History Department Botany
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THE HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY 1889-1989 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SHERI L. BARTLETT I - ._-------------------- THE HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY 1889-1989 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SHERI L. BARTLETT TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface 1-11 Chapter One: 1889-1916 1-18 Chapter Two: 1917-1935 19-38 Chapter Three: 1936-1954 39-58 Chapter Four: 1955-1973 59-75 Epilogue 76-82 Appendix 83-92 Bibliography 93-94 -------------------------------------- Preface (formerly the College of Science, Literature and the Arts), the College of Agriculture, or The history that follows is the result some other area. Eventually these questions of months ofresearch into the lives and work were resolved in 1965 when the Department of the Botany Department's faculty members joined the newly established College of and administrators. The one-hundred year Biological Sciences (CBS). In 1988, The overview focuses on the Department as a Department of Botany was renamed the whole, and the decisions that Department Department of Plant Biology, and Irwin leaders made to move the field of botany at Rubenstein from the Department of Genetics the University of Minnesota forward in a and Cell Biology became Plant Biology's dynamic and purposeful manner. However, new head. The Department now has this is not an effort to prove that the administrative ties to both the College of Department's history was linear, moving Biological Sciences and the College of forward in a pre-determined, organized Agriculture. fashion at every moment. Rather I have I have tried to recognize the attempted to demonstrate the complexities of accomplishments and individuality of the the personalities and situations that shaped Botany Department's faculty while striving to the growth ofthe Department and made it the describe the Department as one entity. For a unique and exciting research center that it is non-scientist this task was especially today. difficult, and I am indebted to many of the There are a number of recurring faculty for their helpful suggestions and themes from 1889 to 1989. Perhaps the issue patience in explaining their particular that occupied the thoughts of Department scientific endeavors. members the most was the problem of space. The most rewarding part of From the beginning the Department suffered completing a project is the moment when the from less than ideal facilities, and the issue author gets to thank all those who put time was not successfully resolved until the and energy into making this history a construction of the Biological Sciences success. Matt Sobek and Jeff Pilz enabled Center on the St. Paul campus in 1972. Also me to work at home on my own time by the Department continually confronted the loaning me their computers for the summer. question of where its administrative and Brad Larson took an ordinary manuscript and physical home should be--whether the with his computer skills made it an attractive Department should be located on the and easily readable book. Jeffrey Browne Minneapolis or St. Paul campus, and whether offered support, encouragement, and during its administrative and research affiliations the final stages ofproduction put his desk-top should rest with the College of Liberal Arts publishing expertise at my disposal. The secretarial staff of the Department of Plant enthusiasm and energy for this project never Biology, especially Ellen Harnisch, Lori failed. Nicol and Joni Suda kept everything running While it is an oft-used cliche, it is smoothly. nonetheless true that without the memories, There are many people who documents, photographs and love for history contributed their time to assist me with that C. Otto Rosendahl, Ernst C. Abbe and research, or provided photographs, Donald B. Lawrence possess, this project documents and other memorabilia from their could never have been completed. From the private collections. Professor Thomas outset of the research, I was impressed with Morley saved all of his department meeting the appreciation for history that I found in all minutes over the years, thus making my task of the Department members, but I am much easier. William A. Reiners, Donald B. convinced that if botany had not been their Lawrence and Chris Cole granted me oral first love, Professors Rosendahl, Abbe and interviews, the transcripts of which are held Lawrence would have made fine historians. in the University of Minnesota Archives. This book is dedicated to these three Jean Mclnttosh kept extraordinarily good scientists, who are scholars in the true sense records during her forty years as Department of the word. secretary and maintained scrapbooks as well that offered captivating stories and information about many scientists. Penelope Krosch and Lois Hendrickson in the University of Minnesota Archives located many an obscure document and also edited the final manuscript. Janice Kragness offered valuable criticisms, helped me to choose photographs and listened to many tales about people and plants she did not know. Kristine Kirkeby, graphic artist in the College of Biological Sciences, educated me on the intricacies of production and drew a wonderful "Hodag" (see Chapter One). Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank Irwin Rubenstein, who gave me the opportunity to meet some amazing botanists in the past and the present, and whose 11 Chapter One: formal divisions and departments. When 1889-1916 MacMillan was hired, his responsibilities included both the instruction of botany and Beginnings the collecting of specimens for Minnesota's The Department of Botany has its Geological and Natural History Survey. In origins in the hiring of Conway MacMillan in 1890 the University appointed him State 1887. Prior to that year instruction in botany Botanist of the Geological Survey which rested with Professor C.W. Hall, who was brought MacMillan's income for both primarily a geologist and later dean of the teaching and collecting to $1800 per year.2 College of Engineering, Metallurgy and In 1888 the Board of Regents created Mechanic Arts. In 1887 the Executive a College of Agriculture and a College of Committee of the Board ofRegents gave Hall Medicine. Botany instruction was crucial to permission to hire an instructor in botany for both of the new areas, and botanists an annual salary of $300; that instructor was developed classes designed for students of Conway MacMillan.1 horticulture, grain farming and pharmacy. In 1887 there were only thirty-four Several of the early botanists at the faculty members at the University; most of University had dual appointments in botany them, including MacMillan, reported directly and pharmacy; c.A. Ballard, an instructor in to the Board ofRegents in the absence of 1893 and 1894, taught pharmaceutical Sitting, left to right: Henry Nachtrieb, Conway MacMillan, Josephine Tilden, Unknown botanist. Standing, left to right: Professor Oestlund, Professor Lee, A.P. Anderson, student from Upsala. Gull Lake Expedition at Long Lake, Minnesota (1893). 1 botany, as did Frederic Butters and E.M. increased funding for equipment and Freeman, both hired at the turn of the personnel, MacMillan was often a thorn in century.3 the regents' side. As Professor Rosendahl Several requisitions for equipment once remarked, "he was a rather and furniture, and the reappointment of temperamental man," yet his tenacity resulted MacMillan as Instructor in Botany document in the hiring of approximately fifteen new 1889 as the year that the Department itself instructors and professors during his tenure became an entity.4 The University also as Department chairman. established its fIrst inland biological station at Gull Lake, Minnesota, in 1889 owing to the persistence of MacMillan, Professor Nachtrieb from Zoology and Professor Oestlund from Entomology. Funded by ex Governor Pillsbury and the Northern Milling Company, the biological station gave the Department its first publicity in local news accounts.S The facilities the University provided for botanical research and instruction were less than ideal. While the Experiment Station administered by the College of Agriculture Conway MacMillan (1900). was located in St. Paul--where "seed rooms No. 1 and 2 in the barn [were set aside] for Conway MacMillan was born in the work of the Entomologist and Botanist"- Michigan in 1867. As a boy he and his other rooms allocated to botany were located family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where on the Minneapolis campus in the medical he earned his Bachelor's degree at the age of school and in Pillsbury Hall, which was built eighteen and his Master's degree a year later. in 1889. Responding to pressure over the He went on to study at The Johns Hopkins scattered workplace and the lack of a proper University before joining the faculty at the greenhouse, the Regents authorized the University of Minnesota in 1887. Shortly building of a $4,400 "plant house" at the St. after his appointment as Instructor, Paul Experiment Station in 1888.6 MacMillan took a leave of absence to The Department owed much of its continue his graduate studies at Harvard.7 development in the first few years to the He did not earn his Ph.D. but instead leadership and administrative talents of returned to Minnesota and worked with C.W. Conway MacMillan. Constantly pushing for Hall and Professor Nachtrieb to expand 2 teaching and research in geology, zoology appointment as the institution's first woman and botany. The Regents appointed scientist. IO In later years Tilden recalled MacMillan full professor and Department what it was like to be a student in chairman in 1891.8 MacMillan's freshman botany course: "We all The term "gentleman scholar" is apt feared the man, and cringed at being called on for MacMillan. His ability to write in class." But one day he brought a kitten to descriptive prose and his eloquent speech class which he had rescued from in front of were admired and envied by colleagues and the Zoology Building.