Collins, J. Franklin (James Franklin), 1863-

James Franklin Collins worked as a silversmith from 1897-1899. During this time he began studying botany with W.W. Bailey, which led to his becoming part-time curator of the Brown University Herbarium starting in 1894. Collins switched to botany as a full-time career when he began teaching at Brown in 1899. From 1906-1911 he was head of the botany department at Brown. His interests shifted toward forest pathology, and he worked as a pathologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture at Brown, from 1911-1933. His interests as a pathologist included tree surgery and chestnut blight. Collins was involved in a number of collecting trips with M.L. Fernald, particularly in the Gaspé Peninsula of Québec. According to Fernald, Collins concentrated on collecting bryophytes and hoped to devote more time to the study of mosses after his retirement; he was prevented from doing so by ill-health.

From the description of Papers of James Franklin Collins, 1884-1935 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 40290688