W. Dean Frischknecht Papers, 1938-2009

The W. Dean Frischknecht Papers document Frischknecht's work as an Extension Livestock Specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service and Animal Sciences Department. The collection consists of books, cattle breeding records, correspondence, course materials, day calendars, a map, meeting minutes, newspaper clippings, notes, photographs, a plaque, posters, publications, and speeches. The bulk of the Papers pertain to various aspects of livestock improvement in Oregon; Frischknecht's role in the organization of livestock programs such as the Wasco Bull Tour and in regional livestock associations; and his interactions with County Extension agents, teaching courses in livestock evaluation and sheep production, and preparation of numerous circulars, bulletins and other Extension Service publications. A book by Frischknecht about his experience as a manager of livestock in Utah, Old Deseret Live Stock Company: A Stockman's Memoir, is also included in this collection.

About a third of the collection consists of the records of the Western Oregon Livestock Association (WOLA) and includes bylaws, correspondence, financial statements, meeting minutes, membership lists, newsletters, reports, and resolutions. The cattle breeding records reflect the management of Frischknecht's personal herd and primarily contain information such as the names, birth dates, and the weight of the cattle.

The collection includes 218 photographs (176 prints, 34 negatives, and 8 slides), depicting Frischknecht's program work on events such as the Wasco Bull Tour, field days, and visits to ranches. Other Extension Service staff are also pictured in these images.

An addition to the collection (Accession 2014:076) consists of correspondence, day calendars, herd registers, narrative work reports, newspaper clippings, notes, photographs, and publications. Mostly documenting Frischknecht's work as an Extension Livestock Specialist that included the instruction of short courses and publication of research, these materials also reflect Frischknecht's management of his cattle herd. Frischknecht's writings are reflected in Extension bulletin, conference papers, and an essay on the history of the Western Oregon Livestock Association (WOLA). Making up about half of this transfer, the calendars date from 1974 to 2007 and reflect daily activities for work and "to-do" lists. Numbering 9 images in total (8 prints and 1 transparency), the photographs depict Frischknecht's involvement in WOLA that includes portrait shots of other members of the organization. There are also images of cattle that were featured in Extension publications.

Biographical / Historical Notes

W. Dean Frischknecht was an Extension Livestock Specialist in the Oregon State University Animal Sciences Department from 1956 until his retirement in 1985. Before he began his career at Oregon State, Frischknecht managed sheep and cattle for the Deseret Live Stock Company in Utah from 1946 to 1954. With graduate and undergraduate degrees in animal science from Utah State University, Frischknecht came to OSU with a combination of academic training and experience to work on livestock improvement programs and education. One of Frischknecht's legacies in Oregon is stronger ties between the Extension Service and Oregon cattle producers, leading to the creation of the Oregon Beef Cattle Improvement Association and, later, the Beef Cattle Improvement Committee of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association. In addition to preparation of numerous Extension Service publications, Frischknecht led and participated in field days and the annual Wasco Bull Grading Tour. Frischknecht remained active in the livestock community after his retirement by serving in the Oregon, Washington, and Northern Idaho Hereford Association and the Western Oregon Livestock Association. He also maintained a herd of cattle on a ranch near Redmond, Oregon, for a number of years.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 218 photographs; 9 boxes, including 1 oversize box

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: The materials were donated to the Special Collections & Archives Research Center in 2011 by Kathryn Frischknecht, Dean Frischknecht's wife.

Related Materials: An oral history interview with W. Dean Frischknecht is part of the Oregon State University Extension Service Faculty and Staff Oral History Collection (OH 014). The Special Collections and Archives Research Center's holdings include the Animal Sciences Department Records (RG 189) and the collections of other Animal Sciences faculty including the David C. England Papers (MSS England) and James E. Oldfield (MSS Oldfield). In addition, the Center includes many collections documenting Extension Service programs and faculty including the Extension Service Records (RG 111), the records of Extension organizations, and the papers of many Extension agents and specialists.

Preferred Citation: W. Dean Frischknecht Papers (MSS Frischknecht), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Processing Information: This collection is not fully processed; this guide is preliminary.

Other URL: Preliminary container list available online.

W. Dean Frischknecht Papers, 1938-2009

Collection Overview

Abstract

Scope and Content Notes

Biographical / Historical Notes

Administrative Information

Creators

People, Places, and Topics

Forms of Material