Alma Whiffen Barksdale Records (RG5)
Archives, The LuEsther T. Mertz Library
The New York Botanical Garden
200th Street and Kazimiroff Boulevard
Bronx, New York 10458-5126
Phone: 718-817-8604
URL: http://library.nybg.org/
The New York Botanical Garden. All rights reserved. © 2005
This finding aid was produced in English.
Finding aid produced using NoteTab Pro
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Collectors: |
Barksdale, Alma Whiffen, 1916-1981. |
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Title: |
Alma Whiffen Barksdale Records (RG5) |
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Dates: |
1938-1973 |
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Dates: |
bulk, 1957-1972 |
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Quantity: |
2.0 linear feet; 4 boxes
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Call Phrase: |
Barksdale (RG5) |
Alma Whiffen Barksdale (1916-1981) was born in Hammonton, New Jersey, 25 October 1916. She received her A.B. (1937) at Maryville
College, Maryville, Tennessee; M.S. (1939) in botany and Ph.D. (1941) in botany and mycology at the University of North Carolina
where she was a Carnegie Fellow (1941-42). Dr. Barksdale conducted postdoctoral research under Dr. John N. Couch (1943) and
became a National Research Council Fellow with Dr. William H. Weston at Harvard University from 1942-43.
Dr. Barksdale’s work falls into three periods. The first was her graduate and postdoctoral studies on the cytology, nutrition,
and taxonomy of aquatic fungi (phyla Oomycota and Chytridiomycota). Her contributions included: (1) the development of methods
for the isolation, purification, and culture of nine genera of lower aquatic fungi; (2) the determination of their nutritional
requirements; and (3) the discovery of a new type of sexual life cycle in the Blastocladiales, an order composed of aquatic
parasites.
In the second period of her work, she was employed as a professional mycologist in the Department of Antibiotic Research of
the Upjohn Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan (1943-52). She discovered cycloheximide, an antifungal agent used to control fungal
spot diseases in cherries and on turfs of golf greens. She played a major role in the development of actidione, the trade
name for cycloheximide, an antibiotic derived from Streptomyces griseus, used in isolating pathogenic fungi. In 1951 Dr. Barksdale
was a John Simon Guggenheim Fellow at Stanford University with C. B. Van Niel. In 1952 she married Lane Barksdale and spent
a year in Paris working on research projects.
In 1952 Dr. Barksdale became a research associate at the New York Botanical Garden where she investigated sexual reproduction
in the genus Achlya, comprised of filamentous aquatic fungi. Thus commenced the third period of her career. Her studies confirmed
and further developed the work of Dr. John Raper on sexual hormones in Achlya. She discovered that the hormone that induces
the formation of antheridia in Achlya is a steroid secreted by female strains of Achlya bisexualis and A. ambisexualis. She
confirmed the structure of this hormone, antheridiol, by laboratory synthesis.
Dr. Barksdale’s career at the NYBG spanned two decades; her final position was Senior Botanist (1972-75), after which she
retired for reasons of health. She published over 30 papers on Achlya and aquatic fungi. She served on the editorial board
of Mycologia (1949-59), as its book review editor (1969), and as Secretary-Treasurer of the Mycological Society of America
(1971-73). After a long illness, she died 5 July 1981.
The Alma Whiffen Barksdale collection consists of correspondence, research papers, laboratory notebooks, manuscripts, grant
records, reprints, and photographic material covering her graduate studies and career at the NYBG from 1952 to 1975. Some
material relates to her positions as book review editor of Mycologia and as Secretary-Treasurer of the Mycological Society
of America.
Access restrictions
This collection is open for research with permission from Mertz
Library staff.
Copyright
Requests for permission to publish material from the collection should
be submitted in writing to the LuEsther T. Mertz Library of the New York
Botanical Garden.
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The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
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Persons |
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Barksdale, Alma Whiffen 1916-1981 -- Archives. |
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Raper, John R. |
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Subjects |
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Achlya. |
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Fungi -- Microbiology. |
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New York Botanical Garden Archives. |
New York Botanical Garden
PP--Kenneth B. Raper Papers
RG5--William Jacob Robbins Records
Alma Whiffen Barksdale Records (RG5), Archives, The New York
Botanical Garden.
This collection was transferred to the New York Botanical Garden Archives.
Originally processed by David Rose, Archives volunteer, with the assistance of Susan Fraser, NYBG Archivist, November, 1998.
Converted to EAD in August 2006 by Kathleene Konkle under a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH-PA 50678-04).
Series 1. Correspondence.
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Scope and Content:
There are 57 files pertaining to Dr. Barksdale’s research on sexual reproduction in Achlya, the chemical composition of Achlya hormones, and the laboratory synthesis of antheridiol. Correspondents include John Couch, Linda Lasure, Trevor McMorris,
John Raper, Kenneth Raper, William Robbins, and Gary Samuels.
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Folder |
Title |
Date |
1.1-23 |
A-Z |
ca. 1952-1975 |
1.24 |
Armour Chemical
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.25 |
Bloswick, Barbara
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.26 |
Bruckmann, Robert
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.27 |
Caspi, Eliahu |
ca. 1952-1975 |
1.28 |
Caspi, Eliahu |
ca. 1952-1975 |
1.29 |
Chen, Diane
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.30 |
Clausz, John
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.31 |
Couch, John
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.32 |
Cramer, J.
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.33 |
Deluca, Patrick
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.34 |
Faro, Sebastian
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.35 |
Horowitz, David
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.36 |
Lasure, Linda
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.37 |
Machlis, Leonard
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.38 |
McMorris, Trevor
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.39 |
Mullins, Tom
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.40 |
Musgrave, Alan
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.41 |
Mycologia (Mycological Society of America)
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.42 |
Raper, John R.
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.43 |
Raper, Kenneth B.
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.44 |
Reid, Ian
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.45 |
Robbins, William J.
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.46 |
Rockman, Steven
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.47 |
Samuels, Gary
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.48 |
Sheffield Chemical
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.49 |
Sherwood, William
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.50 |
Upjohn Company
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.51 |
Volz, Paul A.
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.52 |
Wardle, Stanley
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.53 |
Werner, Gordon
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.54 |
Willoughby, L. G.
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.55 |
Yanagishima, Naohiko
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.56 |
Yost, Susan E.
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ca. 1952-1975 |
1.57 |
Miscellaneous
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ca. 1952-1975 |
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Series 2. Research Papers .
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Scope and Content:
This series consists of 16 files of research notes on reproduction in Achlya and synthesis of antheridiol. There are also
8 laboratory record books with data on schedules, chromatography, culture strains, and bibliographic note cards.
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Folder |
Title |
Date |
1.58 |
Bibliographic notebook |
1968-1971 |
1.59 |
Bibliographic note cards |
n.d. |
1.60 |
Bibliographic note cards |
n.d. |
1.61 |
Cold room cultures (A. heterosexualis) |
1972-1975 |
1.62 |
Equipment (requisitions, specifications, correspondