The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-07-31
EMINENT BorANIsr A convep,

EMINENT eoTANIsT A CONVERT
One OF Americas most eminent Int.
anists, who is also one of the most
prominent among American converts
10 the true faith, is now making hi.
nome at the University of Notre Dame.
as Dean of the department of botany
Ihis is DR.. Edward Lee Greene. late
u tne Smithsonian Institute, WASH
ington.
A New Englander by birth. he has
travelled, principally on foot, over
nearly every State in the Union. He
mas been soldier, clergyman, teacher
scientist, author; but he is and laaa
always been first of all a botanist
In1s summer for the first time in
forty years did he go abroad without
his botanical collecting case. He for
got 1T on leaving for Minnesota to
visit relatives, but he wrote imma.
dlately to DR.. Nieuwlands to send II
on to him.
When Professor Greene came to
Notre Dame, he brought with him
probably the rarest and most valuable
private botanical library in the Unit
cd States. The United States Gov.
eminent when DR.. Greene Joined the
stan OF Smithsonian Institute, secured
MS promise to present this library
to the Government If he should die
within the ten years of his contract
with the Smithsonian; and the Field
Museum in Chicago also offered DR.
Greene $4,000 for his botanical II.
brary.
Inis library contains about five
thousand volumes and over hundre1
thousand specimens, mostly TYNE
specimens or critical specimens. a
feature adding greatly to the Inherent
value of the collection. OF these
specimens, five or six thousand ara
new species of DR.. Greene's own dis.
covery, and are absolutely indispensa-
Ole especially to any western botan.
list who wishes to do critical work
Dr. ). "A. Nieuwlands, botanist at
Notre Dame, says that these speci.
mems are the most perfectly prepare1
that he has ever seen.
VI the books in this library a large
NUMBER cannot be duplicated any.
wnere else in the world. The booka
are all perfect and complete. The
United States Government has Just
recently borrowed book from the
greene collection to photograph parts
OF 1t, the Government copy being i'm
perfect and incomplete. Miss War
ner, OF the Agricultural Department.
Is preparing complete list Of the
Greene collection on this account. DR..
dreene has also done consulting
specialists work for the Bureau Of
Forestry.
Personally DR.. Greene strikes one
as q gentleman of the old school
quiet, refined and courteous. although
IN scientific discussion he is strong
In argument and vigorous in hia
treatment of frauds. He was born in
Hopktnton, R. l., August 10, 1s4s. His
parents moved west and settled on the,
sangamon River in Illinois. Here and
IN Wisconsin, to which State thew
shortly afterward proceeded, the young
ootanist found delight in the immense
number of new botanical specimens to-
be found in the virgin country.
DR.. Greene's parents were Baptists.
OUT ne In early life Joined the Epis-
copai church under Bishop Randall.
OF Denver, and on Bishop Randalre
suggestion, became q minister in the
Episcopal church. He was successfu,
as minister both in Denver and in
California, but he gave up his pulpit
IN the Episcopal church to become.
q Catholic, and thereafter devoted all
OF his time to botany, which, even
during his ministry as indeed through.
out all his life, was his chief attrac.
ton.
He became associate professor or
botany In the University. Of Califor--
mia and later ct the Catholic Univer.-
sity before going. to the Smithsonian
Institute. from which place he went
to Notre Dame.