Summary
Abstract
The first 4-H club was founded in 1902 to provide educational activities for rural youth. Penn State's Cooperative Extension Program (established following the Smith-Lever Act in 1914) administers Pennsylvania's 4-H program.
Dates
- Creation: 1913 - 2013
Extent
5.25 Linear Feet (5 containers)
Background
Biographical or Historical Note
The first 4-H Club was established in Clark County, Ohio in 1902 by A.B. Graham; the four-leaf clover emblem with an 'H' on each leaf was adopted in 1911. The four 'H's stand for Head, Heart, Hands and Health. Clubs were originally formed to better the agricultural education of school-aged children. After the Lever Act of 1914, 4-H clubs have been administered by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the Department of Agriculture primarily through the land grant colleges. The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 provided federal, state, and local funding for the establishment of Cooperative Extension Services through the combined efforts of the United States Department of Agriculture and the land grant colleges. The first 4-H activity began in Mercer County in 1912. As Pennsylvania's land grant institution, Penn State extension agents and faculty members work together with local volunteers to share research with local residents.
Scope and Contents
This collection documents members' activities. Items include primarily photographs, 2 audio cassettes, handbooks, work books, programs, manuals, and bulletins.
Location
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Penn State University Libraries catalog via the link above. Archival collections may be housed in offsite storage. For materials stored offsite, please allow 2-3 business days for retrieval.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections staff. Mae Casey minimally processed Accession 2022-0006 U (1 Linear foot) at the point of accession by performing an inventory of the documents and rehousing them in labeled archival grade folders.
Using These Materials
Repository Details
Part of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library Repository
104 Paterno Library
Penn State University
University Park 16802 USA
(814) 865-1793
spcollections@psu.edu
Access Restrictions
For information on accessing this collection please contact the Special Collections Research Services Unit at ul-spcolref@lists.psu.edu.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Penn State Extension, 4-H Program records, 00354, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.
- Title
- Guide to the Penn State Extension, 4-H Program records
- Status
- Unprocessed
- Author
- Prepared by Special Collections Library faculty/staff
- Date
- 2018
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.