Wherry, Edgar Theodore, 1885-

"Edgar Theodore Wherry was born on September 10, 1885, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating from the Friends Central School in 1902, he received a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry in 1906 and a Ph.D. in Geology-Mineralogy in 1909.

"He taught for five years as an assistant professor in the Geological Department of Lehigh University. In 1913, he became the assistant curator of mineralogy at the U.S. National Museum in Washington, D.C. During his time in Washington, he began working with the Wild Flower Preservation Society and taught himself the principles of botany. He started exploring theories of soil chemistry in relation to plant growth.

"Dr. Wherry's work with ferns and their 'relationship to their geological-chemical environment' became the topic of many of his publications, and the focus of his membership and subsequent presidency of the American Fern Society from 1934 to 1938. Wherry published three key guides to the ferns of North America: Guide to Eastern Ferns in 1937, The Fern Guide in 1961, and The Southern Fern Guide in 1964.

"Wherry was a professor of botany at the University of Pennsylvania from 1930-1955, and in 1932 he was appointed ecologist to the Morris Arboretum. He also taught soil science, plant physiology, plant ecology, and taxonomy at the Arboretum School of the Barnes Foundation from 1941 to 1950, and again from 1953 to 1957.

"He is credited with discovering the mineral Wherryite, as well as several plants, including Asplenium xtrudellii, Microgramma heterophylla, Sarracenia oreophila, and Sarracenia jonesii . Plants named in honor of Dr. Wherry include Tiarella wherryi, Spilene wherryi, and Dryopteris wherryi .

"Wherry was awarded professor emeritus status upon his retirement from University of Pennsylvania in 1955. He was also awarded the Mary Soper Pope Medal by the Cranbrook Institute of Science in 1964 for his achievements in plant research.

"Dr. Wherry worked closely with many botanical organizations, such as the Bowman's Hill State Wildflower Preserve, the American Rock Garden Society, the Delaware Valley Chapter of the American Rock Garden Society, and the Delaware Valley Fern Society."

Bibliography:

Quoted text from: Friedman, Lindsay. Finding aid to Edgar Theodore Wherry Papers, 1907-1977, The Barnes Foundation Archives WHE. November 2010. Accessed January 25, 2013.

From the guide to the Dr. Edgar T. Wherry botanical lantern slides, circa 1924-1976, (Morris Arboretum Archives)