AHJ_ah400013 Guide to the Aven Nelson papers, 1870-1983 Nelson (Aven) papers Processed by Ginny Kilander University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
1998;2007

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Kenton G. Jaehnig February 2006 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Nelson, Aven, 1859-1952 Aven Nelson papers 1870-1983 400013 12.75 cubic ft. (30 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Aven Nelson was an internationally known botanist and an original faculty member and president at the University of Wyoming. Biography of Aven Nelson

Aven Nelson (1859-1952), a noted botanist of the Rocky Mountain states, was one of the first faculty members of the University of Wyoming. He was hired in 1886 and continued with the University until 1942. Nelson took a leave of absence from the University in 1892 to receive botanical training at Harvard University. He received a Ph.D from the University of Denver in 1904. In addition to serving as professor of Biology and professor of Botany, Nelson was Curator of the Rocky Mountain Herbarium (1894-1942), which he developed through a specimen exchange program he started after a collecting trip to Yellowstone National Park in 1899. He was also botanist of the University of Wyoming Experiment Station. In 1912 Nelson was appointed acting President of the University. He was confirmed as President in 1917 and served until 1922. Nelson authored more than 150 articles and books, including the 1909 revision of "Manual of the Botany of the Rocky Mountain Region" and "First Report on the Flora of Wyoming." Nelson married Cecilia Alice Calhoun in 1885 and they had two daughters. Cecilia died in 1929 and Nelson married Ruth Ashton (1891-1987) in 1931. Ruth Ashton Nelson, also a botanist, served as an assistant with the Rocky Mountain Herbarium. They conducted fieldwork together and issued joint publications.

 Scope and Content

Collection contains biographical information; personal and professional correspondence, especially with the Botanical Society of America and the Wyoming State Board of Horticulture (1880-1949); miscellaneous correspondence files relating to Nelson's tenure as University of Wyoming President and the Rocky Mountain Herbarium (1890s-1950); manuscripts of Nelson's writings including speeches and short papers (1893-1945); manuscripts of papers, photographs, slides, and negatives, and correspondence for Ashton Nelson (1928-1980); photographs and glass slides of the Nelson family, landscapes and the University of Wyoming (1887-1983); copies of Aven Nelson's publications (1884-1952); and artifacts.

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

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There are no known other archival collections created by Aven Nelson at the date of processing.

The Aven Nelson Papers were donated to the American Heritage Center by Ruth Nelson in 1950; by the University of Wyoming Department of Botany and the Rocky Mountain Herbarium in 1971; by Alice Ellen Cherbeneau, Ruth Ashton Nelson, and Roger L. Williams in 1985; by Ruth Nelson in 1986; by Roger Williams in 1986 and 1991; by an unidentified donor in 1987; by Sue Gentle and Sue Sweet in 1991; by Gregory Brown, Head of the Department of Botany in 2010; and by Stephen T. Jackson in 2021.

The collection was processed by Ginny Kilander in 1998, revised by D. Claudia Thompson in 1999 and updated by MaKayla Garnica in 2018 and Jamie Greene in January 2023.

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number (if applicable), Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

 Access Terms Botanical Society of America Wyoming State Board of Horticulture University of Wyoming -- Presidents University of Wyoming -- History University of Wyoming -- Department of Botany Rocky Mountain Herbarium Botany -- Wyoming Botany -- West (U.S.) College presidents -- Wyoming Wyoming -- History -- To 1889 Wyoming -- History -- 1890-1918 Wyoming -- History -- 1919-1945 Wyoming -- History -- 1946-1999 Laramie (Wyo.) -- History Photographs Artifacts Legal documents Certificates Botanists Nelson, Ruth Ashton, 1896-1987 Nelson, Ruth Ashton, 1896-1987. Handbook of Rocky Mountain plants Nelson, Aven, 1859-1952. Flora of Wyoming Coulter, John Merle, 1851-1952. Botany of the central Rocky Mountains (Vascular plants) Education Colleges and Universities Science, Technology and Health Science Politics, Government, and Law Wyoming Container List Series I. Biographical Information 1875-1982

This series contains biographical information about Aven Nelson.

