Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Agency History | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

This collection of 10.3 linear feet contains a variety of materials generated by the Sandusky County Farm Bureau Federation, including membership lists, correspondence, pamphlets and reports from meetings. The collection also includes photographs and audio tapes of Farm Bureau activities. The materials date from 1943 through 1984, covering the period when Robert Roush of Lindsey, Ohio, served as both the Bureau's President and Organizational Director.

The records of the Sandusky County Farm Bureau Federation were donated and transferred to the Center for Archival Collections through the cooperation of Robert Roush in the fall of 1985. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection and duplication is permitted for research purposes. This collection was described by Mark D. Howell, graduate student, in May 1992, and processed and arranged by Alexandra Hutchings, student intern, and Stephen W. Badenhop, archival assistant, in August 2008.

Agency History

The Sandusky County Farm Bureau Federation is a part of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, which is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. This Ohio organization in based on a similar cooperative based in Broome County, New York, that was founded in 1910. The Sandusky County Farm Bureau Federation was organized on September 1, 1915, and is one of the eighty-eight county agencies that make up the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation is primarily responsible for organizing hospitalization and automobile insurance for Ohio farm families who are participating members. The Nationwide Insurance Organization was created by the Ohio Farm Bureau. Other endeavors for the Bureau include Landmark Incorporated, Ohio's largest grain and farm supply cooperative, Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives and the Producers Livestock Association. The Ohio Farm Bureau also developed an Advisory Council program. This program gives rural families the opportunity to discuss and resolve problems of national importance from a grassroots level. Federation members are dedicated to making young people part of the Farm Bureau system, so they might strive for agricultural prosperity.

The Ohio Farm Bureau is devoted to improving the standard of living for Ohio's farm families. This organization, through the work of its eight-eight county affiliates, seeks to preserve and enrich the rural way of life in Ohio for future generations. The Bureau also has a Women's Committee, which unites women living and working within the Ohio farming community, and a Youth Council, which gets young people involved with Farm Bureau activities.

This organization has generated a large number of charts and lists concerning membership. Membership campaigns are essential to the unity and strength of the Ohio Farm Bureau and its county branches. The Sandusky County Farm Bureau Federation maintained regular and official correspondence with the Ohio Farm Bureau offices in Columbus. A number of records involve business conducted at monthly meetings of the Sandusky Farm Bureau branch and its Women and Youth Committees.

Knott C. Egbert was the first administrator of the Sandusky County Farm Bureau Federation and its 500 members. This number would grow to 7,814 members by 1979. In 1954, Robert Roush was named President of the Sandusky Farm Bureau. Roush, from Lindsey, Ohio, also served as Organizational Director, a post he held until 1976 after twenty-five years of service. For more information see the Ohio Farm Bureau Story: 1919-1979 by William Turner (Columbus: Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., 1982).

Scope and Content

The papers of the Sandusky County Farm Bureau Federation are primarily composed of meeting reports, membership records, printed materials from the main office in Columbus, subject files and correspondence. A large number of the documents date from the mid to late 1970s, but some go back as far as 1943. The documents are not complete, with gaps existing in many of the meeting reports and membership records. Some proceedings give statistics for all Ohio Farm Bureau Federation counties, especially concerning membership quotas and insurance information.

Some of the collection involves correspondence both to and from Robert Roush. The letters are mostly typewritten and on some kind of official letterhead, usually from the Ohio Bureau offices in Columbus. Most of these letters pertain to Farm Bureau business, especially concerning membership campaigns.

There is a large amount of printed materials - most supplied from the Ohio Farm Bureau Office in Columbus - within the collection. Some of these items are promotional flyers to be used in membership and public relations campaigns. Other printed materials are regularly published newsletters, magazines and newspapers that concern the Ohio Farm Bureau and the Sandusky County Farm Bureau. Many clippings - some in scrapbooks - are included within the collection.

This collection also contains photographic materials. Black and white photographs and negatives provide information concerning people and events that were part of the Sandusky County Farm Bureau. The negatives are of a 126mm format along with two 35mm slide shows - with text - that was a part of the Sandusky Farm Bureau's 1981 and 1982 membership kick-off rally.

Some audio tapes are another part of the collection. Two of the tapes are reel-to-reel and three are cassettes. These contain radio reports concerning the Sandusky Bureau's activities and business.

The Sandusky County Farm Bureau Federation collection allows researchers to obtain a detailed look into the day-to-day operations of an important and influential organization. A drawback to the collection is that many of the documents are simply lists of names and addresses, and even more are statistics concerning membership drives across the state. As a part of daily business, one can see how membership equated into legislative and cooperative strength. From a qualitative approach, however, the numbers and lists do not tell a great deal. For this kind of material, it would be best to examine the printed materials and regular publications. The monthly meeting reports can provide some information about topics of discussion, especially those made by the Women's Committee.

Series Description

PROCEEDINGS

MINUTES
1947-1979
Arranged alphabetically and chronologically
Minutes of the Sandusky County Farm Bureau Advisory Council, Farm Bureau Committee and Women's Committee

MEMBERSHIP RECORDS
1948-1979
Arranged alphabetically
Various membership records and officers lists of the Sandusky County Farm Bureau

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE - GENERAL
1945-1979
Arranged chronologically
General correspondence to various members and leaders of the Sandusky County Farm Bureau relating Bureau events and activities

CORRESPONDENCE - ORGANIZATIONAL DIRECTORS
1947-1978
Arranged chronologically
Correspondence directed to the Sandusky County Farm Bureau Organizational Directors relating news about activities and events

CORRESPONDENCE - PRESIDENTS
1947-1979
Arranged chronologically
Correspondence directed to the Sandusky County Farm Bureau Presidents relating news about activities and events

CORRESPONDENCE - MISCELLANEOUS
1944-1978
Arranged chronologically
Correspondence to about certain aspects and various leaders and individuals in the Sandusky County Farm Bureau including board members, council members, insurance, legislative affairs, membership, resolutions, trustees, Women's Committee, and Youth Committee

SUBJECT FILES

SUBJECT FILES - MISCELLANEOUS
1946-1979
Arranged alphabetically
Subject files related to the Sandusky County Farm Bureau events and activities including information about annual meeting, commodities, insurance, legislative affairs, membership, resolutions, women's committee and youth council

REPORTS

STATISTICAL
1947-1978
Arranged alphabetically
Various statistical reports tracking membership numbers on the local and state levels

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

REPORTS
1945-1978
Arranged alphabetically
Financial reports and documents relating to the activities of the Sandusky County Farm Bureau including audit reports, balance sheets, income & expenses statements and income tax returns

SCRAPBOOKS AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIALS

SCRAPBOOKS
1948-1979
Arranged chronologically
Scrapbooks covering events and activities of the Sandusky County Farm Bureau, these items are oversized

NEWSCLIPPINGS
1960s-1970s
Various newspaper clippings relating to events, activities and news about the Sandusky County Farm Bureau Federation

PRINTED MATERIAL

PRINTED MATERIAL - NEWSPAPERS
1952-1984
Arranged alphabetically and chronologically
Local newspapers of the various county Farm Bureaus in Ohio including the Sandusky County Farm Item and the Farm Bureau News, some items are oversized

PRINTED MATERIAL

PRINTED MATERIAL - MISCELLANEOUS
1943-1979
Arranged alphabetically
Materials related to the Ohio Farm Bureau and the Sandusky County Farm Bureau in including insurance, membership, news and promotional Information

PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL

POSITIVE PRINTS
n.d. Photographs related to events and activities of the Sandusky County Farm Bureau

NEGATIVES
n.d.
Negatives related to events and activities of the Sandusky County Farm Bureau

SLIDES
1981-1982
Arranged chronologically
Slides for the 1981 and 1982 membership drive campaign other materials related to these two events can be found in the subject files and audio recordings

AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDINGS

AUDIO RECORDINGS
1955-1982
Arranged chronologically
Sandusky County Farm Bureau radio report recordings and membership drive slide show narration recordings

