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The History of the Department

Here is a brief listing of major milestones in the history of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. For more detailed information please see the ABE History Volume One & Two below (pdf versions)
  • 1892—First correspondence courses on agricultural engineering related subjects.
  • 1904—Baccalaureate course "Agricultural Engineering Lectures" required of all students in the School of Agriculture.
  • July 1, 1913—Ralph U. Blasingame, first agricultural engineer, appointed as instructor of agronomy.
  • February 1, 1920—J.R. Haswell appointed as first extension agricultural engineer.
  • November 20, 1920—Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the Department of Farm Machinery with Ralph U. Blasingame as Head.
  • March 27, 1930—Curriculum in Agricultural Engineering approved. Name of the Department of Farm Machinery changed to the Department of Agricultural Engineering.
  • June 1932—First B.S. degrees awarded in Agricultural Engineering.
  • June 1933—First M.S. degree awarded in Agricultural Engineering.
  • November 14, 1940—Agricultural Engineering Building dedicated.
  • December 31, 1951—Ralph U. Blasingame retired as Head of Department of Agricultural Engineering. Arthur W. Clyde appointed as Acting Head.
  • August 1, 1954—Frank W. Peikert appointed Head of Department of Agricultural Engineering.
  • September 28, 1954—Joint administration by the Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering approved.
  • October 1956—Agricultural Engineering curriculum approved by the Engineers' Council for Professional Development (ECPD) for a five-year period.
  • June 2, 1964—Agricultural Mechanization curriculum approved by the University Senate.
  • April 16, 1968—Ph.D. program in Agricultural Engineering approved.
  • March 1972—First Ph.D. degree awarded in Agricultural Engineering.
  • August 31, 1975—Frank W. Peikert retired as Head of Department of Agricultural Engineering. Howard D. Bartlett appointed Acting Head.
  • January 12, 1976—Agricultural Engineering Extension Section integrated into the Department of Agricultural Engineering.
  • June 1, 1976—Harold V. Walton appointed Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering.
  • February 2, 1983—Master of Agriculture degree program in Agricultural Mechanization approved.
  • July 31, 1985—Harold V. Walton retired as Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering.
  • August 1, 1985—Dennis E. Buffington appointed Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering.
  • August 25, 1986—Minor in Agricultural Engineering approved. Name later changed to Minor in Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
  • March 13, 1987—Minor in Agricultural Mechanization Technology approved. Name later changed to Minor in Agricultural Systems Management.
  • March 16, 1990—Options in Food Engineering and Agricultural Engineering within the Agricultural Engineering major approved by the Board of Trustees.
  • November 9, 1990—Name change of Department of Agricultural Engineering to Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering approved by Board of Trustees.
  • November 9, 1990—Program name change of Agricultural Mechanization to Agricultural Systems Management and Technology approved by Board of Trustees.
  • March 18, 1994—Program name change of Agricultural Systems Management and Technology to Agricultural Systems Management approved by Board of Trustees.
  • March 18, 1994—Graduate program name change from Agricultural Engineering to Agricultural and Biological Engineering approved by Board of Trustees.
  • March, 1996—Undergraduate program name change from Agricultural Engineering to Agricultural and Biological Engineering approved by Board of Trustees.
  • July 1, 1996—Harvey Manbeck appointed interim department head.
  • July 1, 1998—Roy E. Young appointed Head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
  • July 12, 2002—Minor in Off-Road Equipment approved by Board of Trustees.
  • January 1, 2008—Biological Engineering became the name of the undergraduate engineering program formerly named Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
  • June 30, 2010—Roy E. Young retired as Head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
  • July 1, 2010—Paul H. Heinemann appointed Head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
  • July 12, 2013--BioRenewable Systems undergraduate program approved.
  • November 22, 2013--BioRenewable Systems graduate program approved.
  • September 2016--New building construction and renovation begins.
  • May 2018--New building completed.
ABE History 1892 - 1976 Volume One (pdf)
PDF, 14.2 MB
ABE History 1976 - 2012 Volume Two (pdf)
PDF, 364.1 KB
Additional Information About the Beginning of Ag Engineering at PSU
PDF, 1.3 MB
A Pictorial Timeline: History of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (PDF)
PDF, 49.5 MB