Libraries
Identity elements
Reference code
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1875-1984 (Creation)
Extent
11.75 Linear Feet, 7.00 Boxes
Name of creator
Biographical history
Anna Tessie Agan was born in Silver City, Iowa, on October 19, 1897. She earned her bachelor of science degree from the University of Nebraska in 1927. She received her master of science in Food Economics and Nutrition from Kansas State Agricultural College in 1930, the same year she joined the staff of the college. Agan taught Home Economics until 1968.
In 1939, Agan wrote and published a college textbook, The House. She started doing radio talk shows in 1940 and continued until 1959. In 1966 she was invited to join the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. Agan was recognized as a Distinguished Older Citizen of Kansas in 1968 and received the State Achievement Award for significant service to Delta Kappa Gamma the following year. In 1971, Agan participated in the White House Conference on Aging and during the same year she was recognized by the Mu chapter of Theta Sigma Phi for Outstanding Contributions to Civic Welfare. She received an honorary doctorate from Kansas State Univerity in 1986.
Tessie Agan passed away on May 11, 1988, in Houston, Texas.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This collection includes biographical information, correspondence, research materials, photographic materials, and other documentation of Tessie Agan and her professional studies, especially related to farm home design, space utilization, urban renewal, and aging. It contains pamphlets on the proper design of a farm home with other printed materials devoted to kitchens, living rooms, dining areas, cupboards, storage walls, and proper lighting. The collection also contains studies on the amount of time and labor spent on laundry and cleaning the bathroom, as well as the benefits of "garbage grinders" in a kitchen. Other areas of the collection are devoted to public housing needs for elderly and diverse populations, space requirements for preschool children, and research on children from a social service perspective.
System of arrangement
The collection is contained in seven boxes and arranged into four series: 1) Biographical Series (1940-1984, undated); 2) Correspondence (1965-1974, undated); 3) Subject Series (1875, 1918, 1922-1976, undated); and 4) Photographs and Negatives Series (1961, 1964-1965, 1967-1967, undated).
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
All materials are open for research.
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
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Accession numbers included U1988.23 and U1989.02. The first was from the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design and the second was from the College of Human Ecology, and both accessions had been in the department and college for an unknown length of time.
Immediate source of acquisition
Acqusition Source: Various
Acqusition Method: Records tranfer
Acqusition Date: 19880816
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
03/15/1989.
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
General note
Separated Materials: Fifteen items were separated and cataloged with this note: "Part of Tessie Agan papers."
Specialized notes
- Citation: [Item title], [item date], Tessie Agan 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
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Sources used
Archivist's note
Finding Aid Author: Cynthia A. Harris and Colin T. Halpin
Processing Info: Processor Cynthia A. Harris processed the bulk of the collection in 2015, and student assistant Colin Halpin processed the accrual in 2016. University archivist Cliff Hight reviewed the description in 2016.
Publication Date: 2016-02-08