Franklin D. Keim, Agronomy Papers
Title: Franklin D. Keim,
Agronomy Papers
Creator: Keim,
Franklin D., 1886-1957
Dates: 1909-1999
Quantity: 4 boxes (3 linear feet)
Collection Number: RG 08-08-16
Language: English
Restrictions: None
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Historical Records Statement: Please see our statement on historical records and materials.
Preferred Citation: Franklin D. Keim, Agronomy Papers (RG 08-08-16). Archives & Special
Collections, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries.
Alternative Format: None
Biography:
Franklin David Keim was born in Hardy, Nebraska, on September 10, 1886, to Dennis and
Jennie Cramer Keim. He received a teacher's certificate from Peru State Teachers
College (1909), Bachelors of Science and Master of Science degrees from the
University of Nebraska (1914, 1918), and a PhD from Cornell University (1927). He
married Alice Mary Voigt on June 12, 1914, and they had two children, Virginia Voigt
Honstead and agronomist Wayne Franklin Keim.
Before coming to the University of Nebraska (UN), Keim worked as a principal and
superintendent of schools in Chester and Blue Springs, Nebraska (1909-1911). After
completing his bachelor's degree, he joined the UN College of Agriculture as an
assistant agronomist (1914-1916), extension agronomist (1917-1918), professor
(1918-1929), acting chairman (1930-1932) and chairman (1932-1952) of the Agronomy
Department. His work focused on native grasses, patrure utilization, plant genetics,
and weed control. During his time as chairman, Keim doubled the department's staff,
making it the largest department in the College of Agriculture at that time. He
helped start a cooperative program between the UN Department of Agronomy and the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that increased agronomy staff, funded
several research projects, and served as a model for other land grant institutions.
He mentored many agronomists during his time at the university, including Nobel
Prize winner and geneticist George Beadle.
In 1945-1946, Keim taught plant genetics and agriculture to American Army personnel
at the Biarritz American University in France. The classes were meant to encourage
soldiers to gain college credit and skills while they were waiting to return home
after service in World War II. While in Europe, Keim documented the state of
post-war farms and agriculture as he traveled throughout France, Germany, and the
Netherlands.
Keim participated in a variety of professional organizations. He served as director
of the Union National State Insurance Company, Farmers State Bank of Davey,
Nebraska, and Lincoln and Fremont Joint Stock Land Bank. The USDA American Research
Science inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 1999, and he served as a fellow and
president of the American Society of Agronomy. He held positions in the Nebraska
State Weed Advisory, National Genetics Society of America, FarmHouse Fraternity,
National Geographic Society, National Academy of Science, American Association of
the Advancement of Science, and numerous other professional organizations.
Keim died March 7, 1956, while attending a secretary meeting at the American
Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, D.C. In 1957, the
University named the agronomy building, Keim Hall, in his honor.
Scope and Content:
The Keim papers consist of correspondence, biographical materials, publications,
photographs, and audiovisual materials from Keim's travels to Europe and the
International Grasslands Congress in 1937. In 1948, Keim studied agriculture in
Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. Between 1945-1946 Keim observed post-war
farmland in France, Germany, and the Netherlands and documented his travels in a
scrapbook. Additional material relate to Keim's retirement, the dedication of Keim
Hall, and materials on geneticist George Beadle collected by Keim's son, Wayne.
Subjects:
Beadle, George Wells, 1903-1989
Keim, Franklin D., 1886-1957
Agronomy
World War, 1939-1945
Biarritz American University
FarmHouse Fraternity
University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Department of
Agronomy
Series Description:
Series 1: Correspondence and Biographical Materials, 1920-2000This series contains articles, awards, biographies, resumes, and a speech and
program from the dedication of Keim Hall. Correspondence includes
appreciation letters written to Keim assocaited with a recognition dinner in
1950.
Series 2: Publications and Research, 1926-1955This series contains publications authored by Franklin D. Keim on Nebraska
prairie hay, native grasses, bindweed eradication, cattle grazing, and
mowing frequency. Also included are notebooks detailing photographs he took
throughout his travels to Europe and Central America (see also audiovisual
materials series). A 1945 publication titled "Seven Months in Europe,"
outlines Keim's experience teaching agriculture at the Biarritz American
University in France, and the conditions of European farms after World War
II.
Series 3: George Beadle Materials, 1937-2003, undatedThis series contains materials collected by F.D. Keim's son, Wayne Keim,
include newpaper articles, Beadle's publications, correspondence, George W.
Beadle Center dedication programs and brochures, and materials about
Beadle's visit to Colorado State University in 1976.
Series 4: Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1937-1953Photographs include portraits of F.D. Keim and George Beadle, UN College of
Agriculture 1937 faculty, 1937 International Grasslands Conference
participants, and Lincoln Sesostris Temple Band.
Of significance is a scrapbook from Keim's trip to France, Germany, and the
Netherlands while teaching at Biarritz American University in Biarritz,
France, from 1945-1946.
Series 5: Audio-visual materials, 1937-1948Audio-visual materials contains video from Keim's travels to Europe and
International Grasslands Congress in 1937, Honduras, Nicaragua, and
Guatemala in 1948, and other unlabeled trips. Also included are various
films of the College of Agriculture including 1941-1942 Farmer's Fair,
farmland, and grassland.
Container List:
Series 1: Correspondence and Biographical Materials, 1920-2000Box 1. Folder 1. Certificates, Master Mason, UN Certificate of
Appreciation, 1920, 1950
Box 1. Folder 2. Articles, on F.D. Keim, 1941-2000
Box 1. Folder 3. Biographies, resume, in memoriam, 1946-1957
Box 1. Folder 4-5. Correspondence, "Expressions of Appreciation to Dr.