 Sub-series 1. Awards, Degrees, and Honors

This sub-series contains awards, degrees, and honors given to Aven Nelson.

 1 1 Certificates 1897-1941 1 2 Diploma 1904 1 3 Diploma 1937 1 4 Programs 1876-1926 1 5 School Records 1875-1881 Sub-series 2. Biographical Information

This sub-series contains articles, autobiographical notes, and essays about Aven Nelson.

 1 6-12 Articles: A-W 1891-1962 1 13 Autobiographical Notes 1944-1945 1 14 Biographical Directory Entries 1931-1939 1 15 Biographical Notes Undated 1 16 Essays 1979-1982 1 17 Essays 1949, Undated 1 18 Miscellaneous 1899-1961 1 19 Programs 1882-1943 Series II. Correspondence 1880-1949

This series contains professional, business, and personal correspondence sent both to and from Aven Nelson.

 2 1-16 Abr - Bos 1894-1949 2American Patriotic League1923-1924 3 1-11 Botanical Society of America - Coulter 1891-1949 4 1-16 Cov - Grav 1894-1947 5 1-13 Greene - Kru 1889-1948 6 1-14 Lan - Mis 1887-1946 7 1-13 Moe - Phi Beta 1895-1949 8 1-11 Phi Kappa Phi - Rydberg 1893-1948 9 1-13 Sav - Williams, L.O. 1880-1949 10 1-4 Williams, W. - Z 1889-1947 10 5 Miscellaneous 1895-1947 Series III. University of Wyoming Files ca. 1890-1950

This series contains files relating to the University of Wyoming's Board of Trustees, Nelson's leave of absence, the University of Wyoming's president's office, and the Rocky Mountain Herbarium.

10 6 Board of Trustees/Research Committee 1894-1944 10 7 Leave of Absence 1922, Undated 10 8 President's Office 1918-1930 10 9 Rocky Mountain Herbarium: General Information 1910-1942 10 10 Rocky Mountain Herbarium: Publications, Students 1943, 1950 10 11 Rocky Mountain Herbarium: Reports 1943-1947 10 12 Rocky Mountain Herbarium: Specimen Exchanges 1904-1945 10 13 Rocky Mountain Herbarium: Herbarium List ca. 1890 Series IV. Manuscripts, Speeches, and Short Papers 1883-1945

This series contains manuscripts written by Aven Nelson unless otherwise noted.

