Memories of Life on the Farm

Neal Harmeyer, Frederick Whitford

Description

John Calvin Allen, professionally known as J. C., worked as a
photographer for Purdue University from 1909-1952, and operated his own
photography business until his death in 1976. The J. C. Allen photographs
represent a historical account of the transition from pioneer practices to
scientific methodologies in agriculture and rural communities. During this
major transitional period for agriculture, tractors replaced horses, hybrid
corn supplanted open-pollinated corn, and soybeans changed from a novelty crop
to regular rotation on most farms. During this time, purebred animals with
better genetic pedigrees replaced run-of-the-mill livestock, and systematic disease
prevention in cattle, swine, and poultry took place.

Allen's
photographs also document clothing styles, home furnishings, and the items
people thought important as they went about their daily lives. Looking closely
at tractors, livestock, wagons, planters, sprayers, harvesting equipment, and
crops gives one a sense of the changing and fast-paced world of agriculture at that time.

This volume contains over 900 picturesque images, most never-before-seen, of men, women, and children
working on the farm, which remain powerful reminders of life in rural America at the
turn of the twentieth century. As old farmhouses and barns fall victim to
age, Allen photographs are all that remain. While those people and times
no longer exist today, they do remain "alive" because of the preservation of
that history on film. A camera in his hands and an eye for photography allowed Allen to create indelible visual histories that continue to tell
the story of agriculture and rural life from long ago.

Foreword

Introduction

The Early Life of John C. Allen

The Photographer Emerges

Crafting a Business One Photograph at a Time

A Lasting Legacy

Part I. Life on the Farm

The Farm Homestead

Fueling the Farm

Chores around the Home

We Grow What We Eat

Farm Fresh Products for Sale

Going to Town

Connecting to the Outside World

The Three Rs

Time for Fun

The Beauty of Children

Proud to Be a Farmer

The Farmer’s Workshop

A Drive through the Countryside

Roads More or Less Traveled

Barns and Silos of the Midwest

Barns without Corners

Swinging on the Pasture Gate

Part 2. Working the Ground

Clearing Land and Managing Water

Horsepower to Work the Soil

Conserving Soil

Sweetening a Sour Soil

Adding Nutrients to Depleted Soils

Corn on the Cob

Amber Waves of Grain

The Miracle Soybean

An Apple a Day

A Juicy Peach

Digging Up Spuds for the Winter

Red Ripe Tomatoes

Growing Diverse Crops for Market

A Fine Tobaccy Crop

The Southern Cotton Boll

Feed for Farm Animals

Part 3. The Livestock Connection

The Forgotten Milk Stool

A Country Ham

Farm Fresh Eggs

Wool and Ewe

A Side of Beef

Part 4. The Purdue University Influence

Class Is in Session

Research to Improve Farm Productivity

Education through Outreach

Building Character through Clubs and Contests

Notes

Sources

Index

Sujets

• Loisirs
• Collections photographiques
• Photographie Créative
• Themes
• Subjects
• Historical
• Photography

Informations

• Publié par: Purdue University Press
• Date de parution: 15 septembre 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781557539090
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 130 Mo

Extrait

Memories OF LIFE ON THE FARM

The Grand Od Man of Purdue University and Indiana Agricuture: A Biography of Wiiam Carro Latta

The Queen of American Agricuture: A Biography of Virginia Caypoo Meredith

Purdue University Press Founders Series Books by Frederîck Whîtord

For the Good of the Farmer: A Biography of John Harrison Skinner, Dean of Purdue Agricuture

For S t c h a e tt G e o ri o n d g o t f h t e h S e e F e a d r s m o e f r: Kno A w B  i e o d g g ra e: p T h h y e of W J or h d n sand W H o a rk ri s s of n In Sk di n an e a r ’ , s D Pi e o a neer Co f u P n u t r y d E u x e te A n g s r i i o cu n t A u g r ents

Enrich F i o n r g t t h h e e G H o oo d si o e f r t F h a e r F m a F r a m m er i : y: A Pho A to Bi H o is g t r o a r p y h o y fI o n f d J i o a h n n a’s Eary C H o ar u r n is t o y n Ex S t k e i ns n i e o r, n D A e g a ents of Purdue Agricuture

Memories OF LIFE ON THE FARM

THROUGH THE LENS OF PIONEER PHOTOGRAPHER J. C. Allen

F R E D E R I C K W H I T F O R D • N E A L H A R M E Y E R

PURDUE UNIVERSITY PRESS West Lafayette, Indiana press.purdue.edu

Coyrigt © 2019 by Purdue University All rigts reserved. Printed in Cina. CatalogIng-In-PublIcatIon data on ile at the LIbrary of Congress Hardback ISBN: 978-1-55753-866-6

Unless oterwise noted, all otogras in tis book are ro te J. C. Allen and Son Inc. Potogras and Negatives Collection at te Purdue University Arcives and Secial Collections, West Laayette, Indiana. Wile otogras ro tis collection included in tis book are resented as Jon C. Allen’s work, it is ossible tat a ew o te iages ay ave been te work o is son, Cester Allen.

For all otogras, inoration about individuals, organizations, laces, events, and dates as been rovided to te extent it is known. he abbreviationn.p.indicates tat no lace is known, wilen.d. indicates tat no date is known.

