Guide to the George Henry Hepting Papers, 1930s-1982

Descriptive Summary

Repository: North Carolina State University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center
Creator: Hepting, George Henry, 1907-1988
Title: George Henry Hepting Papers, 1930s-1982
Call Number: MC 169
Extent: 27 linear feet, 54 archival boxes
Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff.
Language of Material: English

Information for Users

Restrictions to Access: This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.
Acquisitions Information: Received from the NCSU Departments of Plant Pathology and Forestry through Professor Larry Grand, August 2007 (Accession no. 2007-0241)
Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], George Henry Hepting Papers, MC 169, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Copyright Notice: The nature of the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NCSU Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Processing Information: Processed by Linda Sellars, 2007 August and Cate Putirskis, 2008 February

Encoded by Linda Sellars, 2007 August, Updated by Cate Putirskis, 2008 March

Biographical Note

George Hepting, Chief Plant Pathologist at the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 1, 1907. He attended Cornell University and received a B.S. degree in forestry in 1929 and a Ph.D. in Forest Pathology in 1933. Under the guidance of H. H. Whetzel, Hepting discovered how fascinating it can be to study the processes by which fungi and other pathogens induce disease in forest trees.

Even before completing his Ph.D., Hepting joined a cadre of scientists in the U.S. Department of Agriculture who were charged to protect American forests against disease. He rose through the ranks of the U.S. Forest Service from Field Assistant in 1931 to Chief of the Division of Forest Disease Research at the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, 1953-1961, to Principal Research Scientist affiliated with the Forest Service’s Washington Office, 1962-1971.

Hepting retired from the Forest Service as Chief Plant Pathologist in 1971. From 1967 through 1984 he served as Visiting Professor and advisor to more than 30 graduate students in the Department of Plant Pathology and the School of Forest Resources at North Carolina State University.

Hepting’s first research was on the heartrot diseases of forest trees. He determined the impact of fire scars, basal wounds, and stump sprouts on infection and spread of decay in many species of trees. He was the first to describe the mechanisms by which trees restrict the development of decay and discoloration in tree stems to "tissues extant at time of wounding."

He studied the fusarium wilt disease of Mimosa and developed wilt-resistant genotypes. He discovered the role of mating types in the oak wilt fungus. Before and during World War II, he studied fungal discolorations in felled timber and lumber of southern pines. He also quantified the impact of discolorations and decay on the strength of wood veneers used in military aircraft.

Hepting pursued research on many rust, twig, and foliage blights and discovered the pitch canker disease of southern pines. His research contributed to an understanding of sweetgum blight. He blew the whistle on the ineffectiveness of actidione as a control for white pine blister rust. He provided leadership for development of practical controls for annosus root rot and for management of nursery diseases with fumigant chemicals. He resolved uncertainty about the major cause of a serious dieback disease of pines in New Zealand.

Hepting organized research teams to investigate different aspects of littleleaf disease of southern pines and stimulated both industry and government to provide support for these efforts. It took years to understand the many causal agents that were involved-- a complex interaction between certain soil conditions, feeder-root pathogens, land use practices, stand density, and a progressive deficiency of nitrogen that developed in many pine stands as the trees increased in age--and to develop management practices to address them.

Hepting also directed pioneering research on the role of ozone and other photo-chemical oxidants as causes of diseases in forests. His 1963 paper on "Climate and Forest Diseases" is a classic in both climatology and forestry.

He developed the first computerized system for information retrieval in forestry. His 1971 book on Diseases of Forest and Shade Trees of the United States provides a comprehensive encyclopedia of knowledge on these topics. He wrote a definitive history of efforts to control both chestnut blight and the so-called Dutch elm disease after they were introduced on the North American continent.

Long before the concepts of integrated pest management became fashionable, Hepting emphasized the need to integrate disease-hazard evaluations and knowledge of disease-development processes into economically and biologically sound forest management systems. He also championed the need for basic research as a foundation for practical understanding and management of disease in forests. His role in the Timber Resources Review of 1953 permanently altered scientific understanding of the nature and magnitude of disease losses in forests. He was co-founder of the Southwide Forest Disease Workshop.

