Harvard botanists Archives

Richard Hale Goodwin: A Botanist’s Window on Conservation and Human Ecology

Richard H. Goodwin, a prominent American botanist and conservationist, known for his significant contributions to land preservation.

A Botanist’s Window December 14, 1910 Today is the birthday of the American botanist and conservationist Richard Hale “Dick” Goodwin. Reflecting on how he decided to pursue botany in college, Richard wrote, “I loved the outdoors and wild places and had the thought that by entering that field I might be able to contribute toward…

Asa Gray: Pioneering American Botanist, Darwin’s Confidant, and Defender of Evolution

Asa Gray (1810-1888), a prominent American botanist and a leading figure in 19th-century American science.

For Team Darwin November 18, 1810 Today is the birthday of one of the leading American botanists of his time and a member of Team Darwin, Asa Gray, who was born on this day in 1810. In 1857, Asa Gray received a confidential letter from Charles Darwin. In the letter, Darwin confided: “I will enclose…

The Botanical Survivalist: Thomas Grant Harbison’s Extraordinary Legacy

Thomas Grant Harbison Portrait (colorized)

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 23, 1862 On this day, dear readers, the botanical world was graced with the arrival of one Thomas Grant Harbison—a man whose peculiar dedication to flora would eventually lead him to subsist…