Inventory

Box 1

Folders

1. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1947
2. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1948
3. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1951
4. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1952
5. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1958
6. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1959
7. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1960
8. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1961
9. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1962
10. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1963
11. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1964
12. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1965
13. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1966
14. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1967
15. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1968

Box 2

1. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1969
2. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1970
3. Minutes - Advisory Council, 1971
4. Minutes - Advisory Council (1), 1972
5. Minutes - Advisory Council (2), 1972
6. Minutes - Advisory Council (1), 1973
7. Minutes - Advisory Council (2), 1973

Box 3

1. Minutes - Advisory Council (1), 1974
2. Minutes - Advisory Council (2), 1974
3. Minutes - Advisory Council (3), 1974
4. Minutes - Advisory Council (1), 1975
5. Minutes - Advisory Council (2), 1975
6. Minutes - Advisory Council (3), 1975

Box 4

1. Minutes - Advisory Council (1), 1976
2. Minutes - Advisory Council (2), 1976
3. Minutes - Advisory Council (3), 1976
4. Minutes - Advisory Council (1), 1977
5. Minutes - Advisory Council (2), 1977
6. Minutes - Advisory Council (3), 1977

Box 5

1. Minutes - Advisory Council (1), 1978
2. Minutes - Advisory Council (2), 1978
3. Minutes - Advisory Council (3), 1978
4. Minutes - Advisory Council (1), 1979
5. Minutes - Advisory Council (2), 1979

Box 6

1. Minutes - Advisory Council (3), 1979
2. Minutes - Advisory Council (4), 1979
3. Minutes - Advisory Council Summaries, 1959-1974
4. Minutes - Farm Bureau Committee, 1967-1979
5. Minutes - Women's Committee, 1962-1973

Box 7

1. Membership - Advisory Council Directories, 1957-1978
2. Membership - Advisory Council Roster, 1972-1979
3. Membership - Charter Members, n.d.
4. Membership - Council Officers Lists, 1952-1977
5. Membership - Council Record Cards (1), 1957-1975
6. Membership - Council Record Cards (2), 1957-1975
7. Membership - County Officers Lists, 1957-1977

Box 8

1. Membership - Lapsed Members, 1971-1977
2. Membership - Members Insurance Lists, 1956-1970
3. Membership - Members Insurance Lists, 1970-1977
4. Membership - Members Lists, 1948-1969
5. Membership - Members Lists, 1970-1977
6. Membership - Members Lists, n.d.
7. Membership - New Members, 1963-1975

Box 9

1. Membership - Lapsed Members, 1971-1977
2. Membership - Members Insurance Lists, 1956-1970
3. Membership - Members Insurance Lists, 1970-1977
4. Membership - Members Lists, 1948-1969
5. Membership - Members Lists, 1970-1977
6. Membership - Members Lists, n.d.
7. Membership - New Members, 1963-1975

Box 10

1. Correspondence - Council Chairman, 1959-1977
2. Correspondence - Council Members,1970-1977
3. Correspondence - Council Secretary, 1970-1976
4. Correspondence - Insurance, 1944-1949
5. Correspondence - Insurance, 1950-1977
6. Correspondence - Landmark, 1959-1978
7. Correspondence - Legislative Affairs, 1952-1977
8. Correspondence - Members, 1949-1977
9. Correspondence - Membership Chairman, 1971-1977
10. Correspondence - Organizational Directors (1), 1947-1974
11. Correspondence - Organizational Directors (2), 1975-1976

Box 11

1. Correspondence - Organizational Directors (3), 1977-1979
2. Correspondence - Organizational Directors - Membership, 1953-1978
3. Correspondence - Presidents (1), 1947-1973
4. Correspondence - Presidents (2), 1974-1979
5. Correspondence - Presidents - Membership, 1952-1977
6. Correspondence - Resolutions, 1949-1978
7. Correspondence - Women's Committee, 1965-1977
8. Correspondence - Youth Council, 1958-1978