Hepting’s achievements in science were recognized by many honors and awards. In 1969, he became the first forester elected to the National Academy of Sciences. He also received the Superior Service Award of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1954 and the Barrington Moore Award for outstanding achievements in forestry research in 1963. He was elected a Fellow of the Society of American Foresters in 1965 and of the American Phytopathological Society in 1966. He received the Weyerhaeuser Award for Outstanding Historical Writing from the Forest History Society in 1974.

Hepting became an international leader and spokesman for forest disease problems worldwide. He traveled extensively and pursued research assignments in Europe, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and St. Croix. He also served as a consultant to the forest products industries of New Zealand and Australia.

Hepting died in Asheville, North Carolina, on April 29, 1988.

Scope and Content Note

Reprints and papers used by George Hepting in preparation of his book Diseases of Forest and Shade Trees of the United States (1971), as well as similar later reprints, Hepting's resume, and a few other papers.

Organization of the Collection

The reprints are filed as received, chiefly alphabetical by author.

Online Catalog Terms

The following terms have been used to index the guide to the collection in the NCSU Library's online catalog.

Individuals

Hepting, George H.

Corporate Entities

North Carolina State University. Dept. of Plant Pathology--History.
North Carolina State University. School of Forest Resources--History.

Topics

Forests and forestry--Research--United States.
Pine--Diseases and pests--United States.
Trees--Diseases and pests--United States.

Related Material

North Carolina State University, Department of Plant Pathology Reprint Collection, 1876-1973 (MC 228)

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1: Publication Files, 1930-1982

1 linear foot, 2 archival boxes

This series contains Hepting's personal research files and reprints of publications he authored.
- Miscellaneous Forestry Items, 1978-1982 [MC00169 Box 1, Folder 1]
- Press Clippings, 1960s-1980 [MC00169 Box 1, Folder 2]
- Resume and List of Publications, 1960s-1970s [MC00169 Box 1, Folder 3]
- Reprints of Articles (Hepting), 1930-1945 [MC00169 Box 1]
- Reprints of Articles (Hepting), 1946-1979 [MC00169 Box 2]
[Return to Descriptive Summary]
Series 2: Reprints, 1930s-1970s

