Hocken Digital Collections

University of Otago, Department of Botany : Records

Details

Reference NumberARC-0776CreatorUniversity of Otago, Department of BotanyDescriptionThe collection includes a variety of administrative records of the department, among them staff meeting minutes. There are some student records (enrolment slips and mark books) and assignments. There are some papers of individual staff (Geoff Baylis and Martin Holdsworth), along with various biographical papers relating to former staff and students. There is a range of materials used for teaching, including course books, illustrative botanical teaching wallcharts and other botanical illustrations and specimens. There are also a few publications, newspaper clippings, papers relating to the 80th anniversary and building records. There are a few posters, numerous photographs and slides, and some plans, film and video recordings and computer disks (mostly of photographs).
Only a small part of this collection is digitised and available through Digital Collections. Information about other items can be found on the Hākena catalogue, through the Library Catalogues link above.History / BiographyThe Department of Botany dates its official beginning as an independent department from 1924, although Winnie Betts commenced her position as the first Botany Lecturer at the beginning of 1920. This position being established in reponse to biology professor William Benham persuading the university council that it was time that botany had its own lecturer. Previously, botany classes had been taught by the professor of natural science, later the professor of biology, but these men specialised in zoology rather than botany.
(From: https://otago150years.wordpress.com/)