fbpx
Wikipedia

Robert Greenleaf Leavitt

April 15, 2024

Dr. Robert Greenleaf Leavitt (1865–1942) was an early American Harvard-educated botanist and widely published author in the field of botany, as well as an early college and high school educator in the natural sciences. Leavitt also worked for nine years as a botanical researcher at the Ames Botanical Laboratory in North Easton, Massachusetts.

Early botanical illustration, 1872, unidentified 19th-century artist

Biography edit

Dr. Leavitt was born in Parsonsfield, Maine. His parents were Susan Chapman Blazo and John Greenleaf Leavitt, a Congregational minister, who had been married in the early 1860s.[1] Hean early botany professor at Harvard College, where he had graduated in the class of 1889 after attending Worcester Academy.[2] Then went to Harvard College, living in Cambridge. While there he went in for athletics and became intercollegiate pole vault champion as well as a prize-winning jumper.[1] He was graduated AB in June 1889. He taught school at DeVeaux School in Niagara Falls, N.Y., then at Williston Seminary in Easthampton, Mass. Following his Harvard education, Leavitt began publishing widely in the field of botany, including articles in The American Naturalist, The Botanical Gazette, Science magazine (the official publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science), the Boston Society of Natural History magazine as well as other publications in the field. In 1899 Leavitt was named assistant professor at Harvard.[3]

Leavitt subsequently earned his Doctor of Philosophy in biology at Harvard in 1904.[4] He wrote Leavitt's Outlines of Botany,a standard text book at the time; it was published by the Harvard University Press.[1] Leavitt spent some nine years at the Ames Botanical Laboratory in study, research, writing and collecting specimens, including trips to Cuba and Europe. Following his time at the Ames Botanical Laboratory, Leavitt became a high school botany teacher in Massachusetts and later in New Jersey. "College teaching is the least interesting," Leavitt wrote his Harvard classmates, "normal school the most interesting."

As the head of the biological department of the New Jersey Normal and Model Schools, Dr. Leavitt served as a high school teacher in Trenton, New Jersey, as well as overseeing statewide efforts to teach botany and the natural sciences.

"I expect to put in the rest of my time before I retire to my farm in Maine in helping to improve the schools of this State System," Leavitt wrote to his Harvard class. "At 60 I expect to retire for 40 years of research, with special reference to fruits adaptable to Maine, at my experiment station in a beautiful country among the foothills of the White Mountains. (My great great grandfather was a man of God-given taste in scenery)."[5]

In the following years, Leavitt authored many textbooks in the field of botany, many for high school students, including his Outlines of Botany for the High School Laboratory and Classroom, which was widely reprinted.

Robert Greenleaf Leavitt was the son of John Greenleaf Leavitt, an early student at Parsonsfield Seminary[6] at Parsonsfield, Maine, who returned to his alma mater in 1861 to serve as the school's principal for one year, when he married Susan C. Blazo, daughter of one of the Seminary's co-founders. (Dr. Leavitt served as a trustee for the Parsonsfield Seminary.[7]) Rev. J. Greenleaf Leavitt later spent his life as a Congregationalist minister at Webster, Massachusetts.[8] The home built by his wife's Blazo ancestors descended in the family of Rev. Greenleaf Leavitt. (The Blazo-Leavitt House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.)

 
Dr. Robert Greenleaf Leavitt

Dr. Leavitt married Ida Gertrude (Ruggli) Leavitt, a 1901 graduate of Radcliffe College, at Arlington, Massachusetts in 1906, following the death of his first wife Janet (Shumway).[9] Robert Greenleaf Leavitt and his first wife had two sons, Robert and Russell, both of whom attended Harvard College. Dr. Leavitt and his second wife Ida Ruggli had two daughters, Rosamund, who died in infancy, and Constance. Following his service as a high school teacher in New Jersey, Robert Greenleaf Leavitt retired to his farm in Maine, where he raised 40 varieties of apples.

