John G. Alphin Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss-0363
Material in this collection document Alphin’s research in agricultural mechanization, especially in the areas of tobacco curing and harvesting. The files in the collection date from 1836 to 2009 with most of the material created between 1965 and 1997. Each series has its own arrangement; in all series films, photographs and slides are listed at the end of the other files in the same arrangement as the series as a whole.
The files in the Professional series document the results of his and students’ research, his duties as a faculty member at Clemson University, his involvement in professional organizations, and his relationship to sponsors of his research such as tobacco companies and the South Carolina Tobacco Foundation. The series contains numerous presentations and research papers delivered at the American Society of Agricultural Engineers and the Tobacco Workers’ Conferences. There is also information relating to tobacco research and the tobacco industry in general. This series contains material dating from 1879-2006 with the majority of the material dating from 1963 to 1996. It is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
The Research series contains data gathered by Alphin and his students for their research projects as well as other material relating to them. Areas of research interest include electric light insect traps, low-profile once-over tobacco harvesting, the use of alternative fuels and computer control in tobacco curing, “big box” tobacco curing, and alternative uses for curing barns. These files date from 1962-2009 although there is very little material after 1996. Material in this series is arranged chronologically and then alphabetically by folder title within each year.
The files in the Patent series document the design, development, patenting, marketing, and publicity for two once-over low-profile harvesters co-invented by Alphin and John B. Pitner and Frank C. Patten, respectively. The series also contains material relating to patent searches and to potential patents such as those for an automatic cordwood burning system and a roll baler. This series contains material dating from 1832-2006 with most of the material dating from 1968-1997. It is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
The Papers are a valuable resource for researching mechanization of agriculture in the 20th century and Clemson University’s role in the process.
This collection is open to the public without restriction.
This collection contains audio-visual material. Please contact Special Collection and Archives (cuscl@clemson.edu, 864.656.3031) for details.
John Gilbert Alphin was born on July 24, 1935 and received his BS (1960), MS (1962), and PhD (1965) degrees in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University. Alphin was engaged in private business from 1955-1956 and carried out engineering work for the Alphin-Cheek Manufacturing Company from 1956-1958. He was a professor of Agricultural (and Biological) Engineering at the Clemson University Pee Dee Research and Education Center from 1965-1997. Alphin conducted tobacco research in eastern South Carolina focusing on the mechanization of tobacco harvesting and tobacco curing, authoring or co-authoring a number of papers on those and related subjects. He also served as a consultant to the tobacco industry. Alphin co-invented (with John B. Pitner and Frank C. Patten, respectively) and patented two once-over low-profile tobacco harvesters—the second being an improvement on the first—in 1972 and 1977. He was a member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) and served on its Special Crops Research and Tobacco Science Research Committees. Alphin was awarded the ASAE Engineering Concept of the Year Award in 1975 and the South Carolina chapter of the ASAE’s Distinguished Engineer Award in 1984. He was also a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Alphin retired from Clemson University in 1997 but continued his tobacco research and consulting. He died on February 14, 2013.
45.5 Cubic Feet
English
The John G. Alphin Papers are a valuable resource for researching mechanization of agriculture in the 20th century and Clemson University’s role in the process. Alphin was a professor of Agricultural (and Biological) Engineering at the Clemson University Pee Dee Research and Education Center from 1965-1997.
The collection contains audio-visual materials, computer programs, correspondence, drawings, experimental data, memorandums, research notes, research papers, reports and other materials that document his professional life as a professor at Clemson and as a tobacco industry consultant, his research on agricultural mechanization especially in the areas of tobacco curing and harvesting, and his design and patenting of two once-over low-profile tobacco harvesters.
By series.
Received from Marguerite R. Alphin in 2015. A2015-003.
Collection processed by James Cross in 2016-2020.
Part of the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository