Hop Research Council Records, 1943-2009

Predominant Dates: 1983-2002

The Hop Research Council Records document its support of hops research projects. Much of the collection pertains to the development of new hop varieties and the management of hop diseases such as powdery mildew. The Hop Research Council was formed in 1979 to fund hop research by soliciting and providing funds for scientific investigation and research related to the agricultural production of quality hops in the United States.

This collection includes 58 files related to HRC annual reports, research presentations and funding, and membership, described in Series 5. These files are digitized and available upon request.

Creators

ID: MSS HRC

Extent: 2.75 cubic feet

More Extent Information

Scope and Content Notes

Biographical / Historical Notes

The Hop Research Council (HRC) is an international organization, based in the United States. It was formed in 1979, with offices in Oregon, to fund hop research by soliciting and providing funds for scientific investigation and research related to the agricultural production of quality hops in the United States. Historically, funded projects have been in the areas of plant pathology, agronomic research, public hop breeding, a clean plant network, entomology, and brewing research. Furthermore, the HRC allows researchers to quickly direct attention to a specific area of research when new needs arise. HRC has distributed approximately $10 million in grant funds to hops research projects. Membership of the council is made up of representatives from the brewery industry, state hop commissions, and hop dealers. HRC serves the entire hop industry by supporting research that meets the needs of members, but they also work to facilitate communication between the council, brewers, growers, hop dealers, and the scientific community.

Public hop research had been supported by the United States Brewers Association from about 1950 through 1978. That year it lost a major member, and as a result of the associated revenue loss, programs discontinued technical activities, including the support of hop research. Although the USDA-ARS and the universities of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho could contribute facilities and modest budgets for personnel, the loss of United States Brewers Association funding was a severe blow to hop research in the United States. It was clear to many that an industry that provided a high-quality commodity to the domestic market and a competitive product with an annual export value of $51 million required research support in order to maintain its quality consciousness and competitive stance.

Believing that the hops and brewing industries could benefit from a united hop research effort, concerned brewers, dealers, grower organizations, and others met early in 1979 to form an organization designed to support hop research in the United States. The purpose was to explore ways to fund research that meets the demands of all segments of the industry. Present at the first meeting were representatives from Adolph Coors Co., Anheuser-Busch, Inc., California Hops Growers Association, George Segal Co., Idaho Hop Commission, John Barth Inc., John I. Haas Inc., L. Oppenheimer and Co., Lupofresh Inc., Olympia Brewing Co., Oregon Hop Commission, Pabst Brewing Co., Pfizer Inc., S.S. Steiner Inc., The Stroh Brewery Co., United States Hop Administrative Committee, Von Horst Co., Washington Hop Commission, and Washington State Hop Producers Association.

By the mid-1980s the scope of research supported included breeding and genetics at Washington State University and the USDA-ARS program at Oregon State University, insect and mite programs at WSU and the University of Idaho, disease control programs at WSU and OSU, and two chemistry programs at OSU, one supporting the breeding programs and the other concerning hop contributions to the aroma and flavor of beer. From the beginning, a special fund was identified to supporting special, short-term projects. During HRC’s first year about $73,000 was raised through pledges and distributed among the research programs. This does not mean that U.S. hop research is funded primarily by the HRC; the USDA-ARS provides a nucleus for research. Instead, the HRC serves as a focus for U.S. hop research and provides an important incentive for and demonstration of the importance of this activity.

The development and commercialization of new high alpha varieties afforded a competitive advantage for American hops grown for use at home and abroad; these included Galena, Eroica, Nugget, Olympic, and Chinook. Equally important was the development of aroma varieties, including the Willamette, Mount Hood, and Liberty. Additionally, in the 1980s, European varieties were evaluated for agronomic and brewing characteristics.

The HRC holds two annual meetings. The summer meeting includes a business session and a hop field day where experimental and commercial yards are inspected. The winter meeting includes a comprehensive review of the research HRC supports; each project leader provides a written report, which is assembled according to research category and distributed to members as a single bound booklet prior to the meeting. During the meeting, budget committee and the new proposals evaluation committee meet, and project leaders present their results and future plans. Each presentation is followed by a discussion, which provides interaction between the researcher and the brewers, dealers, growers, and others present; this ensures that every aspect of research has input from all phases of the industry.

Author: Tiah Edmunson-Morton

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Arrangement

Preferred Citation: Hop Research Council Records (MSS HRC), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Acquisition Note: The collection was donated by Nancy Sites of the Oregon Hop Commission in 2014.

Acquired: 2014.

Languages of Materials

English

Other

Container List

Series 1: Administrative, 1979-2008 Add to Shelf

This series offers information on the foundational aspects of the council, such as position descriptions, by-laws, and plans. Also included are financial statements and office files that contain meeting minutes, correspondence and other administrative details.

