Papers (1952-1956) consisting of correspondence, reports, photographs, agricultural problems, Iraqi politics, newspapers, clippings, tobacco specialists, photographs.
Charles B. Darden, a tobacco farmer of Ahoskie, North Carolina, spent over four years in Iraq with the U.S. International Cooperative Administration as a Tobacco Specialist (1952-1955); and as an Agricultural Extension Advisor (1955-1956). As a Tobacco Specialist, he acted as Director of the Tobacco Improvement project of the Iraq Tobacco Monopoly in the Ministry of Economics. In addition to formulating policy, he coordinated, supervised, and trained Iraqis in the techniques of production, marketing, and storage of tobacco. In his work as a Agricultural Extension Advisor, Darden advised and assisted the Director of Agriculture in supervising crops and the harvesting, storage, and grading of crops for market.
Correspondence touches upon economic and political factors affecting Iraq, particularly as it involved the Kurdistanese people of the northeastern region of the country. One letter (1953) pertains to citizenship problems of a naturalized U.S. citizen who was involved in shipping airplanes through Egypt to Ethiopia after World War II. Other correspondence is between Darden and Iraqi and U.S. governmental agencies concerning basic agricultural problems and programs. Correspondence is included between the Iraqi government and the Bahnson Company of Winston-Salem, N.C., which was contracted to install humidifying equipment for tobacco storage.
Numerous monthly reports concern agricultural problems resulting in a poor quality of tobacco. Primarily involved are climatic conditions, such as heavy rains and extreme dryness; antiquated planting and growing practices; lack of machinery; and improper storage methods. Reports tell of crushed and broken tobacco, seedbed problems, and the desirability of improving local strains. Other reports reflect Iraqi politics and government during the 1950's. Various programs are suggested to alleviate these problems, including the humidification of tobacco storage houses, the employment of U.S. and Greek tobacco specialists, and the sending of men to the U.S. and Turkey to study agricultural methods.
Also of significance are several newspaper clippings concerning Mr. Darden's work; an Iraqi newspaper; a tourist map of Iraq (in oversize file); several photographs of Mr. Darden's associates and various locales in Iraq; and a publication of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, entitled Report of the FAO Mission to Yemen.
Gift of Mr. Darden, Washington, D.C.
Processed by C. Harrison, February 1975
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.