Collection inventory

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Karl C. Leebrick and Carlos C. Carpenter Papers

An inventory of their papers at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Matthew Isom
Date: 2014

Revision history:

Biography

Karl C. Leebrick was born on October 29, 1885 in Burlington, Iowa. He attended the University of California and earned three degrees there, a bachelor's in 1911, a master's in 1913 and a Ph.D. in 1916. Leebrick taught European history at the University of California as a graduate student. He became an authority on Pacific relations because of his work in various countries in Southeast Asia, as well as Japan and China, while he worked on his doctorate. Upon earning his Ph.D., he accepted a position at the University of Hawaii to head the political science and history departments.

From 1928 to 1938, Leebrick was the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Syracuse University, where he greatly influenced the educational standards of the institution. As a professor of international affairs, he helped create stronger international connections to the Pacific for the University. He also took a great interest in community food gardens during the Great Depression, heading a Syracuse Food Committee to help with the impact of unemployment in the city. In 1938, he resigned from Syracuse University to become the president of Kent University. He later became the president of the Maunaolu College in Hawaii in 1953 until his retirement in 1967.

Karl C. Leebrick died on June 13, 1982 in Makawao, Hawaii.

Carlos C. Carpenter was born on October 19, 1885 in Kalona, Iowa. He attended Ottawa University and Kansas Agricultural College before receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from the Colorado Agricultural College in 1914. He taught agricultural education in the public schools of Walla Walla, Washington from 1914 to 1917 and St. Joseph, Missouri in 1917 and 1918.

In 1919, Carpenter came to Syracuse University as a professor of horticulture in the College of Agriculture, covering topics in advanced fields of soils, physiology, genetics and mycology. He earned his master's degree from Syracuse University in 1923 and retired as professor emeritus in 1935. During and after his time at the University, Carpenter used previous experience with subsistence gardens to help build the ground work for the Syracuse Food Committee.

With this expertise, Carpenter was made Garden Director of the Syracuse Food Committee, supported with a recommendation from Karl C. Leebrick. He later became a director of the State Temporary Emergency Relief Administration and vice-president of the State Rural Rehabilitation Corporation of New York. The work Carpenter put in with subsistence gardens and other agricultural fields during the Great Depression helped alleviate unemployment in Central New York. Those who were unemployed would work on community gardens funded by local individuals, businesses and the government, and were paid an hourly wage and a share of the crop. This created additional produce at a lower cost for the community while giving people the ability to support themselves and their families.

Carlos C. Carpenter died on August 17, 1975 in Syracuse, New York.

Scope and Content Note

The Karl C. Leebrick and Carlos C. Carpenter Papers consist of correspondence, research material, harvest records, community garden bulletins and newspaper clippings about their work on the Syracuse subsistence gardens committee during the Great Depression. Leebrick was elected as the Chairman of the General Committee and Carpenter as the Garden Director. The correspondence includes letters to and from Leebrick and Carpenter pertaining to the operations of the subsistence gardens.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

The Archives holds clipping files and portrait files on Karl C. Leebrick and Carlos C. Carpenter.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Carpenter, Carlos C.
Leebrick, Karl C.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Community gardens.
Syracuse (N.Y.) -- History.
College teachers.
Higher education.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Karl C. Leebrick and Carlos C. Carpenter Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Records show that these materials were given to the University before the creation of the Archives.

Processing Information

Materials were rehoused in acid-free folders and box.

Arrangement

The items are arranged in alphabetical order. Correspondence is arranged chronologically.

Table of Contents

Papers

Inventory