Libraries
Identity elements
Reference code
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1924–2008 (Creation)
Extent
33.50 Linear Feet, 46.00 Boxes
Post- Fire Oversize Extent:
Box (16.5x20.5); 509: 20/30/5
Name of creator
Biographical history
Don L. Good was born October 8, 1921 and died at home on February 14, 2012. He was raised on an 80-acre livestock and crop farm in Van Wert county Ohio with 3 brothers and one sister. He was the son of George Lewis and Dora Haines Good.
Don's livestock interests manifested early, through 4-H and FFA projects with Oxford sheep and swine. In 1939, Don entered The Ohio State University, working in the beef and horse barns and the meats laboratory to work his way through school. During his senior year, Don was called to active duty in World War II and he served in Europe and the Pacific, earning the Combat Infantry Badge and two battle stars. After returning to Ohio State, he was on the 1946 Ohio State livestock judging team and was high man in judging at the Kansas City Royal Livestock Show and was second high man at the Chicago International Livestock Exposition, where the team won.
Don received his bachelor's degree in 1947 from The Ohio State University and was named to the Animal Science Hall of Fame at Ohio State in 1950 and in 1970 he received the OSU College of Agriculture Centennial Award. In 1947 Don started his 40-year career at Kansas State University. His first position was to coach the livestock judging team, manage the purebred beef herds, and teach/advise students. As judging team coach, he won 14 major contests in 18 years. At the end of his first semester at KSU, he returned to Ohio to marry Jane Swick and bring her back to live in Manhattan.
In 1950, Don received his master's degree from KSU and his doctorate from the University of Minnesota in 1957. He was named department head of Animal Husbandry at KSU in 1966 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1987. Following a devastating tornado in 1966, he and colleagues worked to form the Livestock and Meat Industry Council. This is a group of industry leaders that would aid in seeking private and corporate funding for use in improving or rebuilding facilities used to teach students and perform research.
Good’s influence, however, reached far beyond Kansas. His leadership and commitment to agriculture was instrumental in helping move livestock and meat production into the modern era. He was also credited with pioneering the concept of correlating carcass characteristics to live animal evaluation at livestock shows.
During his tenure at K-State, Good won three major awards from the American society of Animal Science: Distinguished Teacher in 1973, Honorary Fellow in 1978, and Industry Service in 1982. His portrait was hung in the Saddle and Sirloin Gallery in Louisville, Ky., in 1987. In 1997, Good received the Livestock Publications Council Headliner Award.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This collection documents the academic career of Don L. Good, noted livestock judge and head of the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry at Kansas State University (1966–1987). A wide range of materials are include from lantern slides to publications to journals documenting trips abroad, and date from 1923 to 2008. The collection has been divided into series based on material types.
The Artifact series includes certificates, awards, banners, business cards, and plaques.
The Audio-Visual series consists primarily of photographs and negatives documenting department activities (1924-1988), as well as photo albums and scrapbooks. Some of the activities highlighted are livestock shows and judging teams, Weber Hall, the U. S. Beef Symposium, and the 1950 International Team. Glass negatives and lantern slides have been relocated to allow for better preservation of fragile materials.
The Block and Bridle series (1940-2006) documents the student organization's activities and events such as their annual banquet and involvement in Little American Royal. Block and Bridle yearbooks from other universities are also included.
The Conference series (1959-2003) records Dr. Good's involvement in various professional activities such as contests, shows, sales, expos, state and county fairs, conventions, and forums. Some of the events included are Beef Cattle Efficiency Forum, 1984; Angus Forum: Century of Angus in the U.S.A., 1973; Hereford Association meeting, 1959; Beef Empire Live & Carcass Show, 1973; International Cattlemen's Expo, 1969, and Nebraska State Fair, 1980 and 1982.
The correspondence series (1954-1991) consists of fourteen items including individual correspondence and letters concerning tenure, academic credentials, the 17th Stockman's Dinner, and departmental print orders.
The International Meat and Livestock Program (IMLP) (1989-2001) consists of papers contributed by various countries, from Africa to Ukraine. Animal health, veterinary practices, beef production, meat processing, feed processing, herd management, genetics, and molecular biology are some of the topics covered.
The International Trips series covers travel to Nigeria, 1968-1969, Turkey, 1971, and England & Scotland, 1971.
The Judging series (1932-2003) focuses primarily on the livestock (1948-2003) and dairy (1969-1987) judging teams. Other topics include the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest, the wool team, American Royal, Kansas State Fair, and judging in general.
The Livestock and Meat Industry Council (LMIC) (1967-2001) contains organizational information including Articles of Incorporation, Board meetings, correspondence, minutes, agendas, memos, and financial records.
Printed material (1885-2006) contains university and departmental publications, as well as books and articles that reflect Dr. Good's professional interests. Included with this series are departmental policies and memos, faculty meeting minutes, and expansion plans. The two titles with the largest number of issues are the College of Agriculture Teaching Newsletter and Monday Morning Updates.
The Public Speaking series (1950-1998) contains speeches and public talks given at a variety of events from the Americal Royal to the Z-Bar Ranch, taking place across Kansas and various locations around the country.
The Saddle and Sirloin series (1970-2004) contains recommendations and biographies.
The Yearly Planners series (1968-1987) contains planners and/or calendars.
The Restricted series contains one box of Patton Farm records, undated.
System of arrangement
This collection is arranged into 14 series: 1. Artifacts; 2. Audio Visual; 3. Block & Bridle; 4. Conferences; 5. Correspondence; 6. International Meat and Livestock Program (IMLP); 7. International Trips; 8. Judging; 9. Livestock and Meat Industry Council (LMIC); 10. Printed Materials; 11. Public Speaking; 12. Saddle & Sirloin; 13. Yearly Planners; and 14; Restricted.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
All materials are open for research except Box 46, Patton Farm materials, which requires permission from university archivist to access.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
- Latin
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Generated finding aid
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Review of Box 46, Patton Farm materials, needs to occur in 2027 for continuation of restriction. Accession numbers include U2011.32 and U2011.39 and the respective accession records contain further information about each accession.
Immediate source of acquisition
Acqusition Source: Don L. Good
Acqusition Method: Donation.
Acqusition Date: 20110801
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
These papers document the career of an animal science and industry faculty member and department head at Kansas State University who was an internationally recognized livestock judge.
Accruals
08/01/2011.
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Specialized notes
- Citation: Preferred Citation: [Item title], [item date], Don L. Good papers, Box [number], Folder [number or title], Morse Department of Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
Alternative identifier(s)
Archon Collection ID
Description control element
Rules or conventions
All materials are open for research except Box 46, Patton Farm materials, which requires permission from university archivist to access.
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Sources used
Archivist's note
Finding Aid Author: Joshua Edgar and Audrey E. Swartz
Processing Info: Processing began in 2015 by student assistant, Joshua Edgar and completed by Audrey E. Swartz, Manuscripts Processor in 2017. University archivist Cliff Hight reviewed it in 2017.