Keim," 1950
Box 1. Folder 6. Article, program, Keim retirement dinner, 1952, June 26
Box 1. Folder 7. Speech, program, Keim Hall dedication, 1957
Series 2: Publications and Research, 1926-1955Box 1. Folder 8. Publication, "Prairie Hay in Nebraska," 1926, Sept. 13
Box 2. Folder 1. Dissertation, Inheritance Studies of a Cross
between T. Compactum and T. Speita, 1927
Box 2. Folder 2. Publications, 1929, 1932-1937
Box 2. Folder 3. Publications, 1942-1955
Box 2. Folder 4. Publication, "Report on Middle America by Prominent Agriculture
Experts," United Fruit Company, 1949 (see also Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua films, box 3,
folders 7-11)
Box 2. Folder 5. Notebook, film shot lists, Europe trip, 1937 (see also film Europe 3, box 4, folder 3)
Box 2. Folder 6. Booklet, "Organization and Personnel of the Department of
Agronomy, University of Nebraska College of Agriculture," 1947
Box 2. Folder 7. Notebook, film shot lists, "Shots taken on trip to Honduras and
Guatemala," 1948[?] (see also film box 4, folders 7-8)
Series 3: George Beadle MaterialsBox 2. Folder 8. Publications, by George Beadle, 1937, 1974, 1980, undated
Box 2. Folder 9. News, journal articles, on George Beadle, 1954-2003
Box 2. Folder 10. Press releases, correspondence, Beadle visit, Colorado State
University, 1976, Nov. 18-19
Box 2. Folder 11. Correspondence, Wayne Keim, Beadle Christmas cards, Beadle museum
exhibit, 1983, 1997
Box 2. Folder 12. Programs, brochures, promotional materials, George W. Beadle
Center dedication, 1995
Box 2. Folder 13. Correspondence, Wayne Keim and Francis Haskins, Carnegie
Institution Beadle Project, 1998
Series 4: Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1937-1953Box 2. Folder 14. Photo, International Grassland Group, 1937
Box 2. Folder 14. Photo, Agriculture faculty, 1937
Box 2. Folder 14. Photo, D. Griswold, W. Brokaw, J. Nicholson, J. Swinbank, Keim
with Nebraskan grown seed wheat, undated
Box 2. Folder 15. Photos, Keim portraits, 1945, 1952, undated
Box 2. Folder 16. Photos, Keim, Howard Wahlgren, 1953, undated
Box 2. Folder 17. Photo, George Beadle portraits, Ithaca group photo 1929, undated
Box 2. Folder 18. Film strip, 16 mm reel, unidentified farmland, 1946 (see also box 4, folder 6)
Box 3. Folder 1. Scrapbook, Germany, France, Netherlands trip, 1945, July
Series 5: Audio-visual Materials, 1937-1948Box 4. Folder 1. Video, 16mm Kodascope projection reel, Europe reel 1,
International Grasslands Congress, Aberystwyth, Wales, 1937, July 15-17
Box 4. Folder 2. Video, 16mm Kodascope projection reel, Europe reel 2, 1937
Box 4. Folder 3. Video, 16 mm Kodascope projection reel, Europe reel
3, 1937, Sept. 21-23 (see also trip journal, box 2, folder 5)
Box 4. Folder 4. Video, 16 mm Kodascope projection reel, "Farmers Fair by Frank
Keim, University of Nebraska (transferred to VHS video 1992, June
24)," 1941-1942 (see also VHS, box 4, folder 5)
Box 4. Folder 5. VHS, Farmers Fair, by Frank Keim, University of
Nebraska, 1941-1942 (see also video, 16 mm Kodascope projection reel, box 4,
folder 4)
Box 4. Folder 6. Video, 16mm Kodachrome reel, Mitchell station, by George S.
Round, 1942
Box 4. Folder 6. Video, 16mm Kodachrome reel, Cass County Angus Sale, by George S.
Round, 1942
Box 4. Folder 6. Video, 16mm reel, unidentified farmland, 1946
Box 4. Folder 6. Video, 16mm reel, commencement, May Day, undated
Box 4. Folder 7-8. Video, 16mm Eastman safety film reel, "Shots Taken on Trip to
Honduras and Guatemala," New York State College of Agriculture Film
Service, Cornell University, 1948, July [?] (see also publication box 2, folder 4)
Box 4. Folder 9-10. Video, 16mm Kodascope projection reel, Honduras, 1948, July
Box 4. Folder 11. Video, 16 mm Kodascope projection reel, Nicaragua, 1948 [?]
Box 4. Folder 12. Reels, 16 mm Kodascope projection reel, "College of Agriculture,
4 corn [?], grass," undated
Box 4. Folder 13. Video, 16mm Kodascope projection reel, "faculty," undated
Box 4. Folder 14. Video, 16mm Kodascope projection reel, "grass film," undated
Box 4. Folder 15. Video, 16mm Kodascope projection reel, "outstate testing variety
trials," undated
Box 4. Folder 16. Video, 16mm reel, unidentified, undated
Box 4. Folder 17-18. Video, 16mm Kodascope projection reel, unidentified, undated
Related Material and Resources: Information for Franklin D. Keim's biography comes from his resume, biographies, and
articles from "Biographies, resume, in memoriam, 1946-1957" (box 1, folder 3),
"Articles on F.D. Keim, 1941-2000" (box 1, folder 2), and his publication, "My Seven
Months in Europe" (box 2, folder 3). |