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George Safford Torrey Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 1982-0008

Scope and Content

The collection contains the personal and professional papers of G. Safford Torrey,> longtime professor of Botany at the University. Materials in the collection include notebooks, correspondence, memoranda, administrative (department) records, reports, photographs, and various types of slides, and filmstrips.

Dates

  • undated, 1910-1980

Access

The collection is open and available for research.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from the owner(s) of the copyright.

Biography

George Safford Torrey was born 14 March 1891 in Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard College in 1913 with a B.A. degree and continued his study in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University (1915, M.A. in Botany) and diplome d'Etudes Superieures (Botanique, University of Paris, 1919).

Prior to his employment in Storrs, Torrey had worked at Gray Herbarium (Harvard) and the Department of Agriculture (Newfoundland). Torrey was hired in 1915 as an instructor of Botany at the Connecticut Agricultural College. He received tenure in 1928 and was appointed Head of the Botany Department. Torrey served as the secretary of the Faculty, Registrar and chairman of the Committee on Scholastic Standing, in addition to guest performances on the organ and bassoon at off campus events.

Torrey retired from the University in 1953 but continued to assist in the revision of the Connecticut Catalog of Flowering Plants and Ferns.

G. Safford Torrey died in 1977. Soon after his death, the University of Connecticut named the building housing the Life Sciences departments in his honor.

Extent

7.3 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

George Safford Torrey was born 14 March 1891 in Boston, Massachusetts. Torrey was hired in 1915 as an instructor of Botany at the Connecticut Agricultural College and in 1928 received tenure and was appointed Head of the Botany Department. Torrey retired from the University in 1953 and died in 1977.

Arrangement

Series I: Subject Files (1910-1980) is arranged alphabetically and contains Torrey's personal notebooks, correspondence, office memoranda, department records, reports, history, staff information and course descriptions. The series also includes correspondence, promotional literature and research materials concerning the nation-wide Oak Wilt control activities.

Series II: Teaching materials (undated) is arranged by format and includes photographs, stereographs, lantern slides, filmstrips and two stereoscopes. Microfilm copies of articles from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Library have been deaccessioned.

Series III: Botanical Abstracts (undated) is arranged numerically. Abstracts include citations and/or notes from publications or lectures and bibliographical information. A list of missing pages can be found in Box 11, ff #74.

Series IV: American Association of University Professors (AAUP) (1936-1961) contains annual reports and correspondence, arranged chronologically.

Series V: University Senate (1923-1956) includes institutional reports and policies concerning tenure, comprehensive examinations, absence and similar issues. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Series VI: Audiovisual materials (1969).

Acquisition Information

The collection was transferred from the Botany Department.

Title
George Safford Torrey Papers
Status
Published
Author
Archives & Special Collections staff
Date
1987 May
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Archives and Special Collections, University of Connecticut Library Repository

Contact:
University of Connecticut Library
405 Babbidge Road Unit 1205
Storrs Connecticut 06269-1205 USA US
860-486-2524