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DR. LUTHER NOBLE DUNCAN (1875-1947)
Director, Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Pioneer of the (Boys) Corn Club today known as 4-H
Luther Noble Duncan was one of the pioneers of Extension work in Alabama. His work and dedication to excellence left an indelible mark on Extension, as is evidenced by the building which bears his name. Duncan Hall houses the offices of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System on the Auburn University campus.
Duncan was born on October 14, 1875 in Russellville, Alabama. His preparation for Extension work began with hard work on his father's farm in Franklin County and continued when, in 1896, he boarded a train enroute to a college career at Auburn. He received a bachelor's degree in the spring of 1900 and became a teacher at the agricultural schools in Wetumpka, Jackson and Athens.
In 1904, Duncan moved back to Auburn, where he was an agricultural instructor and research worker for four years. In 1909, he attended a meeting of agriculture workers in Atlanta at which gathering the idea of extension work began to germinate. Duncan was keenly interested in defining the role of Extension. Because he had spent several summers conducting institutes among farmers throughout the state of Alabama, Duncan was chosen to head the nation's first coopeative state club. Two years later, he sponsored legislation that created the State Board of Agriculture with funding for county agency work and an additional amount for Extension work. He remained in that position utnil 1920 when he ws named director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service.
Extension grew and thrived under Duncan's direction. His 17 years of leadership brought about many changes and improvements and in 1937, he achieved an even higher honor, being named president of Auburn University. He held that position until his death on July 26, 1947.
Click the following links below for more information about Dr. Luther Duncan:
History of Duncan Hall named after Dr. Luther Duncan
History of Dr. Duncan's Presidency
Auburn University President's Homepage
Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia
YouTube: Lecture Topic-"Cooperative Extension, The Farm Bureau and Luther Duncan 1914-1947"
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A FAMILY HOME
A History of the President's Mansion at Auburn University(available at Auburn University bookstore)
Nell Richardson, Auburn's first lady during the presidency of her husband, Dr. Ed Richardson, has written a graceful and affectionate history of Auburn University's President's home from its construction as WPA project on "Ag Hill" in 1938 to her own tenure as the University's first lady from early 2004 until the summer of 2007.
Mrs. Richardson has researched the Auburn records and set out to contact as many members of the families who have lived in the home as possible, from the Luther Duncan family that took up residence in 1939 to her own Richardsons, the 17th family to make the mansion their home. |
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Dedication of Alabama Cooperative Extension Service building (Duncan Hall) in 1929, Dr. Luther Duncan speaking.
Seat behind Dr. Duncan are:(left to right) Dr. F.W. Barnett, Edward Oneal, Mrs. W.F. Jefferson, Mrs. L.W. Spratling, Mrs. L.N. Duncan and Dr. Bradford Knapp
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