 10 14 A.A.A.S. Kansas City; Alumni Dinner; Arbor Day 1925-1940 10 15 The Beginning of the End Undated 10 16 Books and Libraries Undated 10 17 Brazil, Orchid of the Tropics Undated 10 18 Citizens of Kirksville; The Curse of Idleness 1883, Undated 11 1 The Dedication of the Ivinson Soldier Memorial; Design in Nature in the Light of the Theory of Evolution 1893, Undated 11 2 Discipleship Undated 11 3 Dr. Greene; Dreamers 1914, Undated 11 4 The Dual Purpose Manual 1928, Undated 11 5 Edward Henry Slosson; Extract from Address Given before High School, June 1918; The Flora of Wyoming 1918, Undated 11 6 The Forage of the Red Desert; Fruit in Wyoming 1925, Undated 11 7 The Futility of the Fetish of a Latin Diagnosis Undated 11 8 The Genus Concept; The Genus Sorbus In Western North America Undated 11 9 Grace E. Osterhout; Grace Raymond Hebard 1936-1937 11 10 History of the S.A.T.C.; Honors of the Campus; Horticulture 1904, Undated 11 11 "I wish to introduce, Dr. May Preston Slosson..." (untitled); "If the war should last several years..." (untitled); In Memoriam; Individual Liberty and Universal Democracy; "It is hard to think!..." (untitled); Joseph M. Carey; June Etta Downey Undated 11 12 Laboratory Methods 1892 11 13 The Land of Promise Undated 11 14 Light, Life, Liberty Undated 11 15 Loyalty Undated 11 16 Manual of the Botany of the Rocky Mountain Region, by John M. Coulter (Aven Nelson's "work" copy with annotations) 1885 11 17 "Members of the class of Nineteen Hundred and twenty eight..." (untitled) 1928 11 18 The Microscope 1892 11 19 The Migrant and Native Flora of North America, The Northern Rocky Mountains (abstract); The Name Camass Undated 11 20 The Nelson Administration Undated 11 21 A Night in the Desert Undated 11 22 The Objectives of an Academy of Science Undated 11 23 The Objectives in Systematic Botany Undated 11 24 Pioneering Undated 11 25 Plants of Alaska Collected at Points Along the Southeastern Coast and Along the Railroad During the Summer of 1939 by Aven Nelson and Ruth A. Nelson 1939 12 1 The President's Message, September 23, 1928; Professor Charles E. Bessey; "Read at a Faculty Club Meeting..." (untitled) 1915-1935 12 2 The Rocky Mountain Herbarium Undated 12 3 The Relation of the State University to its Owners Undated 12 4 Report on the Study of the Plants of Mount McKinley National Park...., by Aven Nelson and Ruth Ashton Nelson ca. 1939 12 5 Report on Yellowstone Park, by F.H. Knowlton 1887 12 6 Response by the President, Aven Nelson, Accepting the Charter; Response (to the Address of Welcome by Chancellor Hunter) Undated 12 7 Rocky Mountain Flowers (by Clements), review; The Rocky Mountain Herbarium Undated 12 8 Rocky Mountain Herbarium Studies VI 1944-1945 12 9 Science and the Laity; Science and the State Undated 12 10 Science Teaching in our Public Schools 1893, Undated 12 11 The Sixth Object of Rotary; Standards; A Taxonomic Racket Undated 12 12 Taxonomic Sanity, A Purpose and a Plan; Teacher-Training in the University; "Think about this...." (untitled) Undated 12 13 This Year and Next (includes Salaries, Financial Outlook for 1918-19); To a Butte; "To the Faculty at the University of Wyoming, 1919-1920...." (untitled) ca. 1919, Undated 12 14 Vegetation of the Northern Rocky Mountains; What is it to be Educated?; Welcoming a New Administration Undated 12 15 What Rotary Means to the World; What the University is Doing to Develop the Resources of Wyoming; Why Take the Joy out of Life?; Wyoming's Pseudonym Undated 12 16 Miscellaneous Essays Undated 12 17 Untitled Botanical Manuscripts/Notes Undated 12 18 Untitled Incomplete Manuscripts Undated Series V. Ruth Ashton Nelson Papers 1928-1980

This series contains the papers of Ruth Ashton Nelson, who was a botanist and Aven Nelson's second wife.

 Sub-series 1. Manuscripts

This sub-series contains manuscripts of Ruth Ashton Nelson's botanical papers.

