Charles F. Curtiss, Dean of Agriculture, ISU, 1902-1932

OriginUSA

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions35 x 27 1/2 in. (88.9 x 69.9 cm)

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineCommissioned by Iowa State College. In the permanent collection of the University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object numberU99.16

Status

On view

Collections

Label TextCharles F. Curtiss, (1863-1946) During the Saddle and Sirloin Club dinner in 1925 at which Charles Curtiss' portrait was hung, an Iowa State student lauded the first in-residence dean of agriculture this way, "Dean Curtiss instilled in us the dignity of agriculture. He taught us to spell Agriculture with a capital "A." Charles Curtiss spent 32 years in the deanship and during that time he raised the agriculture program from its infancy to world leadership. Curtiss became Dean of Agriculture and Director of the Experiment Station in 1902. During his tenure, he built the departments of agronomy and animal husbandry into prominence, organized the nation's first county cooperative extension service, organized the first departments of agricultural engineering and agricultural journalism, and established one of the nation's most outstanding departments of agricultural education. He was deeply involved in livestock judging and with his encouragement Iowa State students won major championships in this field. One of the stipulations of Curtiss' appointment as dean was that he and his family live on campus. Thus, they took up residence at the Farm House, now a university museum, where the children grew up and Dean Curtiss lived for 50 years. He should be credited with saving the Farm House from destruction through his regular requests to college presidents for important repairs and renovations. Curtiss Hall, the administration building for the College of Agriculture, was renamed in 1944 to acknowledge the legacy of Charles Curtiss, who always spelled Agriculture with a capital "A." Label Text: Charles F. Curtiss grew up on a farm 10 miles north of the Iowa State campus. He earned his bachelor’s degree from there in 1887 and joined the faculty in 1891. At that time, there was one course and one instructor in agriculture. He formulated a four-year curriculum, which was adopted in 1892. He received his master’s from Iowa State College in 1894, one of three granted before the turn of the century. Curtiss was the first professor of animal science in 1896 and first head of the animal science department in 1898. When James “Tama Jim” Wilson left Iowa State in 1897 to begin a 16-year stint as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, he chose Curtiss as his successor. Curtiss served as director of the Experiment Station and acting dean. In 1902, Curtiss was named Dean of Agriculture and remained in that position until he retired in 1932. Fast fact: Curtiss and his family moved into the Farm House, the first building on campus, in 1897. He lived there until his death in 1946. A year later, Ag Hall south of the Farm House, which was completed in 1901, was renamed Curtiss Hall.

Locations