U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Soils

In 1914, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soils was the primary federal agency responsible for soil survey and research in the United States. Established in 1894, the Bureau conducted soil surveys to assess and map the nation’s soil resources, providing valuable information for agriculture, land management, and conservation. Under the leadership of Chief Curtis F. Marbut, appointed in 1913, the Bureau emphasized systematic soil classification and mapping. In 1914, the Bureau published instructional booklets for field parties, including guidelines for soil descriptions, to standardize soil survey methods.