Special Collections and University Archives
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 9/18/55
Harold S. McNabb (1927-2011)
Papers, 1937-2011, undated


Descriptive summary

creator: McNabb, Harold S.
title: Papers
dates: 1937-2011, undated
extent: 2.94 linear feet (7 document boxes)
collection number: RS 9/18/55
repository: University Archives, Special Collections and University Archives Department, Iowa State University.
language: English

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research.

 

This collection is stored offsite. Please contact the Special Collections Department at least two working days in advance.
publication rights: Consult Head, Special Collections and University Archives Department
preferred citation: Harold S. McNabb Papers, RS 9/18/55, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Administrative information

People, Families, and Corporate Bodies:

McNabb, Harold S.
Iowa State University. Department of Forestry -- Faculty
Iowa State University. Department of Plant Pathology -- Faculty
Places:  
Subjects:

Plant pathologists – Iowa
Dutch elm disease
Oak wilt
Poplar -- Hybridization

Genres:

Research (documents)
Articles

Grant proposals

 

Abstract

Harold Sanderson "Sande" McNabb, Jr., was a forest pathologist and professor of plant pathology and forestry at Iowa State University (1953-2000). Nearly all of McNabb's professional career was spent at Iowa State University, where he conducted research related primarily to Dutch elm disease and oak wilt. For many years he was also responsible for maintaining the Boyce Index for World Forest Pathology Literature. This collection contains correspondence, research notes, grant applications, journal articles, and presentations, much of it related to McNabb's work with Dutch elm disease, oak wilt, and the development of hybrid poplar trees.

 

Historical note

Harold Sanderson "Sande" McNabb, Jr., was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on November 11, 1927. He graduated from Lincoln High School (1945) before attending the University of Nebraska where he received a B.S. (1949) in Botany/Chemistry. He pursued advanced degrees at Yale University, where he received an M.S. (1951) in Plant Science and a Ph.D. (1954) in Forest Pathology/Plant Physiology.

McNabb began his professional career as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Biology (1949-1952), then as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Forest Pathology (1952-1953), both at Yale. He came to Iowa State College (University) as an Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology and Forestry (1953-1956) and was promoted to Associate Professor (1956-1964), Professor (1964-1995), and University Professor (1995-2000). Upon his retirement McNabb was named Professor Emeritus (2000).

His work at Iowa State University focused on Dutch elm disease (DED) and oak wilt research. At the time, DED was sweeping across the Midwestern United States and McNabb researched the methods of infection, transmission, and potential cures. He also worked with the development of hybrid poplar trees. McNabb was responsible for maintaining the Boyce Index for World Forest Pathology Literature, a resource for information on trees and plants from around the globe.

McNabb received many honors and awards over the course of his career. The Iowa Academy of Science honored McNabb with the Distinguished Service Award (1995). He was given the Faculty Citation Award from Iowa State University (1992). The American Phytopathological Society honored him with its first Excellence in Teaching Award (1989). McNabb was voted President (1993-1994) of the Iowa State University Faculty Senate. An additional list of honors and awards can be found in folders 1/1 and 1/2.

McNabb held memberships in many professional societies, including the American Phytopathological Society, the Society of American Foresters, the Botanical Society of America, and the Iowa Academy of Science. He was a member of several honor societies, including Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa, and Xi Sigma Pi. McNabb was active in the Boy Scouts of America as a Scoutmaster, himself having been an Eagle Scout. He belonged to the Delta Upsilon social fraternity. He participated in local politics and supported groups that promoted opportunities for youth and minorities.

McNabb married Marguerite (Margo) Louise Nootz (1949). Together, they have two children, Peter James (1950) and Genene Louise (1954). McNabb died on May 12, 2011, and is buried in the Iowa State University Cemetery.

 

Collection description

The collection (1937-2011, undated) contains research and project files, publications, correspondence, notes, grant applications, and biographical information. Much of the collection is related to McNabb's work on tree diseases, focusing on Dutch elm disease infection, possible cures, and consequences. McNabb's correspondence covers seven decades (1942-2002) and is mostly regarding his work, research, and related subjects. McNabb also wrote several papers and presentations on the life and career of George Washington Carver.

 

Organization

The collection is organized alphabetically with biographical information placed first.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Biographical information, vitae, publications

1957-1998, undated

1

2

Biographical information, newspaper articles

1966-2011

1

3

Address - "Inspirational Thoughts from the Legacy of George Washington Carver" by McNabb

undated

1

4

Amana Colonies field data - research

1958

1

5

Ames, Iowa, city issues with Dutch elm disease - reports, information

1955-1963, undated

1

6

Annual reports - cooperative regional projects

1967-1974

1

7

Article - "Susceptibility of Populus Species and Hybrids to Disease in the North Central United States"

1985

1

8

Articles, reports - authored or co-authored by McNabb

1954-1998, undated

1

9

Articles, reports - authored or co-authored by McNabb

1955-1981, undated

2

1

Bidrin Systemic Injection - information/directions, correspondence, photographs (3 b/w photographs)

1963

2

2

Correspondence

1942

2

3

Correspondence

1950-1954

2

4

Correspondence

1955-1959

2

5

Correspondence

1960-1969

2

6

Correspondence

1970-1978

2

7

Correspondence

1980-1989

2

8

Correspondence

1991-2002

2

9

Curative treatment logs, Howard County, Iowa - data

1972

2

10

Dutch elm disease - aerial spraying

1964-1965

2

11

Dutch elm disease - brochures, articles from various sources

1957-1976

3

1

Dutch elm disease - brochures, booklets from various sources

1952-1974, undated

3

2

Dutch elm disease - general information, history, description given in reports and articles

1957-1963, undated

3

3

Dutch elm disease - Iowa City's efforts to fight disease

1960 circa

3

4

Dutch elm disease - non-McNabb journal articles

1945-1991

3

5

Dutch elm disease at Iowa State University - report, plan for on-campus elms, meeting minutes

1969

3

6

Dutch elm disease in Europe (mostly England) - reports, publications

1951-1974

3

7

Dutch elm disease in Illinois - reports, map, articles

1956-1964, undated

3

8

Dutch elm disease in Iowa - Iowa State Extension reports

1957-1963

3

9

Dutch elm disease in Wisconsin - reports, survey

1957-1966, undated

3

10

Dutch elm disease progression in Iowa, 1957-1963

undated

3

11

Elm Research Institute - articles of incorporation, by-laws, spring 1968 bulletin, proposals, report

1968-1970, undated

3

12

Faculty improvement leave applications - for Dutch elm disease research

1973

3

13

Faculty Senate - McNabb presidency nomination, other involvement

1991-1993

3

14

Field notes/data from Pilot Knob - dwarf leaf, a symptom of oak wilt

1953-1956

3

15

Fungicide and insecticide compatibility charts, graphs - research

1959, undated

3

16

George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Award, 2006 recipient

2000-2008

3

17

George Washington Carver materials involving McNabb - exhibits, papers, articles

1998-2002, undated

3

18

Grant application - for "Color Microfiche in the Teaching of Plant Pathology"

1974

3

19

Grant application - for "Role of Potato pin2 Gene in IPM for Populus Biomass Plantations"

1991

3

20

Grant proposal - for "Pest Resistance and Growth of Transgenic Poplars"

1990

3

21

Grant proposals - funding requests for Alnus Glutinosa (Alder tree) projects

1978

4

1

Grant request - for "Suppressed-bud Agrobacterium Transformation System for Prunus Serotina Ehrh"

1990

4

2

International Union of Forestry Research Organizations Advanced Research Workshop; Ames, Iowa - genetics and molecular biology of interactions between harmful agents and trees

