Tessie Agan papers

Identity elements

Reference code

Level of description

Collection

Title

Tessie Agan papers

Date(s)

  • 1875-1984 (Creation)

Extent

11.75 Linear Feet, 7.00 Boxes

Name of creator

(1897-1988)

Biographical history

Anna Tessie Agan was born in Silver City, Iowa, on October 19, 1897. She earned her bachelor of science degree from the University of Nebraska in 1927. She received her master of science in Food Economics and Nutrition from Kansas State Agricultural College in 1930, the same year she joined the staff of the college. Agan taught Home Economics until 1968.
In 1939, Agan wrote and published a college textbook, The House. She started doing radio talk shows in 1940 and continued until 1959. In 1966 she was invited to join the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. Agan was recognized as a Distinguished Older Citizen of Kansas in 1968 and received the State Achievement Award for significant service to Delta Kappa Gamma the following year. In 1971, Agan participated in the White House Conference on Aging and during the same year she was recognized by the Mu chapter of Theta Sigma Phi for Outstanding Contributions to Civic Welfare. She received an honorary doctorate from Kansas State Univerity in 1986.
Tessie Agan passed away on May 11, 1988, in Houston, Texas.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

This collection includes biographical information, correspondence, research materials, photographic materials, and other documentation of Tessie Agan and her professional studies, especially related to farm home design, space utilization, urban renewal, and aging. It contains pamphlets on the proper design of a farm home with other printed materials devoted to kitchens, living rooms, dining areas, cupboards, storage walls, and proper lighting. The collection also contains studies on the amount of time and labor spent on laundry and cleaning the bathroom, as well as the benefits of "garbage grinders" in a kitchen. Other areas of the collection are devoted to public housing needs for elderly and diverse populations, space requirements for preschool children, and research on children from a social service perspective.

System of arrangement

The collection is contained in seven boxes and arranged into four series: 1) Biographical Series (1940-1984, undated); 2) Correspondence (1965-1974, undated); 3) Subject Series (1875, 1918, 1922-1976, undated); and 4) Photographs and Negatives Series (1961, 1964-1965, 1967-1967, undated).

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

All materials are open for research.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

Language and script notes

Finding aids

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

Accession numbers included U1988.23 and U1989.02. The first was from the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design and the second was from the College of Human Ecology, and both accessions had been in the department and college for an unknown length of time.

Immediate source of acquisition

Acqusition Source: Various
Acqusition Method: Records tranfer
Acqusition Date: 19880816

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Accruals

03/15/1989.

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Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

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Related descriptions

General note

Separated Materials: Fifteen items were separated and cataloged with this note: "Part of Tessie Agan papers."

Specialized notes

  • Citation: [Item title], [item date], Tessie Agan papers, Box [number], Folder [number or title], Morse Department of Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.

Alternative identifier(s)

Archon Collection ID

226

Description control element

Rules or conventions

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Sources used

Archivist's note

Finding Aid Author: Cynthia A. Harris and Colin T. Halpin
Processing Info: Processor Cynthia A. Harris processed the bulk of the collection in 2015, and student assistant Colin Halpin processed the accrual in 2016. University archivist Cliff Hight reviewed the description in 2016.
Publication Date: 2016-02-08

Access points

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Physical storage

  • Box: OVR_16x20 Box 1
  • Cubic Foot Box: Box 1, A83412053714
  • Cubic Foot Box: Box 2, A83412052611
  • 5" Flip Top, Letter: Box 3, A83412052807
  • 5" Flip Top, Letter: Box 4, A83412052679
  • 5" Flip Top, Letter: Box 5, A83412052687
  • Cubic Foot Box: Box 6, A83412053502
  • Box: Box 7,
  • Flat cabinet: Oversize: Tessie Agan Papers, A13411852659