Correspondence
Correspondence in the Luther Papers is limited in both quantity and scope. Although arranged in chronological order, by months, it may be described in three groups:
1) In 1912 and 1913, Mr. Luther's letters to Professor K. L. Hatch, secretary of the agricultural extension service at the University of Wisconsin, are concerned with the establishment of extension work in Oneida County, and the progress of experimental plots for which Luther was responsible. His correspondence reflects the problems a county agricultural agent faced in the days when his work was new and farmers were not accustomed to receiving such direct counseling and aid from a public agency or educational institute.
2) Letters during the period when Mr. Luther directed the farmers' institutes, 1915-1933, concern the institutes, meetings throughout the state, and the improvement of farm practices in Wisconsin.
3) Correspondence in the 1930's is related chiefly to Epsilon Sigma Phi, national honorary extension fraternity, of which Luther was chief of the local chapter, 1934-1935.
Other Material
Professor Luther did a great deal of writing in connection with the farmers' institutes and the work of the agricultural extension service in the state. In preparation for histories of each, he drafted many “chapters” without designating whether the material was to be used in the history of the institutes or the extension service. Since the two agencies had such close ties, he may in some instances have intended the same material to apply to either. In any case, these drafts have all been retained, but have been put in no particular order or arrangement. The papers contain biographies of many men and women prominent in agricultural extension work in Wisconsin; bulletins written or edited by Luther; reports for the farmers' institutes, chiefly between 1922 and 1933; speeches and unpublished articles; a few studies and investigations; and clippings concerning Luther's many years of involvement in extension work in Wisconsin.
