author
Solon J. (Solon Justus) Buck
1884–1962
Best known as a leading American historian and archivist, he helped shape how the United States preserved its records in the early twentieth century. His work connected academic history, public service, and a lasting interest in rural and agricultural life.
1 Audiobook
The Agrarian Crusade: A Chronicle of the Farmer in Politics
by Solon J. (Solon Justus) Buck
About the author
Born in Berlin, Wisconsin, in 1884, Solon Justus Buck studied at the University of Wisconsin and later earned a Ph.D. from Harvard. He began his career as a history teacher and scholar, with a strong interest in agricultural and frontier history.
His professional life moved between universities, historical organizations, and major national institutions. He worked in Minnesota and at the University of Pittsburgh, then joined the National Archives in 1935 and became the second Archivist of the United States in 1941. After that, he served at the Library of Congress, including as chief of the Manuscript Division and later as Assistant Librarian.
Buck died in 1962, but he is still remembered as both a historian and a builder of American archival practice. His career stands out for bringing together scholarship, administration, and public stewardship of historical records.