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

RS 13/5/53
Richard W. Pohl (1916-1993)
Papers, 1932-1992, n.d.


Descriptive summary

creator:

Pohl, Richard W. (1916-1993)
title:

Papers
dates:

1932-1992, n.d.
extent:

8.61 linear ft. (19 document boxes and 3 half-document boxes)
collection number:

RS 13/5/53
repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research
publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:

Richard W. Pohl Papers, RS 13/5/53, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note

Richard W. Pohl was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 21, 1916. He received a B.S. (1939) from Marquette University and a Ph.D. (1947) from the University of Pennsylvania. Pohl joined the Department of Botany at Iowa State and served as Assistant Professor (1947-1951), Associate Professor (1951-1956), and Professor (1956-1986). He retired on June 30, 1986. Pohl also served as Curator (1950-1986) of Iowa State's Ada Hayden Herbarium. Pohl was named Distinguished Professor (1975) and served as Professor Emeritus from his retirement until his death in 1993.

Pohl specialized in the study of bamboo and grasses, and spent considerable time in Central America, especially Costa Rica, studying the taxonomy and cytology of tropical American grasses. He was regarded as the ranking expert in the area of Central American grass taxonomy and served as the honorary curator of grasses for the National Museum in Costa Rica. The courses he taught focused on elementary plant taxonomy, field botany, agrostology and plant geography. He was the author of numerous scientific articles and was a research associate for the Milwaukee Public Museum (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and the Field Museum (Chicago, Illinois).

Pohl was a member of the Botanical Society of America; the American Society of Plant Taxonomists; Sigma Xi, science research honorary; Gamma Sigma Delta, honor society of agriculture; Phi Sigma, biology recognition society; Phi Kappa Phi, scholastic honorary; and Phi Zeta. He served as president (1973) of the American Society of Plant Taxonomists, as treasurer (1959-1965), and as a member of the council (1965-1972).

Richard W. Pohl married Marjorie Conley on August 15, 1941 in Phildelphia, Pennsylvania. Together they had three children, Katherine, Richard and Ann Marie. He died on September 3, 1993 in Ames, Iowa, several months after suffering a severe stroke.

 

Collection description

The collection (1932-1992, n.d.) contains biographical information, correspondence, news clippings, publications, and writings related to Pohl's teaching and research as a Professor of Botany at Iowa State University. Files include records related to grant proposals and awards, including those attained for research projects in Central America; course materials for botany classes he taught; and articles, books, and publications by Pohl. Most of the publications are related to Pohl's primary research interests of bamboos and grasses.

Pohl was also the author of a handful of books including studies of the grasses of Iowa and Pennsylvania, as well as books to help others identify many of the grasses common to the United States and Canada. Copies of these books can be found by searching the library catalog.

 

Organization

The collection is listed alphabetically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

21

1

Aquatics Keys: Costa Rica

n.d.

21

2

Bamboo

1970-1973, n.d.

21

3

Bamboo Blooming in Costa Rica

n.d.

1

1

Biographical Information and Newspaper Clippings

1957-1986

10

1

Biographical Materials

1947-1987, n.d.

20

5

Book Review: "Keys to Iowa Vascular Plants"

1983

18

14

Book: Flora de Nicaragua

1981-1986, n.d.

19

1

Book: Hitchcock's Manual, Revision Folder A

n.d.

19

2

Book: Hitchcock's Manual, Revision Folder B

1984-1990

19

3

Book: How to Know Grasses, 1978 Edition

1969-1970, n.d.

19

4-5

Book: Iowa Grasses I, Folder A-B

1966, n.d.

19

6-7

Book: Iowa Grasses II, Folder A-B

n.d.

19

8-9

Book: Iowa Grasses III, Folder A-B

n.d.

19

10

Book: Iowa Grasses IV, Folder A

n.d.

20

1

Book: Iowa Grasses IV, Folder B

n.d.

20

2-3

Book: Iowa Grasses V, Folder A-B

1965, n.d.

20

4

Book: Iowa Grasses VI

n.d.

18

15

Book: Manual of North American Grasses (Grass Manual Project)

1985-1991, n.d.

14

1

Botany 202 Fall 1985

1985-1986, n.d.

14

3

Botany 202 Keys and Notes

n.d.

14

4

Botany 202, 203

1971-1984

14

2

Botany 202, 203: Course Evaluations

1973-1984, n.d.

14

5

Botany 306 Materials

1984-1986, n.d.

14

6

Botany 306: "Keys to Vascular Plants of Central Iowa"

1968-1970

14

7

Botany 306: "Keys to Vascular Plants of Central Iowa"

1974

14

8

Botany 456: Poisonous Plants

1966-1967, n.d.

