Stemmons, Walter, 1884-

Agricultural editor at Connecticut Agricultural College; later became director of the Division of Publications and University Editor until his retirement in 1954. For additional information on Walter Stemmons, see Six Speeches of Walter Stemmons, College and University Editor, 1918-1954, selected and edited by James H. Barnett, University of CT Publications Series, 1971.

Walter Stemmons (1884-1965) became Agricultural Editor at the Connecticut Agricultural College in 1918. The scope of his official responsibilities expanded rapidly as the college grew into a state university. He was director of the Division of Publications and University Editor until he retired in 1954.

Mr. Stemmons came to Storrs from the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College where he had occupied a similar post. His formal education and professional background were acquired chiefly in Missouri and he was one of the first graduates of the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri .

As Agricultural Editor, Stemmons was responsible for editing the college catalog, Experiment Station Bulletins, and the numerous pamphlets and other material of the Agricultural Extension Service. In addition, Stemmons gradually acquired chief responsibility for writing and arranging publication of news releases from the college.

Walter Stemmons came to Connecticut when the then Connecticut Agricultural College had an enrollment of two hundred students. In addition to his editorial duties over the years, he was a faculty advisor to many student organizations, including the Connecticut Campus, the Nutmeg, the Mediator, and the Husky Network .

For thirty years, Stemmons taught a course on news writing at the University and a number of his students entered the field of journalism as a direct result of his teaching.

When instructed by the Board of Trustees to write a history of the college, Stemmons accepted the task and, after several years of intensive effort, turned out Connecticut Agricultural College - A History .

Towards the close of his career at Storrs, Stemmons worked on the preparation of a second volume dealing with the history of the institution, and wrote several chapters which described developments of the college during the 1930s and 1940s, but left this material in incomplete form.

For additional information on Walter Stemmons, see Six Speeches of Walter Stemmons, College and University Editor, 1918-1954, selected and edited by James H. Barnett, University of CT Publications Series, 1971.