All laces entioned are in Indiana unless oterwise noted.

As needed, soe inor graatical canges were ade to irove te readability o quoted aterial; tese canges did not afect content.

Photo of John C. Allen on opposite page:Tiecanoe County, 1930; courtesy Jon O. Allen

Designer: Dawn L. Minns Editor: Carolyn A. McGrew Indexer: Marilyn Augst

Tobemostsuccessfulinthiswork,Ithink one should be a perfectionist and satisIed with nothing less than the best he can do. My work has not all been easy, but it has been pleasant much of the time.

—JOHN CALVIN ALLEN

These Llewellin setter puppies appeared in an advertisement for Wayne Dog Food. (N.p., ca. 1933)

Foreword

Introduction

ix

1

The Early Life of John C. Allen 7

The Photographer Emerges

Crafting a Business One Photograph at a Time

A Lasting Legacy

13

19

33

C O N T E N T S

THROUGH THE LENS OF PIONEER PHOTOGRAPHER J. C. ALLEN Part I. Life on the Farm Te Far Hoestead 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fueling te Far 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cores around te Hoe 46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . We Grow Wat We Eat 48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Far Fres Products or Sale 58  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Going to Town 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting to te Outside World 66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Te Tree Rs 70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tie or Fun 76 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Te Beauty o Cildren 82  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Proud to Be a Farer 98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Te Farer’s Workso 102 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Drive troug te Countryside 104 . . . . . . . . . . . Roads More or Less Traveled 108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barns and Silos o te Midwest 112 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barns witout Corners 120 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Swinging on te Pasture Gate 124 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Part 2. Working the Ground Clearing Land and Managing Water 130 . . . . . . . Horseower to Work te Soil 134 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conserving Soil 146 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sweetening a Sour Soil 150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adding Nutrients to Deleted Soils 156 . . . . . . . . Corn on te Cob 160 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aber Waves o Grain 192  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Te Miracle Soybean 202 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . An Ale a Day 208  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Juicy Peac 214  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Digging U Suds or te Winter 216 . . . . . . . . . . . . Red Rie Toatoes 220 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Growing Diverse Cros or Market 224 . . . . . . . . . A Fine Tobaccy Cro 232 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Te Soutern Cotton Boll 236 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feed or Far Anials 240 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Part 3. The Livestock Connection Te Forgotten Milk Stool 256 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Country Ha 276  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Far Fres Eggs 296 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wool and Ewe 316 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Side o Bee 328 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Part 4. The Purdue University Influence Class Is in Session 340  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Researc to Irove Far  Productivity 344  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Education troug Outreac 352 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Building Caracter troug Clubs  and Contests 366 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notes 381  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sources 383 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Index 384 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Women work in a foundry for the Harrison Manufacturing Company. (Fountain County, 1944)

F O R E W O R D

T e ar agazine tat attracted e story, suc as a erd o cows standing under te ost growing u on a sall dairy a tree on a ot day or a arer cultivating ar in Jonson County, Indiana, in te corn wit an old Massey-Harris 44 tractor 1960s wasPrairie Farmer. It certainly and two-row ounted cultivator wit a wasn’t because I ad a reonition tat young boy along or te ride. I would soeday write or tat agazine. J. C. Allen and Son catured undreds Instead, I was 100 ercent ar boy, and o iages tat were award winning in y te big, ront-age ictures o a arer book. Taken togeter as a body o work lowing or cows in a asture always said over decades, tey aint te story o “Indiana agriculture” to e. U.S. agriculture during a large art o te  Once I began writing or te twentiet century—a story tat includes agazine as a ield editor in 1981— te eole wo sweated and worked ard TheIndiana Prairie Farmerbroadcasting truck on location at the Indiana State Fair on September 6, 1935. working alongside To Budd, te editor, to grow cros and raise livestock, and te (Marion County) and Carl “Indiana Ike” Eice—I learned tecnological canges tey encountered tat any o tose otos I liked so uc along te way. were taken by a reelance otograer and later by ar scenes. He catured everyting ro a young boy My at is o to te autors wo sent tie is son.Prairie Farmerand, eventually,Indiana Prairiedriving a very early tractor to arers lowing, disking, reviewing undreds o otos and iecing togeter Farmerurcased any otos ro J. C. Allen and cobining, and working on equient. anoter story: tat o an unsung ero o Aerican Son or agazine covers during te id- and latter Many years ago, I served on a judging coittee agriculture, Jon C. Allen. He reserved tis istory art o te twentiet century. or te Aerican Agricultural Editors’ Association in otos as it unolded beore i. Now te autors  Little did I know tat Allen was a legend in is carged wit icking out te best otos subitted ave reserved it or you. Enjoy every age! own rigt. Ater I ad te cance to view undreds o by agricultural otograers tat year. I soon learned To J. Becan is otos, going back into te days o black-and-wite tat wat I considered good otos and wat any Editor,Indiana Prairie Farmer otogray, I understood wy. Based in West Laayette, oters caugt u in odern journalis tougt were Indiana, e traveled ar country wit is caera good otos were quite dierent. Tey were into artsy- equient, taking otos o real ar eole and real tye otos. I was looking or genuine otos tat tell a

i x