Appendix I
Chronology And Landmarks
1877 - Albert Ledoux becomes first state chemist (predecessor to position of Director of Agricultural Experiment Station) with responsibility for analysis of fertilizers, determination of which fertilizers best suited for NC soils and to conduct experiments on nutrition and growth of plants, in Chapel Hill.
1880-87 - Charles William Dabney Director of NC Agricultural Experiment Station (NCAES): pioneering studies of exhaustion of plant nutrients by cotton, wheat, and tobacco; analyzed plants for nutrient content and related these to fertilizer needs, studied and evaluated nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer sources, predicted that NC phosphate beds would be a great resource in the future, urged establishment of experimental farm, moved program to Raleigh.
1885 - acquisition of first experimental farm, in West Raleigh
1886 - first outlying soil fertility trails in farmers fields
1886-87 - Milton Whitney superintendent of experimental farm: began first greenhouse pot cultures to determine plant food requirements of crops, started lst research on physical properties of soils in relation to plant growth
1898 - first offering of a course specifically identified with soils: Soil Physics for seniors (main drainage technology)
1900 - Start of first soil survey in NC, Raleigh to New Bern area, one of first in US
1901 - Statesville area soil survey report describes serious erosion and suggests control and conservation measures - one of first statements of concern for erosion and suggesting remedial measures
1907 - C.B. Williams become Director of NCAES; Adams Act (Federal) increases funding allowing establishment of first federally funded soil research projects; "study of soil nitrification with reference to the bacterium concerned" (lst mention of soil microbiology research in NC) and another on "relation of geology and chemistry of soils to productivity and fertilizer requirements"
1910 - M.E. Sherwin named as first professor of soils
1914 - Soil sections established in Division of Agronomy: soil fertility, soil chemistry, soil survey
1917 - C.B. Williams named as first Dean of Agriculture
1924 - School of Agriculture established
1929 - Research initiated on minor element deficiencies and toxicities in NC; immediate results with discovery of value of boron for alfalfa growth - relocated to Wilmington area in 1940's as first instance of location of research personnel away from Raleigh
1935 - At time of name change to NC State College, all departmental curricula, including Agronomy, revised for better preparation of students, soils curriculum revised to give more scientific basis for soil management and soil fertility
1937 - First direct appropriation of state funds for agricultural research (funded by fertilizer tax receipts through NC Department of Agriculture and by Federal funds prior to this time)
1940 - C.B. Williams retires after long illustrious career, G.K. Middleton named acting head
1940 - Robert M. Salter (soil scientist by Profession) appointed Director of NC AES and L.D. Baver appointed as Head of Agronomy (also soil scientist by profession): marked start of move of soil science and crop science to world class Programs
1940 - PhD program approved for Agronomy (with soils and crops majors)
1941 - L.D. Baver appointed Director of NC AES upon resignation of Salter
1942 - First designation of Extension Specialist in soils - Emerson Collins designated as soil fertility and fertilizer specialist in addition to duties as specialist-in-charge of Agronomy Extension
1942 - R.W. Cummings (soil scientist by profession) appointed Head of Agronomy
1947 - N.S. Hall and N.C. Brady receive first PhD in Agronomy with soils major (awarded through UNC-Chapel Hill)
1947 - First research in NC on use of radioisotopes, in soil fertility and soil chemistry programs - among first research efforts in US using radioisotopes in agricultural research
1948 - W.E. Colwell appointed Head of Agronomy upon designation of Cummings as Director of NC Agricultural Experiment Station.
1950 - Equipment designed and first research initiated using stable isotopes and mass spectrometry, among lst such research in USA
1952 - W.E. Colwell (soil scientist by profession) appointed Head of Agronomy upon designation of Cummings as Director of NC AES
1953 - Completion of Williams Hall
1953 - E.T. York becomes Head of Agronomy, Colwell to Associate Director of NC AES for Tobacco Research
1956 - Soils Department established with J. W. Fitts as first head
1960 - N.T. Coleman named first Reynolds Professor in Soil Science Department for outstanding basic research in soil-plant interactions, plant nutrient uptake and soil chemistry
1962 - Names change to Soil Science Department
1962 - Soil Science Department initiates International Soil Testing and Soil Fertility Evaluation Program (with AID funding support)
1963 - J.W. Fitts moves to full-time position with International Soil Testing Program; Ralph J. McCracken appointed as Head of Soil Science effective 1/64
1963 - Initiation of research program for coastal dune stabilization and vegetation stabilization through fertilization and vegetation management - first nonfarm related soils research
1968 - Soil management curriculum added to Agricultural Institute with three new courses for training in applied soil science and technology
1968 - Conservation curriculum added as interdisciplinary program with Soil Science participating - response to increased concern about natural resources
1970 - Environmental quality (water quality) research undertaken marks broadening of soil science research program to include environmental quality
1971 - C.B. McCants becomes third Head of Soil Science as McCracken named Assistant Director of NCAES 7/70; J.V. Baird as Acting Head to 1/71
1971 - Department undertakes Tropical Soils Research Program led by
Pedro Sanchez to improve soil productivity in less developed countries
1972 - W.A. Jackson named as second William Neal Reynolds Professor in Soil Science for International recognition of research in soil science, plant nutrition and photosynthetic efficiency
1972 - Waste disposal research commences with new fulltime position; extension programs in nonfarm soil interpretations and in waste management initiated
1981 - Start of Tropical Soils (Tropsoils) technical assistance program with less developed countries in cooperation with other US universities through AID funding
1981 - E.J. Kamprath named third William Neal Reynolds Professor in Soil Science Department
1982 - R.H. Miller becomes fourth head as C.B. McCants transfers to full-time director of the Management Entitiy, Soil Management CRSP.
1983 - W.A. Jackson selected as the first Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor at NC State in recognition of outstanding graduate instruction and scholarly research
1984 - New program in alternative, sustainable agriculture initiated
1986 - E.J. Kamprath receives Soil Science Society of America Applied Research Award
1986 - Soil Science personnel move into new addition to Williams Hall
1987 - E.J. Kamprath receives Honorary Doctorate from the University of Nebraska
1989 - R.H. Miller resigns as department head. E.J. Kamprath becomes acting head
This page last modified 1/15/03.