North Carolina State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology 1934-1984, 2015-2023

Summary
Contents
Names/subjects
Using these materials
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.
Creator
North Carolina State University. Department of Plant Biology
Size
3 linear feet (3 archival storage boxes, 1 carton); 1 website
Call number
UA 100.015

The collection consists of records describing the administrative function of and research projects undertaken by the North Carolina State University Department of Plant Biology. In addition, there are also items regarding departmental seminars, reviews, a study guide, and a history of the department written by L. A. (Larry Alston) Whitford in 1970. The collection is arranged in four series: Administrative Records, Research and Development, Maps, and Artifacts. The Administrative Records series contains correspondence, course material, and departmental review items. The Research and Development series contains project proposals and reports concerning research in botany. Most of the projects contained in the latter series were federally sponsored by such agencies as NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Maps series contains a small group of field maps used by botany faculty and/or students. The Artifacts series contains a lantern used by B.W. Wells while doing fieldwork.

Botanical work at North Carolina State began in concert with the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, which was established in the 1870s and later became part of the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University). The first courses were offered at the college in 1889. Botany appears to have been a part of biology instruction until approximately 1912, when the two disciplines were separated. In 1945, a Plant Pathology section was created within the School of Agriculture, resulting in a new Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. With the creation of the Division of Biological Sciences in 1950, the two sections were split, creating two separate departments. Both operated under the administration of the Division of Biological Sciences. The division was abolished in 1958, and the Department of Botany and Bacteriology was established from those two curricula. In 1962 the Institute of Biological Sciences (IBS) was created, with Botany becoming one of five departments under its aegis. The IBS was dissolved in 1971. In the meantime, in 1966 the bacteriology program was split off from Botany, becoming the Department of Microbiology. In 2006 the Department of Botany changed its name to Plant Biology. In 2013 it became the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology.

Biographical/historical note

Botanical work at N.C. State began in concert with the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, which was established in the 1870s and later became part of the college. Since the first courses were offered at the college in 1889, there have been courses in botany. At first, they were part of the biological sciences training. By 1902, there were enough classes taught to hire Frank L. Stevens as the first head of botanical instruction. Botany appears to have been a part of biology instruction until approximately 1912, when the two disciplines were separated. Academic instruction and research in botany continued to grow within the overall agriculture curriculum throughout the next few decades.

In 1945, a Plant Pathology section was created within the School of Agriculture, resulting in a new Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. With the creation of the Division of Biological Sciences in 1950, the two sections were split, creating two separate departments. Both operated under the administration of the Division of Biological Sciences. The division was abolished in 1958, and the Department of Botany and Bacteriology was established from those two curricula. In 1962 the Institute of Biological Sciences (IBS) was created, with Botany becoming one of five departments under its aegis. The IBS was created to better coordinate and promote research and education in the biological sciences, and it lasted until being dissolved in 1971. In the meantime, in 1966 the bacteriology program was split off from Botany, becoming the Department of Microbiology.

In 2006 the Department of Botany changed its name to Plant Biology. It changed its name again in 2013, becoming the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology when it added faculty from the microbiology and genetics programs.

Department Heads
1950 - 1963
Herbert T. Scofield
1963 - 1964
Ernest O. Beal
1964 - 1977
Glen R. Noggle
1977 - 1985
Jerome P. Miksche
1985 - 1995
E. D. Seneca
1995 - 1999
Eric Davies
1999 - 2018
Margaret Daub
2018 -
Robert Franks

Scope/content

The collection consists of records describing the administrative function of and research projects undertaken by the North Carolina State University Department of Plant Biology. In addition, there are also items regarding departmental seminars, reviews, a study guide, and a history of the department written by L. A. (Larry Alston) Whitford in 1970. The collection is arranged in four series: Administrative Records, Research and Development, Maps, and Artifacts. The Administrative Records series contains correspondence, course material, and departmental review items. The Research and Development series contains project proposals and reports concerning research in botany. Most of the projects contained in the latter series were federally sponsored by such agencies as NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Maps series contains a small group of field maps used by botany faculty and/or students. The Artifacts series contains a lantern used by B.W. Wells while doing fieldwork.

Arrangement

This collection is organized into four series: Administrative Records, Research and Development, Maps, and Artifacts.

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University 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.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], North Carolina State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, UA 100.015, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Related material

Source of acquisition

Transferred from the North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Department of Plant Biology.

Processing information

Processed by: Pat Webber, 2004; machine-readable finding aid created by: Pat Webber, 2004; finding aid updated to reflect additions to the collection by: Beverly King, 2012 May; Todd Kosmerick, 2014 June; Gevorg Vardanyan, 2023 June.

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

The collection is organized into five principal series:

Administrative Records 1949-1983 (UA 100.015 Series 01)
Size: 0.5 linear feet

Contains correspondence, brochures, seminar information, departmental reviews, and a history of Botany at N.C. State written by L. A. Whitford. The records are arranged alphabetically.

1 box

Botany - Areas of Advanced Study 1984
Box 3, Folder 1
Botany Seminar 1966
Box 1, Folder 1
Brochures 1969-1979
Box 1, Folder 2
Cell Biology class undated
Box 1, Folder 3
Comprehensive Review, Botany Department 1978
Box 1, Folder 4
Correspondence 1949-1950
Box 1, Folder 5
Correspondence 1962-1964
Box 1, Folder 6
Courses in Botany and Bacteriology 1962
Box 1, Folder 7
Evaluation of the Botany Research Program, undated
Box 1, Folder 8
"A History of the Botany Department," by L. A. Whitford 1970
Box 1, Folder 9
"Investigations into Plant Life: A Study Guide for General Botany using the Audio-Tutorial Discovery Approach," by James R. Troyer and Charles E. Anderson 1983
Box 1, Folder 10
"The Present Position of Botany: A Preliminary Overview," 1967
Box 1, Folder 11
Proposed Program, Biological Sciences 1962
Box 1, Folder 12
"Reflections from the Botany Staff at NCSU and Projections to Botany at NCSU at Raleigh," 1963
Box 1, Folder 13
Research and Educational Program in Bacteriology 1962
Box 1, Folder 14
Research and Development 1949-1964 (UA 100.015 Series 02)
Size: 0.5 linear feet

Contains correspondence, proposals, research results, travel files, and general information on a variety of research projects conducted within the department and with the Agricultural Experiment Station. The records are arranged alphabetically by granting agency.

1 records storage box

Atomic Energy Commission, Contract No. AT-(40-1)-1070 1950-1953
Box 2, Folder 1
National Academy of Sciences, Correspondence 1962
Box 2, Folder 2
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Bio-Satellite Project 1963-1964
Box 2, Folder 3
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Proposal for support of Research Entitled"Mechanism of the Diauxie Phenomenon," by Walter Dobrogosz 1962
Box 2, Folder 4
National Defense Education Act (NDEA), Fellowships for Bacteriology Programs 1959-1962
Box 2, Folder 5
National Defense Education Act (NDEA), Proposal for an Expanded Program in the Fields of Ecology - Taxonomy 1959
Box 2, Folder 6
National Science Foundation (NSF), Plant Physiology Research by Harold Evans 1956
Box 2, Folder 7
National Science Foundation (NSF), Proposal for Support of Research Entitled"Investigations on the Growth in Vitro of the Shoot Apex of Certain Seed Plants," by Ernest Ball 1957
Box 2, Folder 8
National Science Foundation (NSF), Proposal B 9278,"Metabolic Pathways in the Microcci," by James B. Evans 1960
Box 2, Folder 9
National Science Foundation (NSF), Proposal G 15669,"Undergraduate Research Participation Program" by Ernest Beal 1961-1962
Box 2, Folder 10
National Science Foundation (NSF), Proposal seeking Funds for Cooperative College -School Science Program, for Summer School, by W.A. Reid 1962
Box 2, Folder 11
National Science Foundation (NSF), Request for Equipment for Undergraduate Instruction, by Clyde Smith 1962
Box 2, Folder 12
National Science Foundation (NSF), Proposal for Support of Research entitled"A time-Lapse Study of the Growth and Division of Isolated parenchyma Cells of Certain Gymnosperms and Angiosperms," by Ernest Ball 1962
Box 2, Folder 13
National Science Foundation (NSF), Proposal G 22768,"Undergraduate Science Education Program," by Ernest Beal 1962-1964
Box 2, Folder 14
Office of Naval Research (ONR), NR 110-757,"Permeability of Certain Epidermal Membranes to Gaseous Carbon Dioxide," by Donald Anderson 1949-1953
Box 2, Folder 15
Office of Naval Research (ONR), NONR-486(09),"Vascular Plant Zonation in North Carolina Salt-Marshes," by Ernest Beal 1960-1962
Box 2, Folder 16
Vegetation and Natural History of the Great Smoky Mountains undated (Accession 2016.0063)
Box 3, Folder 6
Public Health Service (PHS), Research Grant"The Biochemical Role of Univalent Cations," by Harold J. Evans 1958-1961
Box 2, Folder 17
Public Health Service (PHS), National Institutes of health-Application for H Research Facilities Grant 1961
Box 2, Folder 18
Public Health Service (PHS),"An Application to the Division of Water Supply and Pollution control for a Training Grant in Aquatic Ecology" by James B. Evans 1962
Box 2, Folder 19
Public Health Service (PHS), National Institutes of Health - Application for Research Grant Support,"Mechanism of the Diauxie Phenomenon," by Walter Dobrogosz 1962,
Box 2, Folder 20
State Fund, Project No. S-91,"The Biochemical Role of Univalent Cations," by Harold J. Evans 1959-1960
Box 2, Folder 21
State Fund, Project No. S-249,"Studies in the Ecology of Fresh Water Algae in North Carolina" by L. A. Whitford 1961
Box 2, Folder 22
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Hatch-36,"A study of the cytochrome system of higher plants in relation to iron requirements and factors affecting iron metabolism," by Harold J. Evans 1954-1960
Box 2, Folder 23
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Hatch-177,"Studies on the cytochrome and related respiratory systems in higher plants," by Harold J. Evans 1959-1961
Box 2, Folder 24
Maps Circa 1935 (UA 100.015 Series 03)
Size: 0.5 cubic feet

This series contains folding field maps created by botany faculty and/or students. These are U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle topographical maps mounted on linen, then folded and given front and back covers. These maps mostly cover western North Carolina and Tennessee, but there is one for part of Connecticut. Only one of the maps is dated (1934), but all are assumed to be from the same time period.

4 folders

Folding Field Maps: Cowee, Cranberry, Knoxville, Mt. Guyot Circa 1935 (Accession 2014.0110)
Box 3, Folder 2
Folding Field Maps: Mt. Mitchell, Murphy, Nantahala, Pisgah Circa 1935 (Accession 2014.0110)
Box 3, Folder 3
Folding Field Maps: Smoky Mt. Park (East, East-Middle, West-Middle, West) 1934, Circa 1935 (Accession 2014.0110)
Box 3, Folder 4
Folding Field Maps: Roan Mt., Storrs and Vicinity (Conn.) Circa 1935 (Accession 2014.0110)
Box 3, Folder 5
Artifacts 1930s
Lantern used by B.W. Wells circa 1930s (Accession 2014.0150)
Note

This lantern was used by Wells to dry plant specimens.

Carton 4
Web Content June 2015-2023
Size: 1 website

This series is comprised of web sites of NC State University’s Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, captured by the NC State University Libraries since July 2016 using the Internet Archive’s Archive-It web archiving service, with prior captures by the Internet Archive dating back to June 2015, which may be less complete and was performed at undetermined intervals.

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology website (https://pmb.cals.ncsu.edu/) June 2015-2023
Size: 1 website

This is the official website of the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at NC State University. The NC State University Libraries has scheduled this website to be captured quarterly since July 2016. Also included here are prior captures by the Internet Archive dating back to June 2015.

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

Access to the collection

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to digital files may require additional advanced notice.

For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.

Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Phone: (919) 515-2273

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], North Carolina State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, UA 100.015, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University 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.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.