Box 12

1. Subject File - Advisory Council, 1950s-1970s
2. Subject File - Advisory Council - Committee Recommendations, n.d.
3. Subject File - Advisory Council - Contests & Awards, 1967-1972
4. Subject File - Annual Meetings, 1946-1971
5. Subject File - Annual Meetings - Calendar of Activities, 1973-1979
6. Subject File - Annual Meetings - Elections & Delegates, 1955-1970
7. Subject File - Annual Meetings - Press Releases, 1949-1971
8. Subject File - Annual Meetings - Programs, 1951-1961
9. Subject File - Annual Meetings - Programs - Ole Zim's, 1961-1978

Box 13

1. Subject File - Annual Picnic, 1948-1955
2. Subject File - Bicentennial, 1976
3. Subject File - Board Member Guide, 1961
4. Subject File - Board Member Guide, 1970
5. Subject File - Code of Regulations & By-Laws, 1948-1976
6. Subject File - Commodities, 1960s-1970s
7. Subject File - Commodities - Livestock, 1960s-1970s
8. Subject File - Commodities - OAMA, 1970s

Box 14

1. Subject File - Commodities - Soybean, 1960s-1970s
2. Subject File - Commodities - Tomato - Vegetables, 1950s-1970s
3. Subject File - Commodities - Tomato Promotion, 1967
4. Subject File - Commodities - Wheat, 1960s-1970s
5. Subject File - Commodities - Wool, 1970s
6. Subject File - Director's Fees, 1956-1961
7. Subject File - Farm Bureau Supervisory Regions, 1961-1974
8. Subject File - Farm Item Materials, 1970s
9. Subject File - Farm Item Materials, 1979
10. Subject File - Fundamentals of Salesmanship, 1952
11. Subject File - Health Testing Program, 1977

Box 15

1. Subject File - Insurance (1), 1960s-1970s
2. Subject File - Insurance (2), 1960s-1970s
3. Subject File - Insurance Enrollment Applications, 1973-1978
4. Subject File - Landmark, 1970s
5. Subject File - Legislative Affairs, 1946-1977
6. Subject File - Legislative Affairs - Meeting Programs, 1969-1977
7. Subject File - Legislative Affairs - Public Affairs Report, 1977-1979
8. Subject File - Legislative Affairs - Reports, 1973-1976

Box 16

1. Subject File - Legislative Affairs - State Constitutional Convention, 1952-1953
2. Subject File - Membership (1), 1950s-1970s
3. Subject File - Membership (2), 1950s-1970s
4. Subject File - Membership Chairmen, 1970s
5. Subject File - Membership Drive, 1981
6. Subject File - Membership Drive, 1982
7. Subject File - Membership Goals & Quotas, 1954-1978
8. Subject File - Membership Plan Suggestions, 1949-1952
9. Subject File - Miscellaneous, 1950s-1970s

Box 17

Folders

1. Subject File - Ohio Beef Market Program, 1978
2. Subject File - Organization Directors, 1970s
3. Subject File - President, 1960s-1970s
4. Subject File - Press Releases, 1950s-1970s
5. Subject File - Projects, 1968-1973
6. Subject File - Public Relations, 1954-1961
7. Subject File - Resolutions (1), 1940s-1950s
8. Subject File - Resolutions (2), 1940s-1970s

Box 18

1. Subject File - Resolutions (3), 1940s-1970s
2. Subject File - Resolutions - Policy Suggestions, 1962-1978
3. Subject File - Rural Life Stewardship, 1956-1961
4. Subject File - Sandusky County Farm Bureau/Cooperative Association, 1949
5. Subject File - Scoring Sheets, 1954-1960
6. Subject File - Taxation, 1950s-1970s
7. Subject File - Telephone Survey, 1948
8. Subject File - Women's Committee (1), 1952-1978
9. Subject File - Women's Committee (2), 1952-1978
10. Subject File - Women's Committee - Tomato Promotion, 1968
11. Subject File - Women's Committee - Trio of Treats, 1969

Box 19

1. Subject File - Workman's Compensation, 1960s-1970s
2. Subject File - Youth Council, 1960s-1970s
3. Subject File - Youth Council - Youth Conference & Workshop, 1975-1977
4. Reports - Advisory Council Number Reports, 1974-1976
5. Reports - Council Minutes Record Reports, 1961-1976
6. Reports - Membership Analysis Reports, 1957-1975
7. Reports - Membership Roll Call Reports, 1947-1959
8. Reports - Membership Trend Reports, 1949-1975
9. Reports - Ohio Farm Bureau Membership Reports, 1953-1976

