On May 15, 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed into law the Agricultural Act that established the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since then, the Department has had a rich and varied history. The resources below explore that history, along with the history and organization of USDA's associated agencies and staff offices.
USDA History
| Spotlights |
National Agricultural Library Timeline
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Brief overview of NAL's long history of service to USDA and the general public. Listed items focus on notable firsts and public services and partnerships that continue into the present.
Abraham Lincoln and Agriculture
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Reviews Lincoln's early years as a farmer and his significant impact on U.S. agriculture, including the establishment of the USDA and the beginnings of the National Agricultural Library. Also includes various full text documents and agricultural Acts from the 1860s.
USDA Census of Agriculture Historical Archive
United States Department of Agriculture.
A collaborative project between USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and the Albert R. Mann Library at Cornell University, this archive currently contains Census of Agriculture information from 1925 through 1987, with information back to 1840 to be added. A list of past Census years and links to their data are on the NASS Historical Census Publications page.
150 Years of USDA Photo Set
United States Department of Agriculture.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was established on May 15, 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln. In 2012, USDA celebrates its 150th anniversary. This is a pictorial representation of 150 years of service by USDA to the American public.
Farm Security Administration Photographs
New York Public Library.
View historical images taken for USDA's Farm Security Administration (FSA) during the Great Depression. Hosted by the New York Public Library, this collection includes images by photographers like Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, and Gordon Parks that are not in the Library of Congress collection of FSA photographs.
Century of Service: the first 100 years of the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture Centennial Committee.
Relates the creation of USDA and its work during the first 100 years of its existence. Includes descriptions of the component parts of USDA as of March 30, 1962, as well as brief biographies of the Commissioners, Secretaries, Under Secretaries, and Assistant Secretaries of Agriculture from 1862 to 1961.
USDA History Collection
USDA. NAL. Special Collections.
Guide to a collection of manuscript material relating to the 150-year history of the USDA.
Former Secretaries of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture.
Provides brief biographical sketches and photos of all former Secretaries of Agriculture.
U.S. Forest Service History
Forest History Society.
A history of the U.S. Forest Service of the USDA from 1905 to present. Includes original documents, laws and regulations, and photographs.
USDA 150th anniversary commemorative note cards
USDA. NAL. Special Collections.
Celebrate the 150th anniversary of USDA with commemorative note cards. Featuring black-and-white or colored photographic images of historic USDA buildings and grounds, these cards will add vintage flair to your handwritten notes.
History of the Natural Resources Conservation Service
USDA. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Features various resources addressing the rich history of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, including the agency history, biographical information, and relevant articles.
U.S. Forest Service History
Forest History Society.
A history of the U.S. Forest Service of the USDA from 1905 to present. Includes original documents, laws and regulations, and photographs.
Agricultural Research Service Historical Timeline
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
A summary of historical research carried out by the scientists of the USDA and the Agricultural Research Service from the 1860s to the present.
Celebrating 100 Years of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA)
USDA. Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Resources related to the USDA's celebration of 100 years of food safety.
Agricultural Research Service Science Hall of Fame
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Browse the list of men and women who have been inducted into the ARS Science Hall of Fame. These inductees have made a significant impact on the world of agricultural research.
United States Experiment Station Publications
University of North Texas Libraries.
Full text digitized publications of the United States Department of Agriculture's Office of Experiment Stations from 1889 to 1941.
Screwworm Eradication Program Records
USDA. NAL. Special Collections.
Guide to collections pertaining to the USDA-led eradication of the screwworm from the United States, Mexico, and most of Central America.
Smokey Bear Collection
USDA. NAL. Special Collections.
Guide to a collection of original paintings, reproduction posters, color proofs, printed material, photographs, film clips, and three dimensional memorabilia relating to the U.S. Forest Service's fire prevention bear.
About NASS: History and Procedures
USDA. National Agricultural Statistics Service.
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) presents information about the history of agricultural statistics and agricultural estimates in the U.S. in the "History and Procedures" section of the page. Linked resources include a timeline, a video, and historical information about the founding and evolution of NASS.