 12 19 All Good; Autumn Dawn; Birds in Our Garden, 1-2, 4; A Brief Explanation of Evolutionary Trends in Seed Plants; (Color Plates for unidentified publication); Colorful Maples for Colorado; Enjoy Fragrance 1951-1958 12 20 Gardening with Colorado Wildings, I-VI 1960-1961 12 21 Handbook of Plants of the Rocky Mountains and Their Native Environment Undated 13 1-4 Handbook of Plants of the Rocky Mountains and Their Native Environment Undated 13 5 Harry Swift and Western Native Plants; Horticultural Use of Native Rocky Mountain Plants; Letters for Kathleen Marriage to Ruth Nelson, Spring 1951 excerpts; More from Kathleen Marriage's Letters to Ruth Nelson 1951-1952 13 6 "Lists of family and genera for herb. cases, E.B.P." Undated 13 7 Mustard Family, Cruciferae, excerpt from Flowering Plants of the Rocky Mountains Undated 13 8 Pea Family; excerpt from "Flowering Plants of the Rocky Mountain Undated 13 9 Plan Now for Spring in Winter, Bulbs Indoors for Winter Bloom, I and II Undated 13 10 Plant Identification Course, Lessons 1, 3-4, and other materials; Plants of Aspen (for Ken Wynick) Undated 13 11 Plants of Rocky Mountain National Park, page-proof 1969 13 12-13 Plants of Zion National Park Undated 14 1-9 Plants of Zion National Park Undated 15 1 Plants of Zion National Park:- Research Material 1966-1971 15 2 Some References on Rocky Mountain Botany; Spring Procession; Wild Flowers of Wyoming; Winter Bloom in Our Colorado Garden; Winter Bloom for Rocky Mountain Gardens 1936, 1952, 1954, Undated 15 3-7 Botanical Notes Undated Sub-series 2. Photographs, Negatives, and Slides

This sub-series contains Ruth Ashton Nelson's botanical photographs, slides, and photographic negatives.

 Photographs and Negatives: 15 8 Aquilegia; Arenana obtusaloba; Asclepiadaceae; Aster Porteri 1952-1956 15 9 Berheridaceae; Bessaya; Boraginaceae, Cryptantha 1957, 1961 16 8 Botanical Notes 1956, 1958 15 10 Botanical Subjects 1957-1958 15 11 Cataceae; Castilleja; Catha, Cattha; Cattails 1939-1967 15 12 Commelionaceae, Tradescantia; Componula 1956, Undated 15 13 Compositae, Activea Hymenoxys 1945-1961 15 14 Compositae, Erigeron (positive film from H.W. Glason); Compositae, Senecio carthamoides - H.W. Gleasson 1952, Undated 15 15 Compositae, Melampodium; Compositae Helenium; and others 1951-1960 15 16 Compositae, Townsevidia 1956, 1960 15 17 Douglas Fir; Ecology/Geology; Epilobium latifolium; Eriphorum 1939-1959 15 18 Filicales 1952-1953 15 19 Flower Portraits 1928-1952 15 20 Gentiavaceae 1953, 1955 15 21 Geranium, Cranesbill; Juniper; Kalmia; Kinnikinnik; Oleaceae, Lorestiera 1961, Undated 15 23 Limber Pine 1955, 1961 16 7 Miscellaneous Photographs 1930, Undated 15 24 Native Plants in Landscaping Use: Yucca - driveway; Evergreens - native 1953, 1961 16 10 Notes on Plants Photographed 1952-1961 16 9 Notes on Rocky Mountain Plants, includes botanical diary entries 1929-1959 15 25 Pinaceae 1942-1961 15 22 Onagraceae, Oenothera; Onagraceae, Epilobium 1952, 1956 15 26 Polemoniaceae, Gilia; Polemoniaceae, Phlox 1955, Undated 15 27 Primulaceae 1951-1956 15 28 Pyrola 1939 15 29 Ramuncielaceae, Aquiligia; Ramuncielaceae, Palsatilla 1952-1961 15 30 Rhododendron Undated 15 31 Rosaceae, Shrubs: Fallurgia; Physocarpus; Rubus 1939-1961 16 2 Salicaceae, Populus - Aspen 1939-1961 16 3 Saxifragaceae, Fendlera; Saxifraga rhombordea Rhombordea 1956-1961 16 4 Scrophulariaceae - Besseya 1951-1957 16 5 Sidalcea - Checkermallow, False Mallow; Streptopus Undated 16 6 Timberline; Tundra 1952-1957 16 1 Umbelliferae 1939, Undated Slides: 27 Slide Index (Paper and CD-ROM) Undated 27-28 Barberry 1953-1961 27-28 Bellflower 1940-1957 27-28 Birch 1956-1961 27-28 Borage 1950-1965 27-28 Buckthorn 1953 27-28 Buckwheat 1955-1970 27-28 Buttercup 1943-1974 27-28 Cactus 1966, 1972 27-28 Caper 1965 27-28 Carrot 1955-1963 27-28 Cassia 1962 27-28 Cattail 1958 27-28 Composite 1950-1977 27-28 Dogwood 1935-1961 27-28 Evening Primrose 1953-1963 27-28 Fern 1958, 1965 27-28 Figwort 1940-1976 27-28 Flax 1961, 1974 27-28 Four-O'Clock 1965 27-28 Fumitory 1956-1970 27-28 Gentian 1955-1971 27-28 Geranium 1956-1969 27-28 Gooseberry 1961 27-28 Gourd 1962 27-28 Grape 1950 27-28 Grass 1955-1971 27-28 Heath 1952-1971 27-28 Honeysuckle 1950-1967 27-28 Iris 1958-1967 27-28 Lily 1943-1971 27-28 Loasa 1957 27-28 Mallow 1959 27-28 Maple Undated 27-28 Milkweed 1955-1956 27-28 Mint 1970, 1980 27-28 Mustard 1942-1971 27-28 Oleaster Undated 27-28 Orchid 1950-1969 27-28 Pea 1945-1967 27-28 Pine 1940-1970 27-28 Pink 1957-1965 27-28 Poppy 1953 27-28 Primrose 1954-1970 27-28 Purslane 1956-1963 27-28 Rose 1953-1974 27-28 Saxifrage 1950-1972 27-28 Sedge 1958 27-28 Sophora 1961 27-28 St. Johnswort 1970 27-28 Staf-Tree Undated 27-28 Stonecrop 1952-1967 27-28 Violet 1952-1964 27-28 Water Milfoil Undated 27-28 Waterleaf 1945-1968 27-28 Waterlily 1958 27-28 Willow 1957-1965 Sub-series 3. Other Materials