Box 20

1. Reports - Regional Membership Reports (1), 1948-1969
2. Reports - Regional Membership Reports (2), 1970-1975
3. Reports - Regional Membership Reports (3), 1976-1978
4. Reports - Sandusky County Minutes Record Reports, 1948-1950
5. Reports - Sectional Membership Reports, 1960-1978
6. Reports - Women's Committee Regional Reports, 1964-1976
7. Reports - Youth & Advisory Council Regional Reports, 1960-1976
8. Reports - Youth Council Regional Reports, 1972-1978

Box 21

1. Financial - Audit Reports, 1945-1978
2. Financial - Balance Sheets, 1952-1977
3. Financial - Income & Expense Statements, 1948-1976
4. Financial - Income Tax Returns, 1945-1971
5. Financial - Local Farm Bureau Financial Reports, 1959-1960
6. Financial - Miscellaneous, 1954-1977

Box 22

1. Scrapbook - Newsclippings, 1960s-1970s
2. Printed - Advisory Council Guide, 1952-1978
3. Printed - Advisory Council Newsletter - Sandusky County, 1960-1964
4. Printed - Agri-Map, 1977-1978
5. Printed - Agriculture in Sandusky County, n.d.
6. Printed - American Farmer, 1976
7. Printed - Bits & Pieces, 1970-1976
8. Printed - Buckeye Farm Newsletter, 1973-1977
9. Printed - Buckeye Highlights, 1961-1978
10. Printed - Cis-O-Gram, 1973-1975
11. Printed - Code of By-Laws, n.d.
12. Printed - Community Development Report, 1975
13. Printed - Cooperatives (1), 1950s-1970s
14. Printed - Cooperatives (2), 1967

Box 23

1. Printed - Cooperatives (3), 1973-1979
2. Printed - Council Reports to Ohio Farm Cooperatives, 1948-1949
3. Printed - County Farm Bureau Program Creation, 1952
4. Printed - District Advisory Council Meetings Suggested Order of Business, n.d.
5. Printed - Family Farm Incorporation, n.d.
6. Printed - Farm & Home News - Ashtabula County, n.d.
7. Printed - Farm & Home News - Auglaize County, 1971-1979
8. Printed - Farm & Home News - Logan County, 1971-1979
9. Printed - Farm Bureau Handbooks, 1950s-1970s
10. Printed - Farm Bureau News - Butler County, 1977
11. Printed - Farm Bureau News - Paulding County, 1977
12. Printed - Farm Bureau Newsletter - Miami County, 1977
13. Printed - Farm Bureau Newsletter - Van Wert County, 1973-1976
14. Printed - Farm Bureau Newsletter - Wood County, 1976-1978
15. Printed - Farm Bureau Organization Chart, 1970
16. Printed - Farm Bureau Promotional Materials, 1960s-1970s
17. Printed - Farm Bureau Sings, 1969
18. Printed - Farm Bureau Supply Reporter, 1954
19. Printed - Farm Facts - Sandusky County, 1977-1978
20. Printed - Farm Retail News, 1977
21. Printed - Farm Services Usage Agreement, n.d.
22. Printed - Fed-O-Gram, 1961
23. Printed - Furrow, 1970
24. Printed - Grassroots Legislative Program, 1952
25. Printed - Indian Lake Conference Summary, 1960

Box 24

1. Printed - Insur-O-Gram, 1972-1974
2. Printed - Insurance Newsletters, 1972-1974
3. Printed - Insurance Plans & Policies, 1952-1978
4. Printed - Last Word, 1964-1977
5. Printed - Medical Insurance Plan - Sandusky Count, n.d.
6. Printed - Membership Bulletin, 1947-1948
7. Printed - Membership Card, n.d.
8. Printed - Membership Guide (1), 1970
9. Printed - Membership Guide (2), 1970