14

9

Botany 565: Plant Geography

1956-1969, n.d.

15

3

Botany 594: Literature and Exams

1969-1980, n.d.

15

1

Botany 594: Plant Geography

1960-1969, n.d.

15

2

Botany 594: Plant Geography

1970-1980

15

4-5

Botany 595: Agrostologia

1986, n.d.

15

6

Botany 595: Agrostology

1961-1985, n.d.

15

7

Botany 595: Agrostology Handouts, Subfamilies

1983, n.d.

15

8

Botany 690: Materials

1965-1966, n.d.

15

9

Botany 690: Mimeographs

1958-1965, n.d.

21

4

Chromosome Numbers, Miscellaneous

n.d.

21

5

Chromosome Paper

1978

1

2-4

Correspondence

1953

1

5-9

Correspondence

1954

1

10-12

Correspondence

1955

1

13-16

Correspondence

1956

2

1-4

Correspondence

1957

2

5-8

Correspondence

1958

2

9-11

Correspondence

1959

2

12-16

Correspondence

1960

3

1-5

Correspondence

1961

3

6-10

Correspondence

1962

3

11-15

Correspondence

1963

4

1-3

Correspondence

1964

4

4-6

Correspondence

1965

4

7-10

Correspondence

1966

4

11-12

Correspondence

1967

5

1-3

Correspondence

1967

5

4-5

Correspondence

1968

5

6-8

Correspondence

1969

5

9-12

Correspondence

1970

6

1-5

Correspondence

1971

6

6-9

Correspondence

1972

6

10

Correspondence

1973

7

4-7

Correspondence

1974

7

1-3

Correspondence

1974

7

8-11

Correspondence

1975

8

1-4

Correspondence

1976

8

5-7

Correspondence

1977

8

8-10

Correspondence

1978

8

11-12

Correspondence

1979

9

1-2

Correspondence

1980

9

3

Correspondence

1981

9

4

Correspondence

1982

9

5

Correspondence

1983

21

6

Correspondence

1990-1991

9

6

Correspondence and Interoffice Communication

1954-1957

9

7

Correspondence and Interoffice Communication

1959-1964

9

8

Correspondence and Interoffice Communication

1965-1967

9

9

Correspondence and Interoffice Communication

1968-1971

9

10

Correspondence and Interoffice Communication

1972-1973

9

11

Correspondence and Interoffice Communication

1974-1976

9

12

Correspondence and Interoffice Communication

1977-1978

9

13

Correspondence and Interoffice Communication

1979-1982

12

1

Correspondence: Chavez, Rene

1973-1974

12

2-3

Correspondence: Clark, Lynn

1979-1988, n.d.

12

4

Correspondence: Conert, H.J.

1972-1988

12

5

Correspondence: Cronquist-Britton and Brown

1983-1985, n.d.

12

6

Correspondence: Davidse, Gerrit

1987, n.d.

21

7

Correspondence: Financial Support

1991

12

7

Correspondence: Fogg, John M.

1948-1963, n.d.

21

13

Correspondence: Frank Semour, Regarding Nicaragua Localities

1974

12

8

Correspondence: Gomez, Luis Diego

1969-1992, n.d.

12

9

Correspondence: Hagnaver, W.A.

1967

12

10

Correspondence: Heinrich, Jose

1972-1992, n.d.

21

8

Correspondence: Honduran Grasses, Clewell

1975-1979

12

11

Correspondence: Hubbard, Charles E.

1971-1974

21

9

Correspondence: Information for Gerrit Davidse on Flora Mesoamericana

1981-1983, n.d.

12

12

Correspondence: Kuhbier, N.

1975, n.d.

21

10

Correspondence: Mezoamerican Flora

1987-1989

21

11

Correspondence: Missouri Botanical Garden, Thomas Croat, Nicaragua

1977-1981, n.d.

12

13

Correspondence: Montiel, Mayra

1969-1987, n.d.

21

12

Correspondence: Nature Conservancy

1991-1992

12

14

Correspondence: Paisooksantiyatana, YingYong

1975-1992

12

15

Correspondence: Sandulsky, Tatiana

1981

12

16

Correspondence: Schlegal-Sachs, Fred

1983-1984, n.d.

12

17

Correspondence: Schram, Jacob R.

1949-1959, n.d.

12

18

Correspondence: Shinners, Lloyd H.

1945-1954, n.d.

12

19

Correspondence: Soderstrom, Thomas R.

1967-1983, n.d.

