Introduction

This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.

Descriptive Entry

These papers include correspondence between Elmer Darwin Ball and his colleagues including requests for specimen identification or specimen exchange for the 1920s and 1930s; requests for Ball's evaluation of papers about to be published; voluminous correspondence between Ball and Dwight Moore DeLong concerning their joint Thamnotettix project; and personal correspondence and professional gossip.

Historical Note

Elmer Darwin Ball (1870-1943) was born in Vermont. After attending Iowa State College and Ohio State University, Ball became Dean of the Utah Agricultural College in 1907. In 1916, he became State Entomologist of Wisconsin and in 1918 joined the faculty of Iowa State University. While on leave from Iowa State, Ball served as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture in 1920 and 1921. He left Iowa State in 1921 to serve as Director of Scientific Work in the Department of Agriculture and held that position until 1925. While at the Department, he organized the Graduate School and served as its Director. From 1925 to 1928, Ball was in charge of an investigation of celery pests for the Florida State Plant Board. In 1928 he joined the University of Arizona as Dean of the College of Agriculture and later served as Professor of Zoology and Economic Entomologist.