Box-Folder 1.01: Hop Research Council By-Laws, 1979-1994 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.02: Hop Research Council Articles of Incorporation, 1986-2001 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.03: Strategic Plan, 1993 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.04: Brochure, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.05: Contacts List, 1980-2001 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.06: Position Descriptions, 1981-1984 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.07: Hop Research Council Statements, 1981-1990 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.08: Hop Research Council Annual Financial Statements, 1994-1999 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.09: Hop Research Council Annual Financial Statements and Correspondence, 2000-2004 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.10: Hop Research Council Member Fees for Research, 2003-2004 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.11: Busch Agricultural Funding, 2002-2004 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.12: Contracts, 2001-2004 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.13: Office Files, 1983-1986 Add to Shelf: Correspondence, meeting minutes, published reports, and financial information.
Box-Folder 1.14: Office Files, 1987-1995 Add to Shelf: Meeting minutes, budgets, published reports, correspondence, and financial information.
Box-Folder 1.15: Office Files, 1996-1998 Add to Shelf: Planning documents, published reports, articles, financial and budget information, and project proposals.
Box-Folder 1.16: Office Files, 1998-2002 Add to Shelf: Correspondence, budget documents, proposals, published reports, Hop Research Council and European Hop Research Council meeting minutes.

Series 2: Conferences, 1982-2004 Add to Shelf

This series focuses on HRC conferences and includes meeting minutes, agendas, correspondence, and other planning details. Also included in this series are materials related to international conferences HRC was involved with.

Box-Folder 1.17: Hop Research Council Meetings, 1982-1985 Add to Shelf: Planning documents, agendas, correspondence, research reports, receipts, and minutes.
Box-Folder 1.18: Hop Research Council Meetings, 1986-1990 Add to Shelf: Planning documents, agendas, correspondence, research reports, receipts, and minutes.
Box-Folder 1.19: Hop Research Council Meetings, 1991-1995 Add to Shelf: Planning documents, agendas, correspondence, research reports, receipts, and minutes.
Box-Folder 1.20: Hop Research Council Meetings, 1996-1999 Add to Shelf: Planning documents, agendas, correspondence, research reports, receipts, and minutes.
Box-Folder 1.21: Hop Research Council Meetings, 2000-2002 Add to Shelf: Planning documents, agendas, correspondence, research reports, receipts, and minutes.
Box-Folder 1.22: Hop Research Council Meetings, 2003-2004 Add to Shelf: Planning documents, agendas, correspondence, research reports, receipts, and minutes.
Box-Folder 1.23: International Hop Growers Convention Proceedings, 2003 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.24: First International Humulus Symposium, 2004 Add to Shelf: Conference programs, and public proceedings.

Series 3: Research and Project Files, 1943-2003 Add to Shelf

These research and project files show the wide range of HRC research on different aspects of the hops industry, including public/private breeding programs, disease and infection reports, and new hop variety research. While some folders are organized by topic, others are by individual researcher. Of special note are research materials and articles from Dr. Alfred Haunold.

Box-Folder 2.01: Hop Research Council History, 1986-2001 Add to Shelf: Articles and FAQ documents about the Hop Research Council.
Box-Folder 2.02: Brewing Studies Articles, 1979-1996 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.03: Hops Studies Articles, 1943-1991 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.04: New Zealand Marketing Board Annual Report, 1993 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.05: Hop Report by Bavarian State Research Institute, 2002 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.06: Hop Technology Initiative, 2002 Add to Shelf: Draft proposal, meeting notes, and correspondence.
Box-Folder 2.07: EPA and Food Protection, undated Add to Shelf: Press releases, correspondence, notification about pesticide residue, Delany Clause report, and U.S. Hop Industry Plant Protection Committee reports.
Box-Folder 2.08: Mildew and Fungal Infection Reports, 1989, undated Add to Shelf: Verticillium wilt of hops papers, and hop mildew program report.
Box-Folder 2.09: Powdery Mildew, 1993-1997 Add to Shelf: Field research, government rules documents, notes, correspondence, FAQ sheets, and quarantine information.
Box-Folder 2.10: Powdery Mildew FAQ and Photographs, undated Add to Shelf: 6 photographs of infected plants.
Box-Folder 2.11: Northwest Hop Research Program, 1982 Add to Shelf: Notes, correspondence, lobbying letters, and articles related to the proposal to defund USDA-ARS research.
Box-Folder 2.12: USDA-ARS, 1985-2000 Add to Shelf: Reports, articles, and correspondence.
Box-Folder 2.13: Public/Private Breeding Program, 1998-2001 Add to Shelf: Reports, notes, and correspondence.
Box-Folder 2.14: New Hop Variety Research, 1985-1997 Add to Shelf: Reports, data, evaluation, meeting minutes, and correspondence.
Box-Folder 2.15: Research Proposals, 1985-2002 Add to Shelf: Correspondence, project details, financial information for projects on breeding, disease, herbicides, and funding OSU Pilot Plant.
Box-Folder 2.16: OSU Reports, 1970-1979 Add to Shelf: Reports on hop varieties and breeding, pest and weed control, and international research.
Box-Folder 2.17: OSU Reports, 1980-1991 Add to Shelf: Reports on hop varieties, pest and weed control, breeding, reports from meetings with industry, and international and climate research.
Box-Folder 2.18: Ann George, 2001-2003 Add to Shelf: Funding requests, and correspondence.
Box-Folder 2.19: Richard Hampton, 1984-2001 Add to Shelf: Articles, notes, and reports.
Box-Folder 2.20: Jim Barbour, 2001-2003 Add to Shelf: Budget request document.
Box-Folder 2.21: Cindy Ocamb, 1999-2002 Add to Shelf: Notes, reports, and correspondence.
Box-Folder 2.22: Ward String, 1993-1995 Add to Shelf: Correspondence, reports, articles, and results.
Box-Folder 2.23: Max Deinzer, 1994-2002 Add to Shelf: Correspondence, articles, reports specifically carbohydrate in rootstocks.
Box-Folder 2.24: Gail Anderson, 2001-2002 Add to Shelf: Budget request.
Box-Folder 2.25: Jennifer Fields, 1996-1997 Add to Shelf: Notes, brochure, article, catalog, and correspondence.
Box-Folder 2.26: David James, 2001-2003 Add to Shelf: Presentation, articles, and report on pest control studies.
Box-Folder 2.27: Ken Eastnell, 2000-2003 Add to Shelf: Reports and proposal to conduct disease research.
Box-Folder 2.28: Mark Nelson, 2003 Add to Shelf: Report.
Box-Folder 2.29: Steve Kenny, 1991-2003 Add to Shelf: Correspondence, report, and article.
Box-Folder 2.30: Walt Mahaffee, 2000 Add to Shelf: Correspondence, and project summary.
Box-Folder 2.31: Kim Hummer, 2001-2003 Add to Shelf: Proposals re: cryopreservation, and evaluation of hop germplasm samples re: powdery mildew resistance.
Box-Folder 2.32: John Henning, 1996-2003 Add to Shelf: Correspondence, proposal, budget information, notes, and articles.
Box-Folder 2.33: Alfred Haunold, 1979-1994 Add to Shelf: Translations of foreign language articles on hops.
Box-Folder 2.34: Alfred Haunold, 1992 Add to Shelf: Wild American Hops.
Box-Folder 2.35: Alfred Haunold, 1974-1979 Add to Shelf: Articles.
Box-Folder 2.36: Alfred Haunold, 1980-1989 Add to Shelf: Correspondence, and articles.
Box-Folder 2.37: Alfred Haunold, 1990-1999 Add to Shelf: Correspondence, and articles.

