Haven Metcalf
Collection — Folder: 1
Identifier: Mss-0347
The collection consists of photocopies of Haven Metcalf's correspondence while professor of botany and bacteriology at Clemson University, to his former professor Charles E. Bessey, professor of botany and horticulture at the University of Nebraska. Included are some of Metcalf's papers and research in the area of botany and agriculture, such as; his thesis, studies in the blast of rice and rice disease, word definitions and translations questions, personal credentials, lab notes, and academic credentials. There is correspondence related to the hiring of Clemson’s first female librarian from Nebraska by President Mell whom the Board of Trustees then refused to accept as well as his general unhappiness with Clemson. His letters to Dr. Bessey seek his opinions in certain areas of study and update him on his own career endeavors.
Haven Metcalf was known for being a Principal Pathologist for the Division of Forest Pathology of the U.S. Bureau of Plant Industry. He was recognized for research on rice disease, the chestnut blight and white pine blister, and other studies in botany. Metcalf was born August 6, 1875 in Winthrop, Maine where he graduated from Winthrop high school. Later he studied at Colby College from 1892 to 1894 then went on to receive his Bachelor of Science Degree at Brown University in 1896. He continued additional studies there between 1897 and 1898 in Botany, Bacteriology and Mycology. He received his Masters degree in 1897. Metcalf then worked as an instructor at Brown during 1896-1899. He also gave lectures at Martha’s Vineyard Summer Institute from 1896 to 1899. In 1899, he married Flora May Holt who also attended Colby and Brown. He then taught at the University of Nebraska and studied under Professor Charles E. Bessey who served as his major professor. Metcalf received his PhD in 1903. Metcalf then worked for Clemson Agricultural College as an assistant instructor from 1902-1906 as well as giving lectures at the South Carolina State Summer School in 1903-1905. In 1906 to 1907 he became the U.S. Bureau of Plant Industry’s pathologist, as well as joining the newly formed Department of Agriculture. He was also the president of Phytopathological Society in 1914, Botanical Society of Washington 1920, and National Shade Tree Conference in 1925-1938. Metcalf held the position of associate editor of Phytopathology in 1910-1914. Other organizations that he held membership in were the American Botanical Society, Society of American Bacteriologists, Society of American Foresters, Washington Academy of Science, New England Botanical Club, Washington Biological Society, American Phytopathogical Society, and American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 1914 he began his research on the development and application of physical chemical technique to forest pathology, which he worked on till the end of his scientific career. During his career he wrote eighty-four articles on the subjects of disease of forest trees, sugar-beet soft rot, bacterium teutlium, nematode in plant decay, rice blast, chromosomes, immunity and scientific administration. Haven died on May 23, 1940 in Washington, D.C. Source, Science 2 August 1940: 98-99. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census
0.05 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
English
Donated by Michael Kohl 2007.
The originals of these documents are located at the University of Nebraska Archives and Special Collections, Charles E. Bessey Papers.
Collection was processed by Jessica S. Scott in 2011.
Part of the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository