Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the George W. Litton Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: George W. Litton Papers, Ms1981-099, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The collection was acquired by Virginia Tech Special Collections in 1981.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the George W. Litton Papers was completed in May 2013.

Biographical Note

George Washington Litton was born in Lee County, VA on February 22, 1910. He married Maria Boren and had two children. From 1927-1931 he studied at V.P.I. and graduated in 1931 with a B.S. in Animal Husbandry. After graduating from V.P.I, Litton worked as a County Agent in Tazwell County from 1933 to 1939. He returned to V.P.I for graduate work and earned his M.S. in 1940, whereupon Litton joined the Animal Husbandry faculty at V.P.I. In 1942, Litton was named V.P.I.'s 1st Extension Sheep Specialist and held that position until 1952, at which time he became the head of the Department of Animal Husbandry. From 1952-1970 Litton served as head of the Department of Animal Husbandry. He stepped down as department head on March 1, 1970, but held the position of Director of Centennial Programs for the V.P.I. Centennial Celebration in 1972. Litton also served as Co-chair of the of the Bicentennial Commission for Montgomery County in 1976.

Throughout his career, Litton received several awards and recognitions for his work at V.P.I. and in the field of Animal Husbandry. These awards included:

Scope and Content Note

The collection contains the papers of George W. Litton, professor of Animal Husbandry at V.P.I. from 1940 to 1970. These papers date from 1927 to 1983 and include poetry, essays, V.P.I.'s Agricultural Extension station reports, notes, lecture material, publications, personal and professional correspondence, photographs from Litton's portrait hanging, and bound compilations like "Foolishness, Poems, and Philosophy" that function similarly to commonplace books. Many of the writings relate to Litton's career in Animal Science and Animal Husbandry and include such topics as animal husbandry (sheep, cattle, pigs), animal nutrition, and the agricultural profession.

The papers in this collection were bound in volumes previous to their donation, presumably by Litton. The materials within each bound volume exhibit no clear chronological or thematic order. Additionally, items from one previously bound book often correspond with the papers in another, with numerous article or publication drafts appearing in multiple volumes within this collection.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the original order in which it was received.

Index Terms

Subjects:

• Faculty
• Science and Technology
• University Archives
• University History
• Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute