Francis D. Hole
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Francis Doan Hole (25 August 1913 – 15 January 2002), was an American pedologist, educator, and musician, best known for his contributions to mapping the extent of
soils Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life. Some scientific definitions distinguish ''dirt'' from ''soil'' by restricting the former ter ...
and their properties in the
Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
region and using inventive lectures and musical performances to communicate and popularize the field of
soil science Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the Earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to th ...
. His work and reputation earned him various titles of endearment in his community and among soil scientists worldwide, notably “Ambassador of Soils" and "Poet Laureate of Soil Science".


Biography


Early life and education

Francis D. Hole was born on August 25, 1913, in Muncie, Indiana, to Quaker parents. His mother was Mary (Doan), his father was Allen David Hole, and Hole had one brother, Allen David Hole Jr. Hole grew up in Richmond, Indiana, in a house on the edge of the
Earlham College Earlham College is a private liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. The college was established in 1847 by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and has a strong focus on Quaker values such as integrity, a commitment to peace and social ...
campus, where his father was a professor of
geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ea ...
from 1900 until 1940. His mother had been a professor of English literature at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio. Hole was the student librarian for the Morton High School symphony orchestra, and he played the violin under the baton of Joseph Maddy, who later founded the National Music Camp at the
Interlochen Arts Academy Interlochen Center for the Arts is a non-profit corporation which operates arts education institutions and performance venues in northwest Michigan. It is situated on a campus in Interlochen, Michigan, roughly southwest of Traverse City. ...
in Michigan. Hole also learned to play the piano. Hole received a bachelor's degree in geology and biology from
Earlham College Earlham College is a private liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. The college was established in 1847 by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and has a strong focus on Quaker values such as integrity, a commitment to peace and social ...
in 1933 and a master's degree in French at Haverford College by the end of 1934. During the summers of this time of his life, he taught at preparatory schools in Philadelphia and independently studied languages and literature that interested him. In 1937, owing in part to exposure to the geological research and specimens at his undergraduate college and his father's place of work, Hole began to doubt the usefulness to him of "the neuroses of poets" and directed more energy to
geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ea ...
and
soil science Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the Earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to th ...
. He completed a doctorate in these subjects in 1943 at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...
and attained a brief position as professor of geology at
Earlham College Earlham College is a private liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. The college was established in 1847 by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and has a strong focus on Quaker values such as integrity, a commitment to peace and social ...
, where he was also curator of th
Joseph Moore Museum


Scientific career

The advent of World War II interrupted Hole's early scientific career. Hole was drafted in 1944 but instead became a conscientious objector, which carried a dual burden as "it wasn't popular at all," Hole explained, and the government required that conscienscious objectors to fulfill other civic duties. For two years, Hole worked on a trail-clearing crew in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and in a
U.S. Department of Agriculture The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of comme ...
laboratory in
Coshocton, Ohio Coshocton is a city in and the county seat of Coshocton County, Ohio, United States approximately 63 mi (102 km) ENE of Columbus. The population was 11,216 at the 2010 census. The Walhonding River and the Tuscarawas River meet in ...
. In 1946, Hole was invited to join the faculty of the
University of Wisconsin-Madison A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...
with a split appointment between soil science and the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, but his appointment split further to include participation in the department of geography. From 1943 to , Francis Hole published over 50 articles and books, ranging from technical cartographic data analyses of soils to causal connections of glaciation with resulting soil properties, and later the
pedagogy Pedagogy (), most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political and psychological development of learners. Pedagogy, taken ...
of soil science. Hole created ''Soil Survey Horizons'' in 1960, a periodical that was continued by the
Soil Science Society of America The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), is the largest soil-specific society in the United States. It was formed in 1936 from the merger of the Soils Section of the American Society of Agronomy and the American Soil Survey Association. The So ...
until 2011, and he co-created the "Soils of Wisconsin Map", published by the Wisconsin Geologic and Natural History Survey in 1968. Hole co-authored the first edition (1973) and several subsequent editions (1980-2011) of a seminal work in the field of soil science, ''Soil Genesis and Classification'' with Stanley W. Buol, and Ralph J. McCracken. This textbook is used in undergraduate and graduate soil science courses worldwide. In 1976, Hole published ''Soils of Wisconsin'',''Soils of Wisconsin''
(full text) by Francis D. Hole, 1976, University of Wisconsin Press.
which compiled the most authoritative knowledge up to that date about the subject. He introduced the definition and significance of
soils Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life. Some scientific definitions distinguish ''dirt'' from ''soil'' by restricting the former ter ...
and their development, or
pedogenesis Soil formation, also known as pedogenesis, is the process of soil genesis as regulated by the effects of place, environment, and history. Biogeochemical processes act to both create and destroy order ( anisotropy) within soils. These alterations ...
, following the theory of factors of soil formation, or the CLORPT equation by Hans Jenny (pedologist). The diversity of Wisconsin's soils are somewhat greater than that of most states, so Hole organized Wisconsin into geographical regions (A through J) and provided detailed descriptions, diagrammatic drawings, and the history of investigation of these soils. This publication contributed to a larger and more technologically rigorous book in 2017 by Jim Bockheim and Alfred Hartemink similarly titled ''The Soils of Wisconsin'', which was dedicated to Hole.