12

20

Correspondence: Stebbins, G. Ledyard

1949-1971, n.d.

12

21

Correspondence: Thorne, Robert

1950-1957, n.d.

12

22

Correspondence: Waddick, James-Bamboos

1983-1990, n.d.

12

23

Correspondence: Wilkes, G.: Harvard Tropical Taxonomy

n.d.

12

24

Correspondence: Williams, L.O.

1967-1980, n.d.

21

14

Costa Rica Fossil Project

n.d.

13

1

Costa Rica: 1971 Trip

1969-1973, n.d.

13

2

Costa Rica: 1972 Spring Trip

1972

13

3

Costa Rica: 1973 Summer Trip

1973, n.d.

13

4

Costa Rica: 1974 Trip

1974, n.d.

13

5

Costa Rica: 1976 Trip

1976

13

6

Costa Rica: 1984-1985 Trip

1984-1985, n.d.

13

8

Costa Rica: Bamboo Jardin

1990-1992, n.d.

13

7

Costa Rica: Chirripo

1967, n.d.

13

9

Costa Rica: Correspondence

1966-1972, n.d.

13

11

Costa Rica: Grasses

n.d.

13

12

Costa Rica: Iowa State University Seminars

1976, n.d.

13

13

Costa Rica: Miscellaneous Correspondence

1979-1982, n.d.

13

14

Costa Rica: Phytogeography Reference File

1945-1952, n.d.

13

15

Costa Rica: Snake Bites

1967-1971

13

10

Costa Rica: Travel Documents, etc.

1968, n.d.

13

16

Costa Rica: University of Costa Rica, Primo Luis Chavarria

1988-1989, n.d.

21

15

Cytology

1955-1971, n.d.

10

2

Distinguished Professorship

1974-1975

21

16

Escuela Agricola Panamerica Herbarium List

1971-1980, n.d.

15

11

Evolution Lecture

n.d.

10

3

Faculty Improvement Leave

1966-1982, n.d.

11

1

Field Museum

1968-1978, n.d.

11

2

Ford Foundation

1951-1952, n.d.

15

12

Fossil Flowers

1984-1985, n.d.

11

3

Fulbright 1990

1988-1990, n.d.

10

4

General Correspondence

1976-1986, n.d.

21

17

Grass Cytology

1974-1975

21

18

Hymenachne

1973-1974, n.d.

21

19

Illustrations and Drawings: Chromosome Counts, Anyzopsis, Setaroa-Erogrostis

n.d.

21

20

Insect Pollination of Grasses

1967-1981, n.d.

10

5

Janzen Manuscript

1980-1981

21

21

Lab Manual

1940-1941

21

22

Loudetia Longipetiolata

1951-1964, n.d.

20

6

Manuscript: Lithachne

1978 ca.

11

4

Mid-America State Universities Association Lectures

1979-1989, n.d.

20

13

Miscellaneous Publications

1940-1985

15

10

Miscellaneous Teaching Materials

1963, n.d.

11

5

Missouri Botanical Garden: Panama Project

1972

11

6

Morris Arboretum: University of Pennsylvania

1985-1986

21

23

Muhlenbergia Tenuiflora, Ranges

1963-1970, n.d.

11

7

Museo Nacional: Luis Gomez

1975-1983

11

8

National Geographic Society

1971-1985, n.d.

17

1

National Science Foundation: Applications

1963-1965

17

4

National Science Foundation: Flora Mesoamericana

1977-1982

17

2

National Science Foundation: Grant Proposals for Costa Rica

1967-1974

17

6

National Science Foundation: Proposal

1981

17

7

National Science Foundation: Proposal

1981-1984

17

5

National Science Foundation: Proposal, Grass Flora of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua

1980

17

8

National Science Foundation: Proposals

1985-1987

17

3

National Science Foundation: Salvadore, Nicaragua, Honduras 420-21-23

1977-1979

21

24

New Central American Grass Records

1983-1987, n.d.

11

12

National Science Foundation: 1969 Report Answer

1969-1971

11

10

National Science Foundation: Costa Rica B 1973 R

1966-1970, n.d.

11

14

National Science Foundation: Financial Correspondence GB-30285

1974-1976

11

15

National Science Foundation: Financial Records: Costa Rica

1968-1969

11

13

National Science Foundation: GB-7307x Final Report

1972

11

9

National Science Foundation: Project GB-32085 Grasses of Costa Rica Final Report

1977

11

11

National Science Foundation: Proposal 77-50

1977

11

16

Organization for Tropical Studies Correspondence

1966-1975, n.d.

16

1-3

Organization for Tropical Studies Reports

n.d.

