Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
RS 13/5/11
Charles E. Bessey (1845-1915)
Papers, 1870-[ongoing]
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Bessey, Charles E. (1845-1915) |
| title: | Papers |
| dates: | 1870-[ongoing] |
| extent: | 0.42 linear feet (1 document box) |
| collection number: | RS 13/5/11 |
| repository: | University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | Charles E. Bessey Papers, RS 13/5/11, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Biographical note
Charles Edwin Bessey was born May 21, 1845 in Milton, Ohio. He received a B.S. (1869) and an honorary M.S. (1872) from Michigan Agricultural College (Michigan State University); an honorary Ph.D. (1879) from the State University of Iowa (University of Iowa); and a LL.D. (1898) from Grinnell College. Bessey held several positions at the Iowa Agricultural College (Iowa State University), including Instructor of Botany and Horticulture (1870-1873); Professor of Botany, Zoology, and Entomology (1874-1877); Professor of Botany (1878-1884); Vice President of the College (1882); and Acting President of the College (1882). He guided the Department of Botany during its formative years and created the first undergraduate botanical laboratory in the United States. Bessey also established Iowa State University's herbarium, which was named the Ada Hayden Herbarium in 1988. Bessey left Iowa State in 1884 to become the first Dean of Agriculture at the University of Nebraska (1884-1915). He was also the Acting President of the University (1888-1891, 1909) and Dean of Deans (1909-1915). While in Nebraska, Bessey was chosen as Scientist of the State Board of Agriculture. He also initiated a tree planting experiment that resulted in the Nebraska National Forest, the first man-made national forest in the world. In 1918, Bessey was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement. Charles E. Bessey was the author of numerous articles and publications, including The Essentials of Botany (1884), which he later re-wrote with his son, Ernst Bessey, and re-titled The Essentials of College Botany (1914). Charles Bessey actively participated in several professional organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science (president, 1910-1912), Botanical Society of America (president, 1895-1896), and the Department of Natural Science of the National Education Association (president, 1895-1896). Charles Bessey married Lucy Athearn (1847-19??) December 25, 1873. They had three sons: Edward Athearn (1875-1910), Ernst Athearn (1877-1957), and Karl Athearn (1878-19??). Bessey passed away February 25, 1915 in Lincoln, Nebraska. |
Collection description
The collection consists of biographical information, an inventory to the collection of Bessey's papers at the University of Nebraska, correspondence, and information on the Charles E. Bessey Lecture. The papers also contain addresses, reports, and writings by Bessey, including "The Demands Made by Agriculture upon the Science of Botany" (1885), "Iowa Orthoptera" (1876), and "On the Distribution of the Seventeen Year Cicada" (1878). |
Organization
The collection is arranged in alphabetical order. |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Addresses – Iowa Academy of Sciences |
1906 |
1 |
2 |
Addresses – "Laying the Foundation," a College Day address given in honor of the 40th anniversary of the opening of Iowa State College (University) |
1908-1910 |
1 |
3 |
Addresses – "On a Scientific Course of Study," given before the Iowa Teachers' Association in Grinnell, Iowa |
1876 |
1 |
4 |
Biographical information |
1882-2002 |
1 |
5 |
Biographical information – "Charles E. Bessey: Botanist, Educator and Protagonist," by C. T. Mertins and Duane Isley |
1981 |
1 |
6 |
Biographical information – "Historical Outline of the First Century of Botanical Instruction at the Iowa State University of Science and Technology," by Harold S. McNabb Jr. for the Dedication of Bessey Hall |
1969 |
1 |
7 |
Biographical information – "Life and Works of Charles E. Bessey," by C. T. Mertins |
1979 |
1 |
8 |
Biographical information – materials in the University of Iowa Archives, finding aids |
1976 |
1 |
9 |
Biographical information – materials in the University of Nebraska Archives, finding aid |
1979-1985 |
1 |
10 |
Biographical information – "Prominent Men I Have Met," by L. H. Pammel |
1928 |
1 |
11 |
Biographical information – "Trees for the Great Plains: Charles E. Bessey and Forestry," by Richard Overfield |
1979 |
1 |
12 |
Charles E. Bessey Lecture at Iowa State University |
1972-1983 |
1 |
13 |
Correspondence |
1870-1926 |
1 |
14 |
Correspondence – Bessey, Ernst |
1912-1926 |
| 1 | 25 | Correspondence and papers of Flora Grace Ernst Miller relating to Bessey | 1909-1915, undated |
1 |
15 |
Reports |
1870-1881 |
1 |
16 |
Writings – "Iowa Orthoptera" |
1876 |
1 |
17 |
Writings – Bulletin of the Iowa Agricultural College Issued by the Department of Botany |
1884 |
1 |
18 |
Writings – "Demands Made by Agriculture upon the Science of Botany" |
1884 |
1 |
19 |
Writings – "Grasses and Forage Plants of Nebraska" |
1889 |
1 |
20 |
Writings – "On the Distribution of the Seventeen Year Cicada" |
1878 |
1 |
21 |
Writings – "Report on Insects" |
1974 |
1 |
22 |
Writings – "Summary History of the Department of Botany in the Iowa State College from 1870 to 1884" |
1906 |
1 |
23 |
Writings – "Work of a Year" |
1870 |
| 1 | 24 | Writings – "Teaching of Botany Sixty-Five Years Ago" by Ernst Bessey | 1934 |