Lyle Engnar Nelson Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS-784

Staff Only

Scope and Content

MSU Agronomy papers, diaries, legal documents, research notes, photos, publications, memoirs, obituaries, and correspondence belonging to Lyle Nelson, faculty of Mississippi State University in Agronomy from 1952 to 1986. Topics include North Dakota history and education, Starkville, history, and Nelson's personal and professional correspondence. Collection also includes travel logs and records from his time in the Philippines and correspondence from his time serving overseas in WWII.

Dates

1932 - 2016

Biographical / Historical

Lyle E. Nelson was born in Greenbush Township, North Dakota in 1921. He attended North Dakota Agricultural College from 1939 to 1948, taking a break from 1942-1945 to serve with the 501st Quartermaster Sales Company in England during WWII. Nelson graduated with a Masters and PhD in Soil Science from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY in 1952. Nelson worked as faculty of Mississippi State University in Agronomy from 1952 to 1986. He was unmarried, and had no children. He died in Starkville, MS in 2017.

Extent

21.34 Cubic Feet (21 record cartons, 2 half-manuscript boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into four series: I. Correspondence, II. Diaries, III. History and Research Notes, and IV. Photographs and Scrapbooks.

Series I. Correspondence, 1935-2013

Boxes 1-17

This series is divided into three sub-series: 1. Family, 2. Friends and acquaintances, and 3. Professional correspondence. The Family sub-series is further divided into two sub-subseries: 1.1 Immediate and 1.2 Extended. Nelson's correspondence with his immediate family is organized chronologically by year, and then name of correspondent.

Series II. Diaries 1945-2015

Boxes 18-19

The diaries, which cover Nelson’s life in the Philippines and Starkville are arranged chronologically.

Series III. History and Research Notes, 1939-2016

Boxes 20-22

This series is arranged topically and includes materials relating to Nelson's World War II service, copies of his memoirs, his research on North Dakota history, copies of obituaries from Mississippi and North Dakota, records of his previous students, and copies of his publications.

Series IV. Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1932-2011

Boxes 23-24

Scrapbooks are arranged alphabetically and photographs are arranged by subject.