon R. Eastman established the Eastman Stage, with a permanent endowment beginning in 1918. The Eastman Stage was held continually except in 1943 and 1944. The Farm Life Challenge Contest began in 1928 and was later renamed the Rice Debate Stage in honor of Professor James E. Rice.