21

25

Orthoclada Laxa

1965-1966, n.d.

20

7

Paper: "Bamboo Chromosome Counts Chusquea and Aulonemia"

n.d.

20

8

Paper: "Central American Grasses"

1971, n.d.

20

9

Paper: "Chromosome Numbers, Meiotic Behavior and Notes on Tropical Grasses (Gramineae)"

1973, n.d.

20

11

Paper: "New Records of Mesoamerican Grasses, Costa Rican Grasses, Additions 1983"

1981-1983, n.d.

20

12

Paper: "Stipa Latigumis"

n.d.

20

10

Paper: Davidse and Pohl, "Chromosome Numbers of Tropical American Grasses (Gramineae)"

1976-1978, n.d.

10

6

Photographs (1- 5x7" color, 2- 8x10" b/w)

1981, n.d.

22

11

Photographs and Negatives of Plant Specimens (23- 5x7" b/w photographs, 2- 5x7" b/w negatives)

1960-1965, n.d.

21

26

Plant Import Permits

1979-1991, n.d.

21

27

Polyethylene Pellets

1978-1979

10

7

Presidency of the American Society of Plant Taxonomists

1972-1973, n.d.

10

8

Professional Activities

1966-1984

18

2

Publication: Pohl, Richard and Davidse, Gerrit. "Chromosome Numbers of Costa Rican Grasses," Final Edition, 1-21-71

1970-1971

18

3

Publication: Pohl, Richard and Davidse, Gerrit: "Central American Grasses," Older Versions

1971-1972

18

12

Publication: Pohl, Richard and Paisooksantivatana, Yingyong. "Morphology, Anatomy, and Cytology of the Genus Lithachne," Revista de Biologia Tropical, 40 (1), 47-72

1990-1992

18

11

Publication: Pohl, Richard. "Blooming History of the Costa Rican Bamboos," Revista de Biologia Tropical, No. 674-90

1980-1990, n.d.

18

13

Publication: Pohl, Richard. "Blooming History of the Costa Rican Bamboos," Revista de Biologia Tropical, 39 (1)

1991

18

4

Publication: Pohl, Richard. "Costa Rican Grasses," MSS Alterations

1978-1979, n.d.

18

9

Publication: Pohl, Richard. "Cultivation of Rain Forest Grasses," Annals of Botany, V. 41

1977, n.d.

18

7

Publication: Pohl, Richard. "Eragrostis Contrerasii, A New Grass Species from Central America," Iowa State Journal of Research, J-8650

1976

18

8

Publication: Pohl, Richard. "Genera of Costa Rican Bamboos," Revista de Biologia Tropical

1976, n.d.

18

6

Publication: Pohl, Richard. "New Species of Digitaria, Pennisetum, and Poa from Costa Rica," Fieldiana

1974-1976, n.d.

18

1

Publication: Pohl, Richard. "New Taxa of Hierocholoe Pariana and Triplasis," Iowa State Journal of Research, J-7214

1970 ca.

18

10

Publication: Pohl, Richard. "Paspalum Ergon," Biotropica

1977

18

5

Publication: Pohl, Richard. "Phragmites-Floracion Primera Del Zacate Gigante," Revista de Biologia Tropical, 21 (2): 205-206

1974

22

1

Rhipidocladum Proposal

n.d.

10

9

Speech: "Biogeografia de las Gramineas de Mesoamerica"

1984, n.d.

15

13

Stebbins-Evolution: University of California, Berkeley

1952-1953

20

17

Symposia and Lectures: ASTP Presidential Lecture, "World of Grasses," Boulder, Colorado?

1973

20

15

Symposia and Lectures: First Bamboo Symposium, Manizales, Columbia

1981

20

14

Symposia and Lectures: Missouri Botanical Garden Symposium

1979

20

16

Symposia and Lectures: Second Bamboo Symposium, Guayaquil, Ecuador

1982

22

8

Trip: Central America, 1980

1980-1981, n.d.

22

2

Trip: Central America, December 1977

1970-1977, n.d.

22

4

Trip: Central America, June 1978

1970-1979

22

6

Trip: Correspondence, December 1978

1977-1979

22

9

Trip: Costa Rica, 1992

1992

22

3

Trip: Honduras, 1977

1977-1978, n.d.

22

7

Trip: Honduras, 1979

1971-1979

22

5

Trip: June 1978

1977-1978, n.d.

22

10

Unpublished Costa Rica Chromosome Data

1971-1974, n.d.

11

17-18

Wilton Park

1980-1984, n.d.

10

11

Writings

1932-1984, n.d.

10

10

Writings: Plant Distribution

1941