W. K. Lewis, Sr. Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss-0379
The W. K. Lewis, Sr. Papers document his career as a veterinary inspector and later as State Veterinarian while working for Clemson College in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Much of the collection relates to salary matters but there is also information on Lewis’ efforts to eradicate tick infections in livestock and to control both bovine tuberculosis and hog cholera in South Carolina. There is also a short history of the achievements of the South Carolina Veterinary Office’s Livestock Sanitary Department, particularly for the years 1914-1926 and some biographical information about Lewis.
The collection consists of clippings, correspondence, memorandum of understanding, a speech, a telegram, and other material arranged chronologically. The material spans the period 1914-1946, with most of the material dating from 1918-1926.
The Papers provide important information on early veterinary services and livestock inspection provided by Clemson College, particularly the control of bovine tuberculosis and hog cholera and the eradication of ticks on livestock.
This collection is open to the public without restriction.
Walter Keys Lewis Sr. was born on January 22, 1876 in Anderson, SC, the son of John Baylis and Rebecca Archer Lewis. He graduated from Ontario Veterinary College, Toronto, Canada in 1900 and from McKillips Veterinary College, Chicago, IL in 1903. Lewis joined the Bureau of Animal Industry, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1903 as a livestock inspector and was assigned to the National Stock Yards, IL. In 1909 he was part of the tick eradication program in Texas. He returned to National Stock Yards in 1909. In 1910 he became involved in the tick eradication programs in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Lewis was appointed veterinary inspector for Clemson College in 1914 by USDA, serving as Inspector in Charge of tick eradication for South Carolina. In 1917 he took responsibility for the state’s bovine tuberculosis eradication program and in 1919 was put in charge of the hog cholera control program. Lewis was appointed Associate Professor of Veterinary Science and State Veterinarian by Clemson College in 1920 and was promoted to Veterinarian (Cooperative) by USDA in 1926. He retired in 1946. Lewis married Mae Alford and they had a son, Walter Keys Lewis, Jr. He died on April 4, 1958.
.05 Cubic Feet
English
The W. K. Lewis, Sr. Papers provide information on veterinary services and livestock inspection efforts by Clemson College in the early 20th century, particularly the control of bovine tuberculosis and hog cholera and the eradication of ticks on livestock.
The collection consists of clippings, correspondence, and other materials relating to his career at Clemson College in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, first as a veterinary inspector and later as State Veterinarian, with most of the materials dating from 1918-1926. There is also a short history of the South Carolina Veterinary Office’s Livestock Sanitary Department 1914-1926.
Chronological.
Donated by W. K. Lewis, Jr. in 1985-1987 and 2004. Accessions 85-59, 86-9, 87-101, 04-82.
The collection was processed and a finding aid created by James Cross in 2022-2023.
Part of the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository