Professional Documents
Culture Documents
RS 2/10
Descriptive summary
title: Papers
dates: 1938-1982, n.d.
extent: 29.9 linear ft. (23 records center boxes, 1 map case folder)
collection
number: RS 2/10
repository: University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State
University Library.
Administrative information
access: Open for research
publication Consult Head, Special Collections Department
rights:
preferred James H. Hilton Papers, RS 2/10, Special Collections Department,
citation: Iowa State University Library.
Biographical note
The only Iowa State graduate to occupy its highest office, Hilton grew up on a farm near
Hickory, N.C., attended North Carolina State College one year; completed his B.S. in
animal husbandry at Iowa State in 1923; his M.S. at the University of Wisconsin in 1937.
He was awarded the D.Sc. degree by Purdue University in 1945.
He was county agent for Greene County, Iowa, from 1923 to 1926, then joined the
Purdue staff. He was put in charge of dairy production teaching and research at Purdue
in 1939, and the following year became assistant chief of the dairy husbandry
department. In 1945, he returned to North Carolina State as head of animal husbandry.
Three years later he was named dean of agriculture, where he served until becoming
Iowa State president (1953-1965).
During his administration, Iowa State experienced the greatest growth in its history.
Enrollment soared from 7,800 to more than 12,400. The "book value" of the physical
plant increased from $38 million to 471 million. The volume of research rose to $20
million annually. Course offering and public service programs were greatly broadened.
In 1959, a year after its centennial, the institution received official recognition of its
status as Iowa State University of Science and Technology. Upon his retirement from
the presidency, Hilton was named Iowa State's first director of development.
Dr. Hilton married Lois Baker and they had three children, Eleanor, Helen and James G.
After her death in 1969, Dr. Hilton married Helen LeBaron, retired Dean of the College
of Home Economics.
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