26 linear feet, 52 archival boxes

This series contains reprints Hepting used for his research purposes.
- (Authors) A-G [MC00169 Box 5]
- (Authors) H-K [MC00169 Box 6]
- (Authors) Hartley [MC00169 Box 6]
- (Authors) Ko-R [MC00169 Box 3]
- (Authors) Ito, Saito [MC00169 Box 7]
- (Authors) S-Z [MC00169 Box 4]
- (Authors) Aa-An [MC00169 Box 7]
- (Authors) Anonymous [MC00169 Box 8]
- (Authors) Ao-Av [MC00169 Box 8]
- (Authors) Basham, J. T. [MC00169 Box 8]
- (Authors) Bae-Baz [MC00169 Box 9]
- (Authors) Baxter [MC00169 Box 9]
- (Authors) Baxter (cont.) [MC00169 Box 10]
- (Authors) Be-Bi [MC00169 Box 10]
- (Authors) Bier [MC00169 Box 10]
- (Authors) Bjorkman [MC00169 Box 11]
- (Authors) Blew [MC00169 Box 11]
- (Authors) Bla-Bra [MC00169 Box 12]
- (Authors) Bre-Bry [MC00169 Box 13]
- (Authors) Boyce, J. S. Jr. [MC00169 Box 13]
- (Authors) Boyce, J. S. Sr. [MC00169 Box 13]
- (Authors) Bu [MC00169 Box 13]
- (Authors) Brown(e) [MC00169 Box 14]
- (Authors) Cab-Ch [MC00169 Box 14]
- (Authors) Ch (cont.) [MC00169 Box 15]
- (Authors) Campbell, W. A. [MC00169 Box 15]
- (Authors) Cl-Coi [MC00169 Box 15]
- (Authors) Col-Cox [MC00169 Box 16]
- (Authors) Cowling [MC00169 Box 17]
- (Authors) Cr-Da [MC00169 Box 17]
- (Authors) Da (cont.) - Do [MC00169 Box 18]
- (Authors) Dr-Ez [MC00169 Box 19]
- (Authors) Etheridge [MC00169 Box 20]
- (Authors) Fa-Fo [MC00169 Box 20]
- (Authors) Foster [MC00169 Box 21]
- (Authors) Fr-Fu [MC00169 Box 21]
- (Authors) Gaumann [MC00169 Box 21]
- (Authors) Gaumann (cont.) [MC00169 Box 22]
- (Authors) Ga-Gi [MC00169 Box 22]
- (Authors) Gi (cont.) - Gr [MC00169 Box 23]
- (Authors) Gr (cont.) - Gu [MC00169 Box 24]
- (Authors) Gremmen [MC00169 Box 24]
- (Authors) Haa-Han [MC00169 Box 24]
- (Authors) Han (cont.) - Haw [MC00169 Box 25]
- (Authors) Hedgecock [MC00169 Box 25]
- (Authors) Hes-Hi [MC00169 Box 26]
- (Authors) Hirt [MC00169 Box 26]
- (Authors) Hoa-Hor [MC00169 Box 26]
- (Authors) Hou-Ja [MC00169 Box 27]
- (Authors) Je-Ke [MC00169 Box 28]
- (Authors) Ke (cont.) [MC00169 Box 29]
- (Authors) Kimmey, J. W. [MC00169 Box 29]
- (Authors) Ki-Kn [MC00169 Box 29]
- (Authors) Kr-Le [MC00169 Box 30]
- (Authors) Li-Lo [MC00169 Box 31]
- (Authors) Long, W. H. [MC00169 Box 32]
- (Authors) Lowe, J. [MC00169 Box 32]
- (Authors) Lu-Ma [MC00169 Box 32]
- (Authors) Ma (cont.) - Mc [MC00169 Box 33]
- (Authors) Meinecke [MC00169 Box 33]
- (Authors) Mac-Mi [MC00169 Box 34]
- (Authors) Mielke [MC00169 Box 35]
- (Authors) Miscellaneous [MC00169 Box 35]
- (Authors) Mo [MC00169 Box 35]
- (Authors) Mo-N [MC00169 Box 36]
- (Authors) Nobles [MC00169 Box 36]
- (Authors) Nordin [MC00169 Box 37]
- (Authors) Oa-Ou [MC00169 Box 37]
- (Authors) Overholts [MC00169 Box 37]
- (Authors) Overholts (cont.) [MC00169 Box 38]
- (Authors) Pa-Pf [MC00169 Box 38]
- (Authors) Pomerleau [MC00169 Box 39]
- (Authors) Pha-Q [MC00169 Box 39]
- (Authors) Ra-Rex [MC00169 Box 40]
- (Authors) Rennerfelt [MC00169 Box 40]
- (Authors) Roth [MC00169 Box 40]
- (Authors) Rh-Ru [MC00169 Box 41]
- (Authors) Ru (cont.) - Sc [MC00169 Box 42]
- (Authors) Scheffer [MC00169 Box 42]
- (Authors) Sch [MC00169 Box 42]
- (Authors) Sch-Sh [MC00169 Box 43]
- (Authors) Shigo [MC00169 Box 43]
- (Authors) Shigo (cont.) [MC00169 Box 44]
- (Authors) Si [MC00169 Box 44]
- (Authors) Si-So [MC00169 Box 45]
- (Authors) Sp [MC00169 Box 46]
- (Authors) Spaulding [MC00169 Box 46]
- (Authors) Stern [MC00169 Box 46]
- (Authors) St [MC00169 Box 46]
- (Authors) St (cont.) - Th [MC00169 Box 47]
- (Authors) Ti-Ty [MC00169 Box 48]
- (Authors) U-V [MC00169 Box 49]
- (Authors) Vaartaja [MC00169 Box 49]
- (Authors) Verrall [MC00169 Box 49]
- (Authors) Verrall (cont.) [MC00169 Box 50]
- (Authors) Wa [MC00169 Box 50]
- (Authors) Weir, James R. [MC00169 Box 50]
- (Authors) We-Wi [MC00169 Box 51]
- (Authors) Wi (cont.) - Wyz [MC00169 Box 52]
- (Authors) Wright, Jonathan [MC00169 Box 52]
- (Authors) Wolf [MC00169 Box 52]
- (Authors) Wolf (cont.) [MC00169 Box 53]
- (Authors) X-Zh [MC00169 Box 53]
- (Authors) Zentmyer [MC00169 Box 54]
- (Authors) Zi-Zz [MC00169 Box 54]
[Return to Descriptive Summary]