Department History
Contributors: Cora McCann and others
INTRODUCTION
Records portraying evolution of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Department of Agricultural Engineering began in 1916. This historical
account is an effort to record major events pertaining to formation and
growth of the Department. To enhance understanding of the evolutionary
process, and to facilitate later inclusion of inadvertently omitted items,
events are arranged chronologically. Sources of information include:
- University Announcements, from Special Collections section of the
Main Library;
- Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletins and Agricultural Extension
Service Annual Reports in the Agriculture-Veterinary Medicine Library;
- Departmental files;
- Agricultural Engineering Journals; and
- Personal contact.
Unless otherwise stated, dates and events pertaining to curricula were
obtained from University Announcements.
CHRONOLOGY
1916
According to the June 8, 1967 edition of the Knoxville News-Sentinel,
Mr. Tom H. Troxel, a Scott County surveyor, scholar, and 5/8th AsQuaw
Indian, spent four years at UT studying agricultural engineering before
World War I. However, University Announcements, which listed names of
all students in those years, did not include that name.
Statement under RURAL ENGINEERING in 1916-17 Announcements: "The
courses outlined below are given in the Engineering Department but are
planned to meet the needs of students in agriculture. They are elective
in the Junior and Senior year." (5) Forging, (6) Woodworking, (7)
Land Surveying, (8) Farm Mechanics (the application of engineering to
farm life. The course includes study of the steam engine and boiler,
gasoline engines, the transmission of power, development of small water
power, means of securing running water for the house, electric lighting,
house-wiring, dynamos, sanitation).
Agricultural Surveying offered in Civil Engineering.
1917
RURAL ENGINEERING not one of 4 Engineering Departments listed.
College of Agriculture listed Engineering electives as: Farm Mechanics,
Forge Shop, Surveying, and Wood Shop.
1918
RURAL ENGINEERING appeared as in 1916.
Surveying and Farm Mechanics required in College of Agriculture (Agricultural
Education and Horticulture).
1919
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
"This group is not offered in 1920-21."
1923
(Same as 1919).
1924
1. Under RURAL ENGINEERING
Professor ------.
Course listing similar to traditional: Elementary Surveying, Forge and
Wood Shop, Farm Structures, Concrete Construction, Land Drainage and Surveying,
Farm Power Engineering.
2. In College of Agriculture:
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
Not offered, 1925-26
1925-26
First reference to Agricultural Engineering as a Department of Instruction
in The University of Tennessee Register (Catalog)
One Agricultural Engineering freshman in College of Engineering.
1926
1. In College of Agriculture:
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
See Engineering curricula.
2. College of Engineering
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
Instructor: Frank D. Jones, B.S. in A.
The College of Engineering, cooperating with the College of Agriculture,
offers a four-year curriculum leading to the B. S. Degree in Agricultural
Engineering. The curriculum is primarily engineering but contains enough
work in agriculture to give a proper background for the engineers who
wish to do their work in rural communities. Laboratories and shops are
equipped to give instruction of special value to students registered for
Agricultural Engineering and also to other students of Agriculture who
may elect courses in Agricultural Engineering.
1927
Harold A. Arnold, B.S., Instructor in Agricultural Engineering
1928
In The Univ. of Tenn. Agricultural Experiment Sta. Annual Reports: "Pulverizing
Limestone on the Farm." F. D. Jones. Tests conducted by the Engineering
Experiment Station in cooperation with the Agricultural Experiment Station.
1931
One Agricultural Engineering freshman in College of Engineering.
1932
One Agricultural Engineering freshman in College of Engineering.
1933
One Agricultural Engineering sophomore in College of Engineering.
1935
Andy T. Hendrix, B.S., M.S., Asst. Prof. of Agricultural Engineering
(College of Engineering).
Twelve courses listed in Announcements.
Agricultural Extension Service Annual Report shows Rural Engineering
Department.
- Report by G. E. Martin, Extension Agricultural Engineer, on erosion
control and rural electrification.
- Report by Max H. Falkner, Architect, on relocation service for families
in the Norris Dam area.
1936
James C. Hundley listed (named) as junior in Agricultural Engineering.
Freshmen were: Barry R. Cecil, John E. Martin, George R. Woodruff.
1937
Marlay A. Sharp, B.S., M.S., Head of Department.
Faculty: Andy T. Hendrix, B.S.M.E., B.S.E.E., M.S.M.E.; Earle K. Rambo.