The standard author abbreviation Leav. is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.[10]

Books edit

  • Robert Greenleaf Leavitt. Outlines of botany for the high school laboratory and classroom (based on Gray's Lessons in botany) 1901 [Hardcover]. Publisher: Facsimile Publisher (2015)
  • Robert Greenleaf Leavitt. The Geographic Distribution Of Closely Related Species. Publisher: Nabu Press (13 April 2012)
  • Robert Greenleaf Leavitt.The Forest Trees of New England. Publisher: The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University (1932)
  • Robert Greenleaf Leavitt.Trichomes of the Root in Vascular Cryptogams and Angiosperms (Classic Reprint). Publisher: Forgotten Books (26 Nov. 2016)
  • Robert Greenleaf Leavitt.Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, Vol. 31, No. 7, p.273-313, pl. 16-19; Trichomes of the Root in Vascular Cryptogams and Angiosperms. Publisher: Leopold Classic Library (20 Oct. 2015)[11]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c of ROBERT GREENLEAF LEAVITT by his son Russell Leavitt Retrieved on 13 Jan 2018
  2. ^ Secretary's Report, Harvard College, Class of 1889, Secretary's Report No. VI, The Rackwell and Churchill Press, Boston, 1909
  3. ^ The Annual Report of the President of Harvard University to the Overseers, 1899, Published by the University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1900
  4. ^ Quinquennial Catalogue of the Officers and Graduates of Harvard University, 1636-1905, Published by the University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1905
  5. ^ Twenty-fifth Anniversary, 1889-1914, Class of 1889, Seventh Report of the Class Secretary, Harvard College, June 1914, Printed by Cockayne, Boston, 1914
  6. ^ Robert Greenleaf Leavitt authored in 1932 an early history of the Seminary with which his ancestors were associated since its founding. Dr. Leavitt spoke about the Seminary's early history at an Aug. 13, 1932, program devoted to the school's centennial.
  7. ^ Class of 1889, Harvard College, Thirtieth Anniversary, 1889-1919, Eighth Report of the Class Secretary, Cambridge, 1919
  8. ^
  9. ^ The Harvard Graduates' Magazine, Vol. XV, William Roscoe Thayer, Published by the Harvard Graduates' Magazine Association, Boston, Mass., 1906
  10. ^ International Plant Names Index.  Leav.
  11. ^ "Robert Greenleaf Leavitt" Retrieved on 13 Jan 2018

External links edit

  • Outlines of Botany for the High School Laboratory and Classroom (Based on Gray's Lessons in Botany), Robert Greenleaf Leavitt, American Book Company, 1901
  • Memoir of Robert Greenleaf Leavitt by his son Russell Leavitt