1988

4

3

Iowa Cooperative Forestry Research Unit - quarterly reports (Jan-Mar, Jul-Sep)

1953

4

4

Iowa Cooperative Forestry Research Unit - quarterly reports (Oct-Dec)

1953

4

5

Iowa Cooperative Forestry Research Unit - quarterly report (Jan-Mar) on Economics of Forestry in Iowa

1954

4

6

Journal articles - authored or co-authored by McNabb

1956-2000, undated

4

7

Lecture - white pine rust

undated

4

8

Location of aspen stands, Forestry 490; project by Jim Gubbels at Saylorville Lake

1991

4

9

McNabb Research Fellowship - information

1997, undated

4

10

Memorandum of understanding between Iowa State University and Iowa towns for tree disease research

1967-1970

4

11

Michlin Chemical Corporation - insecticide spray information sheets

undated

4

12

Newspaper articles - ash borer

2004-2009

5

1

Newspaper articles - Dutch elm disease, poplar trees

1955-1978, undated

5

2

Newspaper articles - series of four articles on Dutch elm disease in Iowa

1957

5

3

North Central Regional meetings - minutes

1968-1972

5

4

Notebook - trips to United Kingdom and Scandinavia

1974-1976

5

5

Oak Wilt - research reports, articles, maps

1937-1977, undated

5

6

Oak Wilt Research Committee - meeting minutes, grant request, ideas

1950-1955

5

7

Paper - "Life Inspired by the Legacy of G. W. Carver"

undated

5

8

Photo examination of elm tree inoculations, results

undated

5

9

Photographs (28 color)

1967-2000, undated

5

10

Plant quarantines - information

1958-1964

5

11

Poplar plot/4-H camp - notebook, data

1977-1980

5

12

Poplar trees - McNabb newspaper article, minutes from related meeting of International Energy Agency task activity group, biotech article, reports

1978-1992

5

13

Populus clonal test - data

1990-1993

5

14

Presentation on tree diseases

1975

5

15

Publications list from Iowa State University on Dutch elm disease

1969-1975

6

1

Report - "Iron or Lime-induced Chlorosis of Woody Plants"

undated

6

2

Reports, write-ups, descriptions written by McNabb

1953-1972, undated

6

3

Research data - various projects

1970, undated

6

4

Research data, report on black walnut trees

undated

6

5-6

Research notebook for lab aides

1986-1987

6

7

Research project, region NE-25 - "Pathology of Wilt Diseases of Trees"

1975

6

8

Research proposal - "Determinants for Leafspot-canker Disease Resistance of Short-rotation Poplars"

1985-1989

7

1

Research proposal - "Environmental Fate of Pollen from Transgenic Poplar Trees"

1986

7

2

Research proposal - "Optimization of Adler Mutualism"

1979

7

3

Research proposal - "Role of Potato pin2 Gene in Disease Resistance for Populus Biomass Plantations"

1992

7

4

Research proposals - "Host Morphological and Physiological Responses Induced by Ceratocystis Ulmi as Deterrents in Dutch Elm Disease Resistance"

1967-1968

7

5

Research proposals, reports, information - various paperwork

1967-1972, undated

7

6

Research reports - Dutch elm disease spread, host-parasite interactions

1959-1976, undated

7

7

Shade Tree Disease and Insect Short Course - reports, information

1957-1968, undated

7

8

Shade Tree Short Course Workshops - information, brochures

1957-1999

7

9

Slides - tree diseases (99 slides)

1950s-1970s

7

10

Speech by Iowa Governor Harold Hughes - "Mobilizing Iowa to Meet the Dutch Elm Crisis"

1966

7

11

State Dutch Elm Disease Advisory Committee - minutes, agendas

1966

7

12

State legislation passed dealing with Dutch elm disease

1957

7

13

Television and radio appearances - information, scripts

1955, undated

7

14

Thulium X-ray - articles, project outline

1956, undated