James C. Hundley awarded B.S. Degree in Agricultural Engineering.
Agricultural Engineering courses taught in Morgan Hall.
Three-story frame dairy barn
constructed in 1899 converted to house Agricultural Engineering Department
(located about 50 feet north of present office complex).
In Agricultural Extension Service Annual Report:
- G. E. Martin - Rural Engineering - Tenn. Agri. Ext. Service.
- M. T. Gowder - Mechanical Erosion Control - Tenn. Agri. Ext. Service,
TVA.
- M. M. Johns - Rural Electrification - Tenn. Agri. Ext. Service, TVA.
Rural Engineering Extension moved from house on "Hill" to trailer
near Morgan Hall.
1938
Agricultural Engineering appears in College of Agriculture listings.
Graduate courses listed (Research, Special Problems).
RURAL ENGINEERING GROUP [forerunner of Agricultural Mechanization curriculum].
Agricultural Extension Service publications
- Orchard Terracing. M. T. Gowder, Asst. Ext. Rural Engr., W. C. Pelton,
Ext. Hort.
- Running Water in the Farm Home, G. E. Martin.
1939
Department faculty listed in The University of Tennessee Agricultural
Experiment Station - Bulletin No. 170: M. A. Sharp, Agri. Engr.; H. A.
Arnold, Asst. Agri. Engr.; J. C. Cole, Oil Processor; Brantford Elliott,
Asst. in Agri. Engr.; J. E. Jones, Asst. Engr.; A. L. Kennedy, Asst. Agri.
Engr.; J. F. Leahy, Assoc. Engr.; R. A. Southerland, Asst. Chemist; R.
Brooks Taylor, Industrial Engr.
Using WPA labor, construction began on the "New" Agricultural
Engineering Building.
1940
ASAE Student Branch report in Agricultural Engineering Journal.
Graduating students only listed in Announcements.
1941
"New" Agricultural
Engineering Building completed.
Article in Agricultural Engineering Journal: A Simple Dynometer, M.
A. Sharp.
Department and Tennessee Section hosted ASAE National Annual Meeting.
1942
Harold A. Arnold and Marlay A. Sharp developed a new castor bean huller
that could speed up production of castor oil, needed as a lubricant for
aircraft engines, hydraulic brakes, shock absorbers, and other mechanisms.
This discovery aided America and her allies during World War II. Agricultural
Experiment Station Bulletin No. 179, A New Castor-Bean Sheller by H. A.
Arnold and M. A. Sharp gave published results of this research.
1946
Machinery Building, one story frame structure, located about 50 feet
northeast of present office complex, constructed from dismantled World
War II military building.
1947
101 students in Agricultural Engineering.
1948
TVA constructed Quonset Building (at southeast corner of current parking
lot 67) and leased it to the University for three years, after which
the University gained ownership of the building and equipment for Agricultural
Engineering research only.
1950
Mechanized Agriculture replaced Rural Engineering.
1951
Faculty: Marlay A. Sharp, Head; H. A. Arnold; A. L. Kennedy; J. B. Liljedahl;
E. J. Matthews; A. H. Morgan; W. C. Wheeler
James L. Butler, Willis E. Huston, and Herbert D. Sullivan awarded M.S.
Degree in Agricultural Engineering.
1957
Dr. C. W. Bockhop, Head of Department.
Teaching and research faculty: H. A. Arnold, D. O. Baxter, E. K. Boyce,
A. L. Kennedy, A. H. Morgan, M. A. Sharp (India program), C. H. Shelton,
R. B. Stone (USDA).
Extension faculty: M. T. Gowder, M. H. Falkner, E. B. Hale, D. H. Luttrell.
Hayri Berberoglu of Turkey awarded M.S. Degree in Mechanized Agriculture.
1958
John M. Johnson, Leader of Agricultural Engineering Extension.
1959
Marlay A. Sharp Memorial Student Loan Fund established.
1960
Dr. James H. Anderson, Head of Department.
1962
Dr. John J. McDow, Head of Department.
1964
B.S. Degree in Agricultural Engineering accredited by the Engineers'
Council for Professional Development.
1965
Department heavily involved with Second National Grassland Field Day
and Conference at the Middle Tennessee Experiment Station.
1967
Ph.D. Degree in Agricultural Engineering authorized.