Later life

Hole retired from his professorship in 1983, traveling with his wife and performing further educational outreach. Francis D. Hole received a diagnosis of prostate cancer in 1996, to which he responded it was "a love letter from the Divine, and I turn to the Divine and I say, 'It's about time I paid attention to you.'". Hole died on January 15, 2002, at the age of 88.Francis Hole, champion of soil, dies at 88
2002-01-16, UW-Madison News.
Prof. Hole appeared on Michael Feldman's radio program, "Whad'ya Know" on August 10, 1985; his entertaining discussion of granite can be heard online (starting at the 1:08 mark).


Teaching and outreach


Pedagogy

In an essay written in 1989, Francis D. Hole described his pedagogical approach and motivation as diverging from traditional ("boring", in his words) definitions of
soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt Dirt is an unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty. Common types of dirt include: * Debri ...
.Popularizing the Subject of Soil
by Francis D. Hole, 1989.
He wrote, “My aesthetic (i.e. "interesting") definition of soil is: ''Soil is the hidden, secret friend, which is the root domain of lively darkness and silence.'' My goal in promoting popularization of the soil resource is not so much to attract young people to careers in soil science as to give all children and their parents and grandparents a chance to enjoy the soils of their native landscape.” He emphasized that the findings of
soil science Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the Earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to th ...
must not collect dust in libraries but instead reach the people for whom a knowledge and appreciation of soil would mutually benefit. In particular, Hole encouraged taking students and researchers into the field to investigate the soilscape (a
portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of wordsviolin The violin, sometimes known as a '' fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone ( string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument ( soprano) in the family in regu ...
, Hole would perform
melodies A melody (from Greek μελῳδία, ''melōidía'', "singing, chanting"), also tune, voice or line, is a linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. In its most literal sense, a melody is a combinati ...
and thematic jigs to accompany and compliment his lectures and lessons, involving the audience whenever possible. For example, he performed hi
"Soil Fantasy"
a sequence of melodic riffs using the violin to enact the physical nature and properties of different soil textures (
sand Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class o ...
,
silt Silt is granular material of a size between sand and clay and composed mostly of broken grains of quartz. Silt may occur as a soil (often mixed with sand or clay) or as sediment mixed in suspension with water. Silt usually has a floury feel ...
, and
clay Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolin, Al2 Si2 O5( OH)4). Clays develop plasticity when wet, due to a molecular film of water surrounding the clay par ...
). “There are various tricks you can use to associate violin sounds with what you want to talk about,” Hole explained. “You can make a harsh, gritty sound for sand. People are very amused that I can make such a disagreeable sound, but that’s what sand is-gritty and scratchy. Clay is always a trill and silt a smooth sound. The point, though, is to get people to think about these various components of soil.”Down to Earth
by Terry Devitt, Orion Nature Quarterly, Spring 1988.
In addition to music, Hole would use a suitcase o

to demonstrate relationships between anthropomorphized animals, plants, and naturally-occurring bodies. These characters included Bucky Badger, Terra Loam, and the oft-misunderstood
Erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is dis ...
., and together they performed persistent themes of humans' responsibility for stewardship for the soil. Emphasis and great effort was made by Hole to distinguish physically tangible organisms and soils from abstract processes, such as erosion, while giving equal agency and a memorable form to all relevant factors where soils mutually impacted people's agricultural, industrial, or recreational activities. Hole earned the University of Wisconsin's ''Distinguished Teaching Award'' in 1974 for his effervescent educational performances, decades of success educating students of soil science, and motivation of the wider public to understand and appreciate soils and the soil resource.


