Smithsonian Institution Archives

Rolla Kent Beattie Papers, circa 1928-1947

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU7271
Creators:
Beattie, R. Kent (Rolla Kent), 1875-
Dates:
circa 1928-1947
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
0.25 cu. ft. (1 half document box)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Introduction

Introduction
This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
These papers consist of correspondence from Mary Agnes Chase, William Ralph Maxon, and Egbert Hamilton Walker, Division of Plants, United States National Museum, concerning the receipt, examination, and determination of Beattie's Japanese ferns and grasses; correspondence concerning Merritt Lyndon Fernald's critical remarks about government scientists; field notes taken in Washington and Idaho, 1946; notes concerning botanical publications, bibliographies, and explorations in China, with a list of books shelved in the Hong Kong Herbarium Library, undated; and newspaper clippings regarding scientific research and explorations in China and the Far East, 1928-1932.

Historical Note

Historical Note
Rolla Kent Beattie (1875-1960), botanist and plant pathologist, was born in Ashland, Ohio. Beattie received his A.B. degree from Cotner University in 1895, and his B.S. and M.A. degrees from the University of Nebraska in 1896 and 1898, respectively. While at Nebraska, Beattie came under the influence of Charles Edwin Bessey, and remained a disciple of the Besseyan school of botany throughout his career.
Beattie taught high school in Colorado and Wyoming before becoming an instructor of botany at Washington State College in 1899. At Washington State he collaborated with Charles Vancouver Piper on researching the flora of Washington, Idaho, and the Northwest coast. In 1903 Beattie succeeded Piper as department head and botanist at the College's Agricultural Experiment Station.
Beattie began his studies on plant diseases while at Washington State. His studies eventually led to his working intermittently for the Federal Horticultural Board and the Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture. While working for these federal agencies, Beattie helped establish inspection procedures for plants and undertook the task of solving the chestnut blight and Dutch elm disease.
Beattie retired in 1945 and began a study of David Douglas, pioneer plant explorer in the Pacific Northwest. Ill health prevented Beattie from completing his task.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7271, Rolla Kent Beattie Papers

More Information

Notes

Personal Papers


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Beattie, R. Kent (Rolla Kent), 1875- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Chase, Agnes, 1869-1963 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Maxon, William R. (William Ralph), 1877-1948 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Walker, Egbert H. (Egbert Hamilton), 1899-1991 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Fernald, Merritt Lyndon, 1873-1950 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bessey, Charles E. (Charles Edwin), 1845-1915 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Piper, Charles V. (Charles Vancouver), 1867-1926 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Douglas, David, 1799-1834 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Division of Plants Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hong Kong Herbarium Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cotner University Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
University of Nebraska Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
State College of Washington Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Federal Horticultural Board Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Bureau of Plant Industry Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Department of Agriculture Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Botany Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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