Botanical Collectors

[Troy Weldy]

Dear Taxacomers,

We are trying to compile a bibliography of the major collectors from the
Vassar Herbarium and have run into some difficulties.  We have consulted
Index Herbariorum, the Harvard Botanical Collectors Database
(http://www.herbaria.harvard.edu/Data/Collectors/collectors.html), and the
minimal number of references encountered.  Vassar has a collection of
nearly 15,000 specimens, of which approximately one-third were collected
prior to 1900.  Below is a list of the major collectors that we need more
information on.  If you know of any references that provide a life summary,
humerous field stories, significance, etc. of the collector, please forward
that info.  In addition, we have no record of how Vassar obtained these
specimens.  In you have any insight into this mystery, we would be very
appreciative.  Please forward this request to those you think may be
helpful and send responses directly to me <trweldy at vassar.edu>.

Thank you,

Troy Weldy...

________________________
Historically Important Collectors with a number of specimens deposited at Vassar


        John K. Small *                  late 1800's
           -Pennsylvania, especially around Lancaster Co.; North Carolina;
minor collections from other states.

        Amos Arthur Heller *             late 1800's
                -often collected with Small in Lancaster Co., also
collected in Virginia, NY, NC

        E. Gertrude Halbach *            late 1800's
                -often collected with A. A. Heller

        Allen Hiram Curtiss              late 1800's
                -Virginia

        Ray C. Friesner                  early-mid 1900's
                -Indiana; Herbarium of Butler University

        Thomas Henry Kearney, Jr.        late 1800's
                -Tennessee and Kentucky

        E. H. Pillsbury                  late 1800's
                -northeastern US

        C. L. Pollard                     1890's
                -Washington DC and vicinity


   *Many of the Small, Heller, and Halbach specimens were acquistioned from
the Nash Herbarium.  How?  When?  We do not know.

______________________
Other Collectors with significant number of specimens deposited in Herbarium


        G. E. Baker                       1950's
                -Montana

        Edith Bernosky                    1960's
                -NY

        P. Collins                        1930's
                -Florida

        J. R. Gray                        1930's
                -Mass.

        E. F. Lawrence                     1920's-30's
                -NY and New England

        J. R. Lawrence                     1930's
                -NY

        Delbert Lindsay                    1960's
                -Idaho

        M. E. Pierce                       1930's
                -New Mexico and western US

        L. F. Poller                       1950's
                -Montana

        Francis "Frank" Ranzoni            1960's 70's
                -western US, especially Calif, Arizona, Idaho, Washingon;
also Florida

        E. A. Roberts                      1920's-30's
                -NY and New England

        Winifred Robinson                  1910's
                -western US


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Send Correspondence to:

Troy Weldy
Biology Dept.
Vassar College Box 212          Office: (914) 437-7543
Poughkeepsie, NY  12601         FAX:    (914) 437-7315

E-mail:  trweldy at vassar.edu
http://faculty.vassar.edu/~trweldy/Troy.html