Musical works

F. D. Hole wrote and widely performed the Antigo Silt Loam Song, whose melody and lyrics illustrated and celebrated the features, geography, and natural history of Wisconsin soils, entertaining audiences and appealing to students of all ages. # ''Antigo, a soil to know, Wisconsin’s crops and livestock grow; and forests too, on Antigo; and forests, too, on Antigo.'' # ''Great Lakes region, fertile land; glaciers spread both clay and sand; Winds blew silt, then forests grew, giving soils their brownish hue.'' # ''Great Lakes region, fertile land, you strengthen us in heart and hand; Each slope, each flower, each wild bird call proclaims a unity in all.'' # ''Plant a seed and pull a weed; the soil will give us all we need, and plenty more, so birds may feed: and plenty more, so birds may feed.'' # ''Of all the crops, true peace is tops; its soil is love that never stops; It blesses sand and water drops: it blesses sand and water drops.'' The Antigo Silt Loam song has been covered by students and researchers of soil science and is often performed at soil-related outreach events. Hole's other musical works are a mix of songs with original melodies and lyrics as well as traditional songs whose lyrics have been replaced with soil-related topics and imagery. Examples include ''Oh Give Me a Home on a Deep Mellow Loam'' and ''Old McDonald Had a Pit''. To the theme of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," Hole wrote in 1989,
''Darkle, darkle, little grain,'' ''I wonder how you entertain'' ''A thousand creatures microscopic.'' ''Grains like you from pole to tropic'' ''Support land life upon this planet'' ''I marvel at you, crumb of granite!''
Hole's many songs and poems, among other original creative works, for years have been arranged and performed by students of the General Soil Science (SOIL 301) course to continue the tradition of soil-related artwork and music. Existing recordings of Hole's personal stories, lecturing style, and musical performances (voice, violin) have been made available by the MINDS@UW archiveOral History Interview: Francis Hole (0495)
recorded in 1995 by interviewers Barry Teicher & Andrew Locke.
and Steve Tiffany.Madison Friends Meeting interview from 1990, Franics Hole
Part 1

Part 2


Wisconsin State Soil Campaign

The Antigo Silt Loam (''Typic glossoboralf'') was officially named the official state soil of Wisconsin by 1983 Wisconsin Act 33 to remind Wisconsinites of their soil stewardship responsibilities. Hole and fellow advocates argued for many years prior that soils are a natural resource that took over 10,000 years to produce and are therefore essential to Wisconsin's economy and the foundation of terrestrial life itself. Hole and a group of children in 1983 entered hearing rooms of the Wisconsin State Capitol with Hole's puppets to encourage legislators to name the state soil, which swayed the many individuals who regarded the campaign as "somewhat silly". Selected to represent the more than 500 major soil types in Wisconsin, the Antigo Silt Loam is a productive, level, silty soil of glacial origin, subsequently enriched by organic matter from prehistoric forests. The soil, named after
Antigo, Wisconsin Antigo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Langlade County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,100 at the 2020 census. Antigo is the center of a farming and lumbering district, and its manufactures consist principally of lumber, ...
, is found chiefly in Wisconsin and stretches in patches across the north central part of the state, and it is a versatile soil that supports dairying, potato growing, and timber.Blue Book (2015-2016) Wisconsin State Symbols
pgs. 952-953
A description of the Antigo silt loam as the official state soil of Wisconsin can be found at Wisconsin Historical Marker 280, erected in 1987, near Antigo, Wisconsi
(45°9.527'N, 89°7.099'W)
Its text reads as follows: The Antigo Silt Loam was not the first official state soil to be selected (
Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...
being the first, having named Holdrege (soil) series as its state soil in 1976.) However, the publicly engaging manner of Hole's campaign encouraged other states to select official state soils of their own, a process that continues today. List of U.S. state soils


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hole, Francis D. 1913 births 2002 deaths People from Muncie, Indiana Earlham College alumni Haverford College alumni University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni American soil scientists Scientists from Indiana Scientists from Wisconsin