This sub-series contains correspondence and printed materials by or about Ruth Ashton Nelson.

 16 11 Correspondence 1928-1971 16 12 Printed Materials 1932-1983 Series VI. Photographs Pre-1887-1983

This series contains Aven and Ruth Ashton Nelson's photographs and glass slides.

 Sub-series 1. Photographs

This sub-series contains photographs of the Nelson family, landscapes, the University of Wyoming and other miscellaneous subjects.

 16 13 Calhoun Family 1966, Undated 16 14-15 Classrooms; Summer Camps; Field Schools 1890s-1930s 16 16 Goodding, Leslie 1899, Undated 16 17 Gooding, Leslie: Photo Album of Yellowstone National Park, Mexico, and Arizona ca. 1899 17 1-3 Horticultural Promotional Literature, publication proofs 1911-1913 17 4 Landscapes and Structures, includes Yellowstone National Park 1899-1951 17 5 Laramie Events 1918, Undated 17 6 Nelson, Aven pre-1887 17 7 Nelson, Aven 1897-1939 17 8 Nelson, Aven - 89th Birthday Undated 17 9 Nelson, Aven and Ruth Ashton 1935, Undated 17 10 Nelson Family 1899-1907 17A 1 Payson, Edwin and Lois 1912-1927 17A 2 Peru: Landscapes and People 1925 17A 3 Portraits, Identified 1900s-1938 17A 4 University of Wyoming: Campus 1923-1983 17A 5 University of Wyoming: Faculty ca. 1890s-ca. 1910s 17A 6 Miscellaneous 1931-1946 Sub-series 2. Glass Slides

This sub-series contains glass slides of botanical subjects, landscapes, and the University of Wyoming.

 17A 7 List of Lantern Slide Subjects, C.L. Porter 1926-1938 18 Botany: List of plates with botanical names; Cactus; Wildflowers 1926-1938 19 Landscapes: Constructions; Logging; Mountains; Rock Formations; Trees; Wildlife; Wyoming; Devil's Tower; Medicine Wheel Undated 20 Landscapes and Text Slides: Alaska; Canada; Wyoming 1938-1939 21 University of Wyoming: Campus; Classrooms; Diagrms; Field Trips; A. Nelson 1898, Undated Series VII. Printed Material 1884-1952

This series contains publications and clippings written by or about to Aven Nelson.

