Walter T. Kelley

Walter T. Kelley (1897 - 1986) was beekeeper who created a large bee equipment supply and queen breeding company based in Clarkson, Kentucky. Kelley also wrote extensively about apiculture and published the bee journal "Modern Beekeeping".

Early life

Walter T. Kelley was born in Sturgis, Michigan, in 1897. He interrupted his education to enlist in the Army Signal Corps (now the U.S. Air Force), 1918, but is a few months was released from service and returned to university. Kelley graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in apiculture in 1919. He worked for the USDA from graduation until 1924 when he started keeping bees full time in Houma, Louisiana. [Beekeepers and Associates, Joseph O. Moffett, 1979, p 60]

The Walter T. Kelley Company

Kelley and his wife Ida started a beekeeping supply company, called The Walter T. Kelley Company in 1926. He sold durable cypress hives and woodware originally built in Louisiana then later at his factory in Kentucky. He created or greatly improved upon ventilated bee gloves (1938), wired foundation (1939), bee blowers (1969), and plastic bottom boards (1975). [Beekeepers and Associates, Joseph O. Moffett, 1979, p 69] Kelley's business included a hundred acre farm in Cade, Louisiana where his queen and package bee operation grew to 1500 colonies. He sold queens and replacement bees throughout North America.

Writings

Walter T. Kelley was a prolific and enthusiastic author of beekeeping materials, including his journal "Modern Beekeeping" founded in 1944. Many of his books and pamphlets were designed to encourage his customers of beewares, including "How to Keep Bees and Sell Honey" published until 1975.

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