A History of Poultry at Purdue University

The first reference to poultry in the publications of Purdue University appeared in the University Catalogue of 1894-95. In the junior year a three credit course in Livestock Husbandry was offered by Prof. C. S. Plumb. The description of this course included the following statement: "The art of breeding domestic animals including horses, pigs, sheep and poultry." The first Purdue University publication dealing with poultry was Experiment Station Bulletin 71, published in 1898, "Skim Milk as a Food for Young Growing Chickens." The bulletin was written by  W. B. Anderson, Assistant Agriculturist.

CLICK HERE to read more about poultry at Purdue University. The attached document titled "History of the Poultry Department of Purdue University" was published in June 1970, compiled and edited by J. Holmes Martin. 

A Visual Tour of Poultry in Modern History

Howard Helmer

Howard was a valued partner of the Indiana State Poultry Association. He was a Guinness World Record holder, global ambassador for the American Egg Board, Air Force veteran, and culinary icon. CLICK HERE to view a gallery of images of him working with the Indiana State Poultry Association.

ISPA ARCHIVES

The Indiana State Poultry Association has kept records of our activities since 1915! As move forward with scanning the documents and placing them online, this section will grow. You are welcome to download these files for your own research. Please feel free to contact us if you would like copies of these documents in a higher resolution.

1914 - On September 9, 1914 a group of poultry enthusiasts met to discuss combining the State Branch and Indiana State Poultry Association into a new a poultry association of the “Indiana State Poultry Association.” According to research, there had been a formal Indiana State Poultry Association in years past but the members had disbanded several years prior to 1914. At the September 9, 1914 meeting S.A. Noflzger was appointed temporary President with the task of creating the new Indiana State Poultry Association. It was also decided that membership dues would be $1.00 with a $1.00 annual fee.

1915 - On February 4, 1915 the Board of Directors of the Indiana State Poultry Association met to work through the constitution on the Indiana State Poultry Association. The following day, February 5, 1915, held a “Regular Meeting” of the membership where the Constitution was ratified by the membership. A. E. Martz of Arcadia was elected President. It would seem that Tuesday, February 5, 1915, is the official birthday of the Indiana State Poultry Association.

1919 - Shortly after the Indiana State Poultry Association began meeting, the United States entered World War I. With the nation mobilized to fight a war overseas the ISPA was unable to meet on any regular basis. On May 21, 1919, a group of ISPA members met to reorganize the association and to appoint a new group of association executives. Since 1919, the ISPA has met every year with its membership and has been in continuous operation.

Indiana State Poultry Association Poultry Blue Book Archive

For many years the ISPA published an annual Poultry Blue Book.  The purpose of the Blue Book was to share information with Hoosier "poultry raisers." The intent was that the annual book would be kept as a reference for poultry information for anyone raising poultry from the small flock enthusiast to the larger poultry industry producer.  Below you find pages for the annual Poultry Blue Books published between 1923 - 1972.  

ISPA BLUE BOOK - 1938 (Full Copy)

ISPA BLUE BOOK - 1968 (Full Copy)

IF YOU HAVE  COPIES OF THE ISPA POULTRY BLUE BOOK IN YOUR ARCHIVES AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEM WITH US, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT OUR OFFICE. 

ISPA Bulletin Archive

The ISPA published a monthly Member Newsletter for many years.  In the mid Twentith Century it was named "ISPA Bulletin".  Here are some copies from the 1950's. Click on the date to see the ISPA Bulletin from that month.

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

ISPA Wings, Webs, and Wattles Archive

The ISPA Newsletter published in 1990's through the early 2000's.  The Newsletter informed the Hoosier poultry industry on all things poultry happening in Indiana.

1990

1994

1995

2003

Additional Historical Resources

Mentions of Purdue Poultry History in The Purdue Agriculturalist  -  What does poultry have to do with popcorn? This eBook link about Purdue agriculture will take you to a section with some pretty surprising facts about the history of poultry at Purdue.