 Sub-series 1. Publications

This sub-series contains publications written by Aven Nelson.

22 1 Address on Behalf of the Faculties, in "Inauguration of Frederick Monroe Tisdale, Ph.D." 1905 22 2 "An Analytical Key to Some of the Common Flowering Plants of the Rocky Mountain Region" 1903 29Aven Nelson studies #35-217: Contribution from the Department of Botany and the Rocky Mountain Herbarium, University of Wyoming (articles, studies, essays, and press bullitens)1901-1950 22The Branding Iron - "Dr. Nelson Suggests Pseudonym of 'Willow State' for Wyoming"August 1924 22 3 Brazil-Orchids of the Tropics (by Milfred B. Foster and Racine Sarasy Foster), in "Bios", review 1946 22 4-6 Contributions from the Rocky Mountain Herbarium I-XI - Reprints from "The Botanical Gazette" 1900-1912 22 7 Contributions from the Rocky Mountain Herbarium XII-XIII - The Cryptograms of Wyoming 1900-1913 22 8 D - F 1894-1937 22"First Report on the Flora of Wyoming" by Aven NelsonMay 1896 22 9 G - I 1893-1937 29Miscellaneous1906-1944 22 10 "New Manual of the Central Rocky Mountain Mountains (Vascular Plants)", by John Coulter, Revised by Aven Nelson 1909 22 11-12 "New Manual of Rocky Mountain Botany" - Reviews 1910, Undated 22 13 New Plants 1898-1908 22 14 New Plants 1899-1900 23 1 New Plants - A New Violet 1899-1904 23 2 No - Pr 1891-1929 23 3 Ps - Rocky Mountain Herbarium 1899-1943 23 4 Rocky Mountain Herbarium - Soc 1914-1945 23 5 Som - Taxonomic Studies 1899-1924 23 6 Taxonomic Studies - Two 1903-1937 23 7 The Unity of the School System, in "The Wyo" 1922 23 8 "University of Wyoming Bulletin: President's Report" 1922 23 9 "War Service, University of Wyoming", Articles by Aven Nelson 1917-1918 23 10 Western Plant Studies I-III, with J. Francis MacBride, reprints from "The Botanical Gazette" 1913-1916 23 11 Western Plant Studies IV-V - The Western Species of Aragallus-Critical Notes and Novelties 1916-1918 23 12 Wilbur Clinton Knight - Wyoming at the World's Fair 1903-1904 23 13 Wyoming Forage Plants and Their Chemical Composition, Studies No. 1 and 3 1905, 1908 23The Wyoming School Journal, volume X, no. 3November 1913 Sub-series 2. Newspaper Clippings (Photocopies)

This sub-series contains newspaper clippings relating mainly to Aven Nelson's publications and University affiliations.

23 14-17 Newspaper Clippings 1884-1952 23 18 Newspaper Clippings Undated Series VIII. Artifacts and Oversized Materials 1870-1938

Contains personal possessions of Aven and Ruth Ashton Nelson, including oversized certificates, diplomas, and photographs.

 24 1 Business Cards, Place Cards, etc. Undated 24 2-3 Commemorative Medals 1904, 1936 24 4 Pins: Conventions, Professional Organizations, and Others 1901-1938 24 5 Ribbons: University of Wyoming 1886-1927 24 6 Slide Rule and Instruction Book 1936 25 1-20 Printing Blocks: Nelson Family and Landscapes Undated 26 1 Biographical Information: Certificates and Diplomas 1870-1927 26 2-3 Graduation Hoods Undated 26 4 Map: The Riverside Orchard Company 1919 26 5-6 Photographs: Botanists; Aven Nelson's 89th Birthday Undated