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Turfgrass Information Center Collections

In the 1960s, Michigan State University began to systematically collect printed turfgrass materials in the main library collection. This was done primarily under the direction of crop scientist Dr. James B Beard and then-Library Director Dr. Richard Chapin.

O.J. Noer Memorial Turfgrass Collection
In 1968, the personal collection of the late O.J. Noer, a pioneer turfgrass agronomist, was added to the Libraries' holdings through the O.J. Noer Research Foundation.

James B Beard Turfgrass Library Collection
In 2003, Dr. Beard donated his personal collection to the Center, making MSU the strongest repository of turfgrass literature in the world.

The Scotts's Archive
Also in 2003, The Scotts Company made available selected portions of their corporate archives for use by scholars in support of ongoing studies.

Noer/Milorganite® Division MMSD Image Collection
Acquired in 2000, The Noer Milorganite® Division MMSD Image Collection is on indefinite loan to the Michigan State University Libraries. The collection features some 25,000 images, most of which are 35 mm slides. In addition, there are some color and black & white positives and negatives, as well as a few motion pictures.

The Link to TGIF
Beginning in 1982, the USGA Turfgrass Research Program and the MSU Libraries cooperatively funded the development of the Turfgrass Information File database (TGIF). Using the Noer Collection as a foundation, TGIF is designed to inventory published turf research results and make the bibliographic information available via a computerized database. Thus TGIF will ultimately unify access to all the collections within the Center, and many elsewhere as well.