Emory Delmont Alvord (March 25, 1899 – May 6, 1959) was an American missionary and agriculturalist. Known for his missionary work in Rhodesia, Alvord's demonstrative methods are credited with revolutionising African agriculture.
Alvord was born in Utah on March 25, 1899. He studied for a Master of Science degree in agriculture at Washington State College and after graduation worked as a teacher, specialising in agricultural science after 1913.[1][2] He joined the US Department of Agriculture's Extension Service in 1919. The same year he volunteered to serve as a missionary with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) and was sent to the Mount Selinda mission in Chipinge DistrictRhodesia as an agriculturalist.[1] At Mount Selinda he taught modern agricultural techniques to Africans and introduced terrace farming as a means of preserving soil cover to hillside plots.[3][4] Some of the European settlers disagreed with Alvord's teachings as they enabled the African population to earn money from cash crops.[4] In 1920 he was asked to help draw up plans for a new state-run agricultural school at Domboshawa.[2] As well as establishing the school Alvord spent some time there training the staff and teaching students about legumes, crop rotation, ploughing, fertilising and row planting.[5]
Alvord's teaching methods, based upon demonstration, were well regarded by the new South Rhodesian state, which sought to increase the output of African-run farms, and in 1926 he was appointed the government's Agriculturalist for the Instruction of Natives.[6][3] His schools taught Africans modern techniques of irrigation, stock management, soil conservation, village planning and sanitation.[5] There is an often disputed claim that he was the first to introduce the plough to Melsetter District.[4]
In 1944 Alvord became Director of the Department of Native Agriculture.[3] Through this position he was able to implement his demonstrative method throughout the country and promote the centralisation of arable and grazing areas.[2][6] His influence is regarded as having revolutionised African agriculture.[7] He was recognised by the British state, who appointed him an officer of the Order of the British Empire on June 10, 1948.[8] He retired from government service in 1950 and returned to missionary work with the ABCFM, serving as principal of the Alvord Agricultural School until 1954. From 1954 he was principal of Marandellas School of Agriculture of the Methodist Mission. Alvord died in Southern Rhodesia (then part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland) on May 6, 1959.[3]
^ abShavit, David (1989). The United States in Africa – A Historical Dictionary. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 6. ISBN0-313-25887-2.
^ abcGann, L.H.; Duignan, Peter (1975). Colonialism in Africa 1870–1960. Vol. 4: The Economics of Colonialism. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 339. ISBN0-521-08641-8.
^ abcdShavit, David (1989). The United States in Africa – A Historical Dictionary. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 7. ISBN0-313-25887-2.
^ abcKillian, Larita (2010). Zimbabwe Bound: A Woman's Journey Through Africa. Indianapolis: University of Indianapolis Press. p. 105. ISBN978-1-880938-76-8.
^ abGann, L.H.; Duignan, Peter (1975). Colonialism in Africa 1870–1960. Vol. 4: The Economics of Colonialism. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 340. ISBN0-521-08641-8.
^ abHodge, Joseph M.; Hodel, Gerald; Kopf, Martina (2014). Developing Africa: Concepts and Practices in Twentieth-Century Colonialism. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press. p. 176. ISBN978-0-7190-9180-3.
^Clendenan, Clarence; Collins, Robert; Duignan, Peter (1966). Americans in Africa 1865–1900. Leland Stanford Junior University. p. 114.
emory, alvord, emory, delmont, alvord, march, 1899, 1959, american, missionary, agriculturalist, known, missionary, work, rhodesia, alvord, demonstrative, methods, credited, with, revolutionising, african, agriculture, born, 1899, march, 1899utah, diedmay, 195. Emory Delmont Alvord March 25 1899 May 6 1959 was an American missionary and agriculturalist Known for his missionary work in Rhodesia Alvord s demonstrative methods are credited with revolutionising African agriculture Emory AlvordBorn 1899 03 25 March 25 1899Utah U S DiedMay 6 1959 1959 05 06 aged 60 Southern Rhodesia Federation of Rhodesia and NyasalandAlma materWashington State CollegeAwardsOfficer of the Order of the British EmpireScientific careerFieldsAgricultural ScienceBiography editAlvord was born in Utah on March 25 1899 He studied for a Master of Science degree in agriculture at Washington State College and after graduation worked as a teacher specialising in agricultural science after 1913 1 2 He joined the US Department of Agriculture s Extension Service in 1919 The same year he volunteered to serve as a missionary with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions ABCFM and was sent to the Mount Selinda mission in Chipinge District Rhodesia as an agriculturalist 1 At Mount Selinda he taught modern agricultural techniques to Africans and introduced terrace farming as a means of preserving soil cover to hillside plots 3 4 Some of the European settlers disagreed with Alvord s teachings as they enabled the African population to earn money from cash crops 4 In 1920 he was asked to help draw up plans for a new state run agricultural school at Domboshawa 2 As well as establishing the school Alvord spent some time there training the staff and teaching students about legumes crop rotation ploughing fertilising and row planting 5 Alvord s teaching methods based upon demonstration were well regarded by the new South Rhodesian state which sought to increase the output of African run farms and in 1926 he was appointed the government s Agriculturalist for the Instruction of Natives 6 3 His schools taught Africans modern techniques of irrigation stock management soil conservation village planning and sanitation 5 There is an often disputed claim that he was the first to introduce the plough to Melsetter District 4 In 1944 Alvord became Director of the Department of Native Agriculture 3 Through this position he was able to implement his demonstrative method throughout the country and promote the centralisation of arable and grazing areas 2 6 His influence is regarded as having revolutionised African agriculture 7 He was recognised by the British state who appointed him an officer of the Order of the British Empire on June 10 1948 8 He retired from government service in 1950 and returned to missionary work with the ABCFM serving as principal of the Alvord Agricultural School until 1954 From 1954 he was principal of Marandellas School of Agriculture of the Methodist Mission Alvord died in Southern Rhodesia then part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland on May 6 1959 3 Head coaching record editYear Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl playoffsWashington State Independent 1918 1918 Washington State 1 1Washington State 1 1Total 1 1References edit a b Shavit David 1989 The United States in Africa A Historical Dictionary Westport Connecticut Greenwood Press p 6 ISBN 0 313 25887 2 a b c Gann L H Duignan Peter 1975 Colonialism in Africa 1870 1960 Vol 4 The Economics of Colonialism Cambridge UK Cambridge University Press p 339 ISBN 0 521 08641 8 a b c d Shavit David 1989 The United States in Africa A Historical Dictionary Westport Connecticut Greenwood Press p 7 ISBN 0 313 25887 2 a b c Killian Larita 2010 Zimbabwe Bound A Woman s Journey Through Africa Indianapolis University of Indianapolis Press p 105 ISBN 978 1 880938 76 8 a b Gann L H Duignan Peter 1975 Colonialism in Africa 1870 1960 Vol 4 The Economics of Colonialism Cambridge UK Cambridge University Press p 340 ISBN 0 521 08641 8 a b Hodge Joseph M Hodel Gerald Kopf Martina 2014 Developing Africa Concepts and Practices in Twentieth Century Colonialism Manchester UK Manchester University Press p 176 ISBN 978 0 7190 9180 3 Clendenan Clarence Collins Robert Duignan Peter 1966 Americans in Africa 1865 1900 Leland Stanford Junior University p 114 No 38311 The London Gazette June 10 1948 p 3384 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Emory Alvord amp oldid 1166922881, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