April 15, 2024
robert, greenleaf, leavitt, 1865, 1942, early, american, harvard, educated, botanist, widely, published, author, field, botany, well, early, college, high, school, educator, natural, sciences, leavitt, also, worked, nine, years, botanical, researcher, ames, bo. Dr Robert Greenleaf Leavitt 1865 1942 was an early American Harvard educated botanist and widely published author in the field of botany as well as an early college and high school educator in the natural sciences Leavitt also worked for nine years as a botanical researcher at the Ames Botanical Laboratory in North Easton Massachusetts Early botanical illustration 1872 unidentified 19th century artist Contents 1 Biography 2 Books 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBiography editDr Leavitt was born in Parsonsfield Maine His parents were Susan Chapman Blazo and John Greenleaf Leavitt a Congregational minister who had been married in the early 1860s 1 Hean early botany professor at Harvard College where he had graduated in the class of 1889 after attending Worcester Academy 2 Then went to Harvard College living in Cambridge While there he went in for athletics and became intercollegiate pole vault champion as well as a prize winning jumper 1 He was graduated AB in June 1889 He taught school at DeVeaux School in Niagara Falls N Y then at Williston Seminary in Easthampton Mass Following his Harvard education Leavitt began publishing widely in the field of botany including articles in The American Naturalist The Botanical Gazette Science magazine the official publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science the Boston Society of Natural History magazine as well as other publications in the field In 1899 Leavitt was named assistant professor at Harvard 3 Leavitt subsequently earned his Doctor of Philosophy in biology at Harvard in 1904 4 He wrote Leavitt s Outlines of Botany a standard text book at the time it was published by the Harvard University Press 1 Leavitt spent some nine years at the Ames Botanical Laboratory in study research writing and collecting specimens including trips to Cuba and Europe Following his time at the Ames Botanical Laboratory Leavitt became a high school botany teacher in Massachusetts and later in New Jersey College teaching is the least interesting Leavitt wrote his Harvard classmates normal school the most interesting As the head of the biological department of the New Jersey Normal and Model Schools Dr Leavitt served as a high school teacher in Trenton New Jersey as well as overseeing statewide efforts to teach botany and the natural sciences I expect to put in the rest of my time before I retire to my farm in Maine in helping to improve the schools of this State System Leavitt wrote to his Harvard class At 60 I expect to retire for 40 years of research with special reference to fruits adaptable to Maine at my experiment station in a beautiful country among the foothills of the White Mountains My great great grandfather was a man of God given taste in scenery 5 In the following years Leavitt authored many textbooks in the field of botany many for high school students including his Outlines of Botany for the High School Laboratory and Classroom which was widely reprinted Robert Greenleaf Leavitt was the son of John Greenleaf Leavitt an early student at Parsonsfield Seminary 6 at Parsonsfield Maine who returned to his alma mater in 1861 to serve as the school s principal for one year when he married Susan C Blazo daughter of one of the Seminary s co founders Dr Leavitt served as a trustee for the Parsonsfield Seminary 7 Rev J Greenleaf Leavitt later spent his life as a Congregationalist minister at Webster Massachusetts 8 The home built by his wife s Blazo ancestors descended in the family of Rev Greenleaf Leavitt The Blazo Leavitt House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places nbsp Dr Robert Greenleaf LeavittDr Leavitt married Ida Gertrude Ruggli Leavitt a 1901 graduate of Radcliffe College at Arlington Massachusetts in 1906 following the death of his first wife Janet Shumway 9 Robert Greenleaf Leavitt and his first wife had two sons Robert and Russell both of whom attended Harvard College Dr Leavitt and his second wife Ida Ruggli had two daughters Rosamund who died in infancy and Constance Following his service as a high school teacher in New Jersey Robert Greenleaf Leavitt retired to his farm in Maine where he raised 40 varieties of apples The standard author abbreviation Leav is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name 10 Books editRobert Greenleaf Leavitt Outlines of botany for the high school laboratory and classroom based on Gray s Lessons in botany 1901 Hardcover Publisher Facsimile Publisher 2015 Robert Greenleaf Leavitt The Geographic Distribution Of Closely Related Species Publisher Nabu Press 13 April 2012 Robert Greenleaf Leavitt The Forest Trees of New England Publisher The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University 1932 Robert Greenleaf Leavitt Trichomes of the Root in Vascular Cryptogams and Angiosperms Classic Reprint Publisher Forgotten Books 26 Nov 2016 Robert Greenleaf Leavitt Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History Vol 31 No 7 p 273 313 pl 16 19 Trichomes of the Root in Vascular Cryptogams and Angiosperms Publisher Leopold Classic Library 20 Oct 2015 11 See also editRobert Keith Leavitt Blazo Leavitt HouseReferences edit a b c of ROBERT GREENLEAF LEAVITT by his son Russell Leavitt Retrieved on 13 Jan 2018 Secretary s Report Harvard College Class of 1889 Secretary s Report No VI The Rackwell and Churchill Press Boston 1909 The Annual Report of the President of Harvard University to the Overseers 1899 Published by the University Cambridge Massachusetts 1900 Quinquennial Catalogue of the Officers and Graduates of Harvard University 1636 1905 Published by the University Cambridge Massachusetts 1905 Twenty fifth Anniversary 1889 1914 Class of 1889 Seventh Report of the Class Secretary Harvard College June 1914 Printed by Cockayne Boston 1914 Robert Greenleaf Leavitt authored in 1932 an early history of the Seminary with which his ancestors were associated since its founding Dr Leavitt spoke about the Seminary s early history at an Aug 13 1932 program devoted to the school s centennial Class of 1889 Harvard College Thirtieth Anniversary 1889 1919 Eighth Report of the Class Secretary Cambridge 1919 Leavitt Blazo House North Parsonsfield Maine circa 1900 The Harvard Graduates Magazine Vol XV William Roscoe Thayer Published by the Harvard Graduates Magazine Association Boston Mass 1906 International Plant Names Index Leav Robert Greenleaf Leavitt Retrieved on 13 Jan 2018External links editOutlines of Botany for the High School Laboratory and Classroom Based on Gray s Lessons in Botany Robert Greenleaf Leavitt American Book Company 1901 Memoir of Robert Greenleaf Leavitt by his son Russell Leavitt Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Greenleaf Leavitt amp oldid 1145708957, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.