National Farmers Organization records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MS-0481

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection contains articles of incorporation, by-laws, administrative and subject files (including information on holding actions), convention materials, financial and tax information, publications and brochures, news clippings and press releases, commodity contracts, legal files, and FBI files about the NFO.

Publications by the NFO can also be found by searching the library's catalog. In addition to editions found in the collection, the NFO's newsletter, The NFO Reporter, can be found under call no. HD1751 N213 and News, Facts, Outlooks under call no. HD1485 N38 N49x.

The Special Collections Department also holds NFO audiotapes and films. For additional information about these audiovisual holdings, please see Series 1.

Dates

Creation: 1955-2001, undated

Creator

National Farmers Organization (U.S.) (Organization)

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Open for research.

Use/Re-use Restrictions

Consult Special Collections and University Archives

Biography/Profile

The National Farmers Organization (NFO) was founded in 1955 to combat low prices farmers received from food processors. The NFO argued that farmers made up nine percent of the nation's population but only earned four percent of its income. The original headquarters of the NFO was located in Corning, Iowa.

The early history of the NFO was marked by radicalism. Farmers organized withholding actions to increase prices, then staged boycotts and protests that included the slaughter of livestock and property damage. The violent aspects of the organization's activities receded by 1979, when its focus turned to collective bargaining for better prices. The NFO, which now has its headquarters in Ames, Iowa, is organized on county, Congressional district, state, and national levels.

Extent

18.16 Linear Feet (13 records center cartons, 3 document boxes)

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is not arranged. Films are separated into Series 1.

Copies

Digital reproductions of a selection of films from the National Farmers Organization records are available electronically. Please see the Electronic Resources section in Series 1 for a link.

Items in related collections

MS-0258. Vincent E. Rossiter, Sr. papers, 1927-1991, undated MS-0588. Charles Walters papers, 1937-2003, undated

Related collection materials

Related materials may be found in MS 660 Phil Allen - NFO Broadcast Tapes.

The rare books collection in Special Collections also contains books about the NFO as well as NFO publications; these materials may be found by searching the library catalog.