The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-21


years prior to that time IN special research
into West American botany. At the time
of his appointment it was assumed In the
East, where DR.. Greene had long been
known, that his selection by the Board OF
Regents was IN recognition OF the already
distinguished service which he had
rendered to California botany though the
truth was simply that an efficient and
learned botanical instructor was needed,
and Mr.. Greene was both on the ground
and available for the position.
Promotion from instructors title TO as
sistant professor followed in due time, but
it was not until 1892, when at the lnterna-
tional Congress of Botanists held at Genoa,
Italy, that DR.. Greene was selected as the
most eminent of North American botan-
lists, and that the Board of Regents of the
University of California moved to bestow
upon the man who had been so honorably
recognized abroad the title OF professor.
At the International Congress OF Botan-
lists held in connection with the Worlds
Fair two years ago, DR.. Greene was elected
TO the craftsmanship of that body by accla-
nation.
In the organization of the Science Asso-
citation of the University OF California in
1893 Professor Greene, in conjunction with
Professor Lawson, was conspicuous
mover, and became the first president OF
the association.
AS early as 1891 Professor Greene re-
ceived an invitation to go to Washington,
D. G., for the purposeof delivering course
of public lectures at the newly opened
Catholic University.
For two reasons this invitation was de-
clined-on account of the very small corps
of assistants then allowed the head OF the
department of botany at the University of
California it was rendered impossible for
him to leave for a few weeks In the midst
of his winters work at home; and second
ly, because ii was thought that this lnvl-
tation tacitly implied a sort of candidacy
for the future chair of botany at the new
institution.
On account of these conditions this first
invitation to the Catholic University was
declined, and only few of the professors
most intimate friends knew of it at the
time.
Last year the Right Rev. DR.. Keane Wis
tied the Pacific Coast in the interests of
the Catholic University, and meeting Pro-
lessor Greene then for the first time asked
ton to go TO Washington to accept the
chair of botany in the Catholic University
of America. The result was that year
later he rendered his resignation to the
Board of Regents in order that he might ac-
cept the position offered in the East and
thereby have more time to devote to orig
inal work.
In accepting his resignation the Board
of Regents placed upon record the follow
ing graceful tribute to the zeal, learning
and efficiency of the retiring official:
In accepting the resignation of Professor I'd
ward Lee Greene the Board of Regents desires
to express their sense of the great value of his
services during the ten years of his connection
with the university. He has performed the
duties of his chair with singular devotion to
the interests of science, giving unsparingly of
work before the public and gaining high dis
tinction for his department of instruction 1t
is to be hoped that he will still find time to
continue and publish his researches in the
field, which he has made so peculiarly his
OVID, the botany OF California and the ad jacent
States.
Adopted April 8, 1895.
Last month, the University of Notre
Dame, Indiana, celebrating the t1ftieth
anniversary of its founding, conferred upon
Professor Greene the honorary degree of
LID.
He holds membership in a number of
societies at home and abroad, among
which are the California Academy of
Sciences; academy of Natural Sciences
Philadelphia; the Biological Society of
Washington, and the International Acad-
envy of Botanical Geography, in France.
The department. OF botany at the Uni
yersity of California can hardly be said to
have had an existence prior to the appoint
ment of Professor Greene, in 1885; and by
the withdrawal of his choice library and
invaluable private collection of West Amer
lean plants, advanced and critical work
must necessarily, for time, at least, al
most cease, and the absence of the stimulus
of his personal zeal and enthusiasm viii be