Box 25

1. Printed - Miscellaneous, 1960s-1970s
2. Printed - National 4-H News, 1971-1976
3. Printed - Northwest Millionaires Journal, 1971
4. Printed - Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, 1943-1976
5. Printed - Ohio Farm Bureau Financial Reports, 1953-1970
6. Printed - Ohio Farm Bureau Fiscal Recommendations, 1975
7. Printed - Ohio Farm Bureau Honor Awards, 1974
8. Printed - Ohio Farm Bureau Membership Fun Book, 1971
9. Printed - Ohio Farm Bureau News, 1958
10. Printed - Ohio Farm Bureau Policies, 1954-1977
11. Printed - Ohio Farm Bureau President's Luncheon, 1978
12. Printed - Ohio Farm Bureau Resolutions, 1946-1947
13. Printed - Ohio Farm Bureau Safety Workbook, 1956
14. Printed - Ohio Farm Bureau Tentative Policies, 1971
15. Printed - Ohio Rural Crime Project, 1976
16. Printed - Ohio Union Farmer, 1971
17. Printed - Open Market Flyer, 1975-1977
18. Printed - Sandusky County Driving Tour, 1962
19. Printed - Sandusky County Farm Bureau Membership Award, 1977

Box 26

1. Photographic - Photographs, n.d.
2. Photographic - Photographs, n.d.
3. Photographic - Photographs, n.d.
4. Photographic - Photographs - Findlay, 1973
5. Photographic - Negatives, n.d.
6. Photographic - Slides, n.d.
7. Photographic - Slides - Membership Drive, 1981
8. Photographic - Slides - Membership Drive, 1982

Box 27

1. Audio - Farm Bureau Reports, 1955
2. Audio - Farm Bureau Reports, 1960
3. Audio - Membership Drive, 1981
4. Audio - Membership Drive, 1982
5. Audio - Farm Bureau Market Report, n.d.

Box 28 (Oversize)

1. Scrapbook - Sandusky County Farm Bureau Scrapbook, 1947-1948
2. Scrapbook - Sandusky County Farm Bureau Scrapbook, 1952-1955

Box 29 (Oversize)

1. Scrapbook - Sandusky County Farm Bureau Scrapbook, 1952-1956
2. Scrapbook - Sandusky County Farm Bureau Scrapbook, 1970-1971
3. Scrapbook - Sandusky County Farm Bureau Scrapbook, 1977-1978
4. Scrapbook - Sandusky County Farm Bureau Scrapbook, 1979

Box 30 (Oversize)

1. Printed - County News, 1975-1976
2. Printed - Farm & Home News - Auglaize County, 1952
3. Printed - Farm & Home News - Henry County, 1973
4. Printed - Farm & Home News - Lorain County, 1952
5. Printed - Farm Bureau News - Lucas County, 1972-1973
6. Printed - Farm Bureau News - Defiance County, 1978-1983
7. Printed - Farm Bureau News - Seneca County, 1972-1979
8. Printed - Farm Bureau News - Tuscarawas County, 1977
9. Printed - Farm Item, 1950-1959
10. Printed - Farm Item, 1960-1969
11. Printed - Farm Item, 1970-1975
12. Printed - Farm Item, 1976-1979
13. Printed - Farm Item, 1980-1984
14. Printed - Farm Item, n.d.
15. Printed - NFO Reporter, 1972
16. Printed - Ohio Energy Bulletin, 1976
17. Printed - Ohio Farmers News - Fostoria, 1972-1979
18. Printed - Ohio Republican News, 1977
19. Printed - Rural Farm Digest - Wood County, 1971-1972

Box 31 (Oversize)

1. Printed - Farm Bureau News, 1960
2. Printed - Farm Bureau News, 1962
3. Printed - Farm Bureau News, 1971
4. Printed - Farm Bureau News, 1972
5. Printed - Farm Bureau News, 1973
6. Printed - Farm Bureau News, 1975
7. Printed - Farm Bureau News, 1976
8. Printed - Farm Bureau News, 1977
9. Printed - Farm Bureau News, 1978
10. Printed - Farm Bureau News, 1979

Manuscripts by Subject | Agriculture Collections