Knapp, Seaman Ashahel, 1833-1911

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Seaman A. Knapp, a native of New York, attended the Troy Conference Academy (Green Mountain College) at Poultney, Vermont, where he met his wife, Maria Elizabeth Hotchkiss. He graduated from Union College in 1856 and after his marriage, he and his wife taught at Fort Edward Collegiate Institute. Mr. Knapp then became Vice President (1856-1863) at Fort Edward and then Assistant Manager (1864-1865) of the Ripley Female College. In 1866, Knapp and his family came to Iowa, where he served as a Methodist pastor, Head of the Iowa College for the Blind, and as an editor of an agricultural newspaper. He was then appointed as Head (1879) of the agriculture program at Iowa State Agricultural College (Iowa State University) where he developed the curriculum and conducted experiments, and also served as the institution's second President (1883-1884). After leaving Iowa, Knapp had a distinguished career in agriculture. He is buried in the Iowa State University cemetery.

From the description of Papers, 1867-2003. (Iowa State University). WorldCat record id: 53446979

Agriculturist. Born in 1833 in New York. Attended Poultney Academy and Union College (1856). Taught at Fort Edward Institute and later founded Ripley Female College in Poultney, Vermont (1863). In 1866, he moved to Iowa to farm. In 1879, he was appointed Professor of Practical and Experimental Agriculture at Iowa State Agricultural College and held this post until 1885 when he moved to Louisiana, where he became active in rice farming and served as the first president of the Rice Grower's Association. In 1897, he began working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, taking charge of the Demonstration farms in the South, and was active in the formation of the Agricultural Extension Service. Knapp married Maria Hotchkiss in 1856 and they had three sons and two daughters. One son, Bradford, served as president of Texas Technological College from 1932-1938. Seaman Knapp died in 1911.

From the description of Papers, 1869-1931, 1892-1912. (Texas Tech University). WorldCat record id: 24324167

Known as the Father of Agricultural Extension for his work with farm demonstration projects in the South. Primarily responsible for the success of rice production in Louisiana.

From the description of Seaman A. Knapp collection, 1851-1976. (McNeese State University). WorldCat record id: 37497659

Seaman Knapp was born December 16, 1833, in Essex County, New York, and attended Poultney Academy and Union College, from which he graduated in 1856. He taught at Fort Edward Institute and later founded the Ripley Female College in Poultney, Vermont (1863). In 1866, he moved to Iowa to farm. In 1879, Knapp was appointed Professor of Practical and Experimental Agriculture at Iowa State Agricultural College and held that post until 1885, when he moved to Louisiana. There he became active in rice farming and served as the first president of the Rice Growers' Association. In 1897 he began working for the U. S. Department of Agriculture, taking charge of the demonstration farms in the South, and was active in the formation of the Agricultural Extension Service. Knapp married Maria Hotchkiss in 1856, and they had three sons and two daughters. One son, Bradford Knapp, served as president of Texas Technological College from 1932 to 1938. Seaman Knapp died on April 1, 1911.

The Handbook of Texas has published a more in-depth online biography of Seaman A. Knapp at http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/KK/fkn2.html

From the guide to the Seaman Asahel Knapp Papers, S 549. 1., 1856-1931 and undated, (Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, Texas Tech University)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Seaman Asahel Knapp Papers, S 549. 1., 1856-1931 and undated Southwest Collection/Special Collections Libary, Texas Tech University
creatorOf Seaman Asahel Knapp Papers, S 549. 1., 1856-1931 and undated Southwest Collection/Special Collections Libary, Texas Tech University
creatorOf Knapp, Seaman Asahel, 1833-1911. Papers, 1869-1931, 1892-1912. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Bradford Knapp, Papers, U 243. 1., 1891-1940 and undated Southwest Collection/Special Collections Libary, Texas Tech University
creatorOf Knapp, Seaman Ashahel, 1833-1911. Papers, 1867-2003. Iowa State University, Parks Library
creatorOf Knapp, Seaman Ashahel, 1833-1911. Seaman A. Knapp collection, 1851-1976. McNeese State University, Lether E. Frazar Memorial Library
creatorOf Clemson University. Office of the President. W.M. Riggs Presidential Records. 1907-1925 : 1910-1924. Clemson University Libraries, Robert Muldrow Cooper Library
creatorOf Lever, Frank. Knapp biography series. 1908-1940. 1939. Clemson University Libraries, Robert Muldrow Cooper Library
referencedIn Iowa State University. Office of the President. Records, 1868-[ongoing] Iowa State University, Parks Library
referencedIn Seaman A. Knapp collection, 1902-1957. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Penn School Papers, 1862-2004 and undated (bulk 1862-1978) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Bentley, W. D. (Walter Dimmitt), 1856-1930. Papers, ca. 1909-1920. Oklahoma State University Library, Edmon Low Library
referencedIn Knapp, Bradford, 1870-1938. Papers, 1891-1940. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Millet, Donald J., 1914-. Dr. Donald J. Millet Collection. McNeese State University, Lether E. Frazar Memorial Library
referencedIn Robert C. Ogden Papers, 1843-1913, (bulk 1890-1913) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bentley, W. D. (Walter Dimmitt), 1856-1930. person
associatedWith Clemson University. Office of the President. corporateBody
associatedWith El Bernardez Industrial Corporation (Zacatecas, Mexico) corporateBody
associatedWith Houston, David F. person
associatedWith Iowa Agricultural College corporateBody
associatedWith Iowa State College corporateBody
associatedWith Iowa State University corporateBody
associatedWith Iowa State University. Office of the President. corporateBody
associatedWith Knapp, Bradford, 1870-1938 person
associatedWith Knapp family. family
associatedWith Knapp School (Tenn.) corporateBody
associatedWith Knapp, Seaman Asahel person
associatedWith Lever, Frank. person
associatedWith Millet, Donald J., 1914- person
associatedWith North Galveston Improvement Company (Galveston, Tex.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Ogden, Robert C. (Robert Curtis), 1836-1913 person
associatedWith Page, Walter H. person
associatedWith Penn School (Saint Helena Island, S.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Stockwell, Fred. person
associatedWith Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930 person
associatedWith United States. Federal Extension Service corporateBody
associatedWith Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915 person
associatedWith Wilson, James. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Louisiana (Tex.)
Louisiana
United States
Southern States
Louisiana
United States
Denny (Tex.)
Galveston (Tex.)
Subject
Agricultural education
Agricultural extension work
Agricultural extension work
Agricultural extension work
Agricultural extension work
Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture teachers
Agriculturists
Agriculturists
Boll weevil
Rice
Rice
Rice trade
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1833-12-16

Death 1911-04-01

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