Harrison Garman papers, circa 1898-1912

Title

Harrison Garman papers, circa 1898-1912

Creator

Garman, Harrison

Extent

6.65 cubic feet (19 boxes)

Subjects

Garman, Harrison, 1856-1944.

University of Kentucky.

Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station.

Lexington (Ky.)

Beaufort (N.C.)

Agriculture -- Research -- Kentucky.

Entomology -- Kentucky -- Lexington.

College teachers -- Kentucky -- Lexington.

Finding Aid Author

Processed by Ingrid Van Royen and Kat Vaughan-Lloyd in 2006 under the supervision of Deirdre A. Scaggs, University Archivist.; machine-readable finding aid created by Encoded by

Repository

University of Kentucky

Biography / History

Dr. Harrison Garman was born on December 27, 1856 in Lena, Illinois. He was educated in the public school system, graduated from Illinois State Normal University, and attended Johns Hopkins University from 1881 to 1882. He married Rosalie Miller of Hatfield, Massachusetts.

Dr. Garman's career in entomology and botany began at the Illinois State Laboratory of Natural Science, 1883-1889. He served as Assistant Illinois State Entomologist from 1883-1885. From 1885-1889 he served as Assistant Professor of Zoology at the University of Illinois. Dr. Garman accepted a position as Entomologist and Botanist for the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station from 1889 to1929. In addition to his works at the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station, Dr. Garman also served as the Kentucky State Entomologist from 1897 to 1929. Dr. Garman authored numerous articles, papers, and experiments which were published in the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletins.

Considered a naturalist, of particular interest to Dr. Garman were the study of stream pollutants and pollution in Kentucky streams, believing it to be "one of the most important subjects before the public in this country at the present time." Dr. Garman was associated with numerous botanical, entomological, and zoological organizations, including the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association, the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Sciences, and the Zoologists of Central States. He died on August 7, 1944 in Lexington, Kentucky and is buried in a local Lexington cemetery.

Scope and Content

The Harrison Garman papers include correspondence and notes related to the Entomology files and research of Dr. Harrison Garman. Much of the correspondence is written on personal stationary and corporate letterheads which date from 1898 to 1912. It consists mostly of incoming correspondence from nurserymen, farmers, seed companies, chemical companies, apiaries, private individuals, foreign agricultural departments, the United States Department of Agriculture, and other Experimental Stations concerning questions and comments pertaining to the area of study that is listed on each folder. The correspondence pertains to concerns and questions raised by individual members of the community, his peers, and governmental organizations regarding topics in entomology. There are some newspaper clippings concerning pesticide use by the public during this time period.

Professor Garman recorded his research and experiments in his own handwriting on small loose-leaf notepapers. The notes are dated, some with the experiment number, and several include hand illustrations of identified plants and insects. Professor Garman also created a notebook describing in detail the various species of Marine Biology in Beaufort, North Carolina, dating from July to September of 1881. In the notebook, he makes references to the works of Dr. W.K. Brooks, Fritz Muller, and [Charles] Spence Bate; all prominent scientists in their fields. The notebook is leather bound and measures 4" x 6.5". Some items of interest are: a memo dated March 9, 1915 imprinted on a cotton fiber (not paper) letterhead from a cotton manufacturer, the Botany Misc. Folder contains a letter from The Sword of Laban, American Anti-Mormon Association, The Gospel Dollar League, and Box 19, Folder 11, contains Professor Garman's handwritten bound notebook on Marine Biology from Beaufort, North Carolina, dated 1881.

The collection also included bound Agricultural Experiment Station Annual Reports from 1890 to 1931, Entomology Bulletins from 1889-1954, Entomology Circulars from 1927-1937, Botany Bulletins from 1890-1932, loose Botany Circulars from 1915-1937, Regulatory Series July 1935 and 1962-1963, Results of Research for 1964, 1966, 1967, and 1968. A bibliography is included in the collection file, but the publications have been removed from the collection.