1968
Dr. Houston Luttrell, Leader of Agricultural Engineering Extension.
Mechanized Agriculture curriculum changed to Agricultural Mechanization.
197x
The department's first computer, an Electronics Associates, Inc., TR-20
analog computer, purchased for $3500.00.
1972
Ph.D. Degree awarded to Rex D. Haren.
The first direct departmental access to digital computers provided by
a leased teletype terminal and telephone modem located in the Agricultural
Engineering Building. This slow (110 baud) system permitted direct access
to a UTCC computer for programming, data input, and printed output. This
marked the beginning of computer use in undergraduate teaching activities
of the department.
1973
Dr. Houston Luttrell, Head of Department.
1977
Deedie Bise first woman to be awarded B.S. Degree in Agricultural Engineering.
ASAE Student Branch made a "clean sweep" of awards at the annual
Engineers' Day competition among student clubs from all engineering disciplines.
Deedie Bise and Doyle Luttrell won first place in the undergraduate or
small group competition. Joel Walker and Fletcher Armstrong placed first
in the graduate or large group competition. These exhibits, with three
other Student Branch displays, earned the overall Winner's Trophy for
the Department.
1979
Offices and classrooms moved to
"Old" Agricultural Engineering Building,
Morgan Hall, Fiber Lab
and Spinning Lab to prepare for new building construction.
The department purchased its first digital computer, a Charles River
Data Systems MF 11/2, for $8500.
Lawrence D. Gaultney, first son of a UT Agricultural Engineering Department
alumnus (William L. Gaultney, BSAE 1949) received BSAE.
1980
Quonset and Machinery Buildings razed to make space for new Classroom/Laboratory
Building.
A second digital computer, a DEC PDP 11/03, purchased. It became the
heart of an agricultural tractor instrumentation system.
1981
Work completed on new Classroom/Laboratory Building and renovation of
Office Building for a total area of 70,000 square feet.
1982
"Old" Agricultural Engineering Building razed.
College of Agriculture Microcomputer Laboratory established in Room 270,
Agricultural Engineering Laboratory Building.
1983
The College of Agriculture Microcomputer Teaching Laboratory established
in a classroom of the Agricultural Engineering Laboratory Building.
It was initially equipped with seven IBM personal computers.
A word processing system (dedicated computer) purchased ($12,000) for
use by all four secretaries in the department.
1984
Department and Tennessee Section ASAE hosted National Annual Meeting.
A database of departmental alumni started.
1985
Three secretaries in the department provided with IBM/XT computers for
word processing and other secretarial activities. These have since been
upgraded or replaced such that each secretary now has a computer for exclusive
use.
1986
All faculty offices provided with personal computers, IBM PC or PC/XT,
and direct access from the PC's to the UTCC computer systems. These
units, with many capabilities not available on the Original Charles River
system, cost about $2500 each. Continued additions, improvements, and
upgrades have been made since that time.
1988
The transition to semesters resulted in major changes to all academic
programs. In addition, the Agricultural Mechanization undergraduate program
was dropped and the graduate program was renamed Agricultural Engineering
Technology.
1989
The College of Agriculture Microcomputer Laboratory received special
equipment funds for a major upgrade. It was also moved from Room 270
to Room 276, Agricultural Engineering Classroom/Laboratory Building.
1991
Dr. Fred D. Tompkins was appointed Department Head.
A list of the department's faculty and staff in 1991 is here.
1995
Dr. C. Roland Mote was appointed Department Head.
1998
The department's name was changed to Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering to reflect the broader scope of our work.
1999
Dr. Luther Wilhelm was appointed interim head of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering when Roland Mote was
appointed Assistant Dean of The Agricultural Experiment Station.
2000
Dr. Ronald Yoder was appointed Department Head.
2001
The department's name was changed to Biosystems Engineering & Environmental Science to reflect the addition of about a dozen
soil and climatology faculty and staff from the former Plant and Soil Science Department.
Construction was begun adjacent to the laboratory/classroom building on a bridge to link the Agricultural campus with the Main campus, and on
the new Biotech building across the street.
2002
The second floor and basement of the office building were substantially remodeled to provide additional office space to allow faculty to move over from
Ellington hall. Extensive changes were also made to rooms along the central hall in the laboratory/classroom building.
Construction was finished on the bridge.
2004
Dr. D. Raj Raman was appointed interim Department Head.
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