Series 4: Reports and Proposals, 1983-2009 Add to Shelf

The reports in this series are from the universities where hop research is funded by HRC. There is a report for each year (27 total).

Box-Folder 3.01 - 3.27 Add to Shelf

Series 5: Electronic Reports and Presentations, 2003-2009 Add to Shelf

58 files related to HRC annual reports, research presentations and funding, and membership. These files are digitized and available upon request.

Digital File 1: HRC Annual Report, 2003 Add to Shelf
Digital Folder 2: HRC Annual Report, 2004 Add to Shelf: 36 files, including the HRC annual report, PowerPoint presentations, and financial statements.
Digital File 3: HRC Annual Report, 2006 Add to Shelf
Digital Folder 4: HRC Annual Report, 2007 Add to Shelf: 17 files, including the HRC annual report, PowerPoint presentations, and membership information.
Digital File 5: HRC Annual Report, 2008 Add to Shelf
Digital File 6: HRC Annual Report, 2009 Add to Shelf

People, Places, and Topics

Forms of Material

Related Materials

The Hop Research Council Records are complemented by the Oregon Hops and Brewing Archives Oral History Collection (OH 35), which includes interviews from industry professionals, journalists and community members.

Other related materials can be found in the Hop Growers of America Records and Oregon Hop Growers Association Records. Also of note are the research reports in the Crop Science Department Records (RG 095) and the College of Agricultural Sciences Records (RG 158).

The Brewing and Fermentation Collection (MSS BFRC) consists of materials collected by the OSU Special Collections and Archives Research Center pertaining to the history, growth, and culture of the Pacific Northwest brewing industry, including regional hops and barley farming, commercial craft and home brewing, and craft cider and mead. The Oregon Hop Grower / Pacific Hop Grower (1933-1940) and The Hopper (1945-1954) are periodicals that supported the growers, brewers, and related industries with articles about crop forecasts and yields, mechanization and technological advances, pests and diseases, research, health, and membership information. They also contain minutes and reports from various state and national grower associations.

The Hop Press: A Memorandum of What's Brewin' newsletter was prepared by Hop Specialist G.R. Hoerner and issued monthly by the Oregon State College Extension Service to provide information on hops and brewing to County Extension Agents in Oregon. This informal publication provides a detailed view of hops growing and production in Oregon and the northwest for this period, as well as information about hops growing in Washington, Idaho, and California. Included are a variety of news items, such as statistics on hop acreage, the costs of production, number of growers, information about industry organizations, summaries and preliminary reports of OSU hops research, news items from newspapers and other publications in Oregon and Washington, agendas for Hop Growers Conferences, and summaries of presentations at these conferences.

Collections linked to Oregon State University research, as well as other manuscript collections are described on the Oregon Hops and Brewing Archives research guide. More information pertaining to the history of hop growing and brewing in Oregon can be found on the Oregon Hops and Brewing Archives website.

Information and Credits