The History of CALS departments is a PDF timeline of the history of the college’s departments and departmental names from 1889-2017.
The following is a collection of CALS departmental and center histories written by faculty and staff of the university. Click the name of each department and center to see links to these documents. This is not a comprehensive list. If you are aware of a written history of a CALS department or center that is not represented here, please email history@cals.wisc.edu.
Schaars, Marvin A. The Story of the Department of Agricultural Economics, 1909-1972. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, 1972.a
University of Wisconsin Agronomy Department, the First 100 Years : a Brief History of Agronomy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1903 to 2002. Madison, WI: Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, 2003.
Bohstedt, Gustav. Early History of Animal Husbandry and Related Departments of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. 1973.
Schultz, Loris H. History of the Dairy Science Department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison : a Memoir. Madison, WI: Board of Regents, University of Wisconsin System, 2009.
“History.” Animal & Dairy Sciences. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, n.d.
Schaefer, Dan. Livestock Lab History. n.d.
Hogan, Garth. “UW–Madison, Department of Bacteriology designated as a ‘Milestones in Microbiology’ site.” Wisconsin Energy Institute. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, 2014.
“Time Line.” Department of Bacteriology. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, 2007.
Nelson, David L., and Brook Chase Soltvedt, eds. One Hundred Years of Agricultural Chemistry and Biochemistry at Wisconsin : Proceedings of the 13th Annual Steenbock Symposium in Biochemistry, August, 1983, University of Wisconsin–Madison. Madison, WI: Science Tech, 1989.
Marth, Carol, Lesley Clarke, Carolyn Kunen, and Robin Davies. Biochemistry. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin.
Bruhn, H. D. Agricultural Engineering Department (Biological Systems Engineering Department) Research History – 1933-1978. University of Wisconsin–Madison. PowerPoint.
Tentative AGENDA Centennial. Madison, WI: Biological Systems Engineering, 2004.
“History.” UW Center for Cooperatives. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, n.d.
Wileden, Arthur F. Early History of the Department of Rural Sociology, University of Wisconsin–Madison. Madison, WI: Department of Rural Sociology, University of Wisconsin, 1979.
“About Us.” Diary Innovation Hub. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, n.d.
Allen, T. C. A History of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin : 1893-1973. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Entomology, n.d.
McIntyre, Elwood R. Fifty Years of Cooperative Extension in Wisconsin, 1912-1962. Madison, WI: UW Extension Service, 1962.
History of the Agricultural Extension Service : Section 1 of the Plan. Madison, WI: Alpha Sigma Chapter, Epsilon Sigma Pi, 1942.
Cooperative Extension 100 Years of Growing a Strong Wisconsin. Madison, WI: Cooperative Extension, 2012.
Gooch, James W. Transplanting Extension : a New Look at the “Wisconsin Idea”. Madison, WI: Office of Outreach Development and Extension Liaison, 1995.
“History of FISC.” University of Wisconsin–Madison Farm & Industry Short Course, n.d.
“Food Research Institute Historical Time Line.” University of Wisconsin–Madison Food Research Institute, n.d.
“Food Research Institute Personnel.” University of Wisconsin–Madison Food Research Institute, n.d.
Price, Walter V. The Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin : Its Origin, Development and Activities. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, 1976.
“About The Department.” Forest and Wildlife Ecology. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, n.d.
Chapman, Arthur, Oliver Nelson, Ray Owen, and James Crow. Early Genetics at Wisconsin, n.d.
Dana, Malcolm N. A Century of Horticulture at the University of Wisconsin–Madison: 1889-1989. Madison, WI: The Department, n.d.
“Home Economics to Human Ecology : A Centennial History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.” UW–Madison Libraries, n.d.
Apple, Rima D. The Challenge of Constantly Changing Times: From Home Economics to Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1903-2003. Madison, WI: Parallel Press, University of Wisconsin–Madison Libraries, 2003.
“A Brief History.” J.F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, n.d.
Powers, Richard. The First 75 Years: Agricultural Journalism Department at UW–Madison. 1983.
Kauffman, Robert G. “An 85-Year History of the Meat Science and Muscle Biology Program,” May 2012.
Bray, Robert W, and Robert G Kauffman. History of the Meat Science & Muscle Biology Programs, 1927-1999. Madison, WI, 1999.
“Wisconsin Meat Industry Hall of Fame.” WI Meat Industry Hall of Fame, 2020.
“History of the Department of Nutritional Sciences.” Nutritional Sciences. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, n.d.
Walker, J. C. History of Plant Pathology at University of Wisconsin 1851-1964, n.d.
Williams, Paul H., and Melissa Marosy, eds. With One Foot in the Furrow: A History of the First Seventy-Five Years of the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co., 1986.
Andrews, John H, Paul H Williams, and Melissa Marosy, eds. And One Hand on the Bench: the First Century of the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Madison, WI: Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, 2010.
“History.” Department of Plant Pathology, n.d.
Sunde, Milt. UW Poultry 1909-1996, n.d.
“The Renk Agribusiness Institute.” Renk Agribusiness Institute. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, n.d.
Beatty, Marvin T. Soil Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison: A History of the Department, 1889-1989. Madison, WI: Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1991.
“History.” School of Veterinary Medicine, n.d.
“History.” Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, n.d.
Glover, Wilbur H. Farm and College; the College of Agriculture of the University of Wisconsin, a History. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1952.
Jenkins, John W. A Centennial History : a History of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Madison, WI: College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1991.
Gard, Robert E. University, Madison U.S.A. Madison,WI: Wisconsin House, 1970.
The Jubilee of the University of Wisconsin 1904. Madison, WI: The Jubilee Committee, 1905.
University of Wisconsin–Madison. A Resourceful University : the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Its 125th Year. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1975.
Curti, Merle E., Vernon Carstensen, Edmund D. Cronon, and John W. Jenkins. The University of Wisconsin : a History. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1949-1999.
Kelman, Arthur. Contributions of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station to Crop Production. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, Department of Plant Pathology, 1983.
Powers, Richard D. Wisconsin’s Agricultural Experiment Station : 100 Years of Research. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin–Madison, College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, 1983.
Moore, James G. Agriculture in the University of Wisconsin. 1955.
Gathered by Durward Long. [Decennial Reports by Campus Departments for North Central Association Review], 1968.
Alexander, A. S. William Arnon Henry: Educator, Seer, Farm Leader. Madison, WI: Extension Service of College of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1934.
Baldwin, Ira L. My Half Century at the University of Wisconsin. Madison, WI: Ira L. Baldwin, 1995.
Beardsley, Edward H. Harry L. Russell and Agricultural Science in Wisconsin. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1969.
Schmeckebier, Lawrence E. John Steuart Curry’s Pageant of America. American Artists Group, 1943.