Date Original
1936-1945
Description
This collection contains the records of Arkansas's 50 soil conservation districts. While the records vary for each of the districts, minimally they include general correspondence, petitions for creation of districts, notices of hearing and determination of need for organization of district.
Biographical/Historical Note
On April 27, 1935, the Soil Conservation Service (which became the Natural Resources Conservation Service), was created. The federal legislation declared that soil erosion was a menace to the national welfare and authorized broad powers to the new agency to attack the problem. On February 27, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt transmitted a law regarding standard state soil conservation districts to state governors. He recommended each state pass the law. Arkansas passed the first such law on March 3, 1937. By the end of 1939 3,000 districts encompassing 88 million acres nationwide, along with state associations and the National Association of Conservation Districts, united to support conservation by purchasing needed equipment and supplies. They also influenced legislation and regulation at the state level. Arkansas's first soil conservation district, Mine Creek in Howard County, was created in 1937. J.W. Sargent was state coordinator, a position under the authority of the United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, located in Little Rock, Arkansas. A total of 50 soil conservation districts were formed in Arkansas.
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Arkansas
Language
English
Identifier
MS.000481
Resource Type
Text
Collection
Arkansas soil conservation districts records, MS.000481
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
Arkansas soil conservation districts records, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History
