Box 2 (Pickett's research files) and the research notebook in Box 1 appear to have no relation to the rest of the collection aside from the fact that they all pertain to botany. Ira C. Otis died in 1938, but the research notebook is dated 1965 to 1969.
Fermen Layton Pickett Papers, circa 1912-1938 (Cage 87)
Francis Marion Ownbey Papers, 1934-1974 (Cage 320)
Francis Marion Ownbey Papers (MS.1981.43, MS.1982.53, MS.1985.06)
Botanical Papers, 1881-1973 (Cage 53)
This collection contains botanical papers of Ira C. Otis (1861-1938), combined with related papers of other scientists. The collection consists of research file cards and a research notebook on Tragopogon and chromatography laboratory records (dated 1965-1969).
Preliminary Inventory:
Box 1: Research notebook on Tragopogon and chromatography laboratory records (1965-1969) with the names of M. Ownbey and N. F. Belzer, and research file cards (Otis)
Box 2: Research file cards (F. L. Pickett)
Box 3: Research file cards (Otis)
This collection is open and available for research use.
Transferred to Washington State University Libraries from the WSU Herbarium in 1982 (MS.1982.50).
Ira C. Otis (1861-1938) was born in Jewelton, Wisconsin. He moved to Grays Harbor, Washington, in 1889. During his residence in the state, worked as an engineer for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, the Surveyor General's office in Olympia, the Great Northern Railroad, and the State Highway Department. Otis developed a hobby in botany, and collected specimens as well as research materials, with a focus in ferns, grasses, and water plants. In 1936, Otis donated items from his personal herbarium to the Washington State University Herbarium.
This is an unprocessed collection. Any arrangement reflects either a pre-existing order from the records' creators or previous custodians, or preliminary sorting performed by staff.