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Charles E. Bessey papers

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: RS 13/5/11

Scope and Content

The collection (1870-1985) consists of biographical information, an inventory to the collection of Bessey’s papers at the University of Nebraska, correspondence, and information on the Charles E. Bessey Lecture. The papers also contain addresses, reports, and writings by Bessey, including "The Demands Made by Agriculture upon the Science of Botany" (1885), "Iowa Orthoptera" (1876), and "On the Distribution of the Seventeen Year Cicada" (1878).

Dates

  • Creation: 1870-1985

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Open for research.

Use/Re-use Restrictions

Consult Special Collections and University Archives

Biography/Profile

Charles Edwin Bessey was born May 21, 1845 in Milton, Ohio. He received a B.S. (1869) and an honorary M.S. (1872) from Michigan Agricultural College (Michigan State University); an honorary Ph.D. (1879) from the State University of Iowa (University of Iowa); and a LL.D. (1898) from Grinnell College.



Bessey held several positions at the Iowa Agricultural College (Iowa State University), including Instructor of Botany and Horticulture (1870-1873); Professor of Botany, Zoology, and Entomology (1874-1877); Professor of Botany (1878-1884); Vice President of the College (1882); and Acting President of the College (1882). He guided the Department of Botany during its formative years and created the first undergraduate botanical laboratory in the United States. Bessey also established Iowa State University’s herbarium, which was named the Ada Hayden Herbarium in 1988.



Bessey left Iowa State in 1884 to become the first Dean of Agriculture at the University of Nebraska (1884-1915). He was also the Acting President of the University (1888-1891, 1909) and Dean of Deans (1909-1915). While in Nebraska, Bessey was chosen as Scientist of the State Board of Agriculture. He also initiated a tree planting experiment that resulted in the Nebraska National Forest, the first man-made national forest in the world. In 1918, Bessey was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement.



Charles E. Bessey was the author of numerous articles and publications, including The Essentials of Botany (1884), which he later re-wrote with his son, Ernst Bessey, and re-titled The Essentials of College Botany (1914). Charles Bessey actively participated in several professional organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science (president, 1910-1912), Botanical Society of America (president, 1895-1896), and the Department of Natural Science of the National Education Association (president, 1895-1896).



Charles Bessey married Lucy Athearn (1847-19??) December 25, 1873. They had three sons: Edward Athearn (1875-1910), Ernst Athearn (1877-1957), and Karl Athearn (1878-19??).



Bessey passed away February 25, 1915 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Extent

0.42 Linear Feet (1 document box)

Arrangement

The collection is organized Alphabetically.

Items in related collections

RS 13/5. Iowa State University. Department of Botany records, 1886-2014

Processing Information

Released on 2018-11-01.

Title
RS 13/5/11. Charles E. Bessey papers, 1870-1985
Date
January 23, 2019
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives Repository

Contact:
403 Parks Library
701 Morrill Road
Iowa State University
Ames Iowa 50011-2102 United States
(515) 294-6672