Soil Erosion and Conservation on the Southern Plains - Edmon Low Library

About the Collection

The Soil Erosion and Conservation on the Southern Plains Collection documents the environmental devastation of the Dust Bowl and the early conservation efforts that followed. Drawn from more than 500 glass lantern slides created by Soil Conservation Service agents during the 1930s, the images capture severe erosion across the southern Great Plains as well as the gradual adoption of new farming practices designed to reduce soil loss. The collection illustrates the transition from documenting ecological damage to showcasing improvements such as contour plowing, terracing, and wind-erosion controls, offering a powerful visual record of one of the nation’s most significant environmental crises and the federal response that reshaped agricultural land management.

Access the Physical Collection

Materials from this collection are available in Special Collections and University Archives. For assistance or to request archival materials, contact (405) 744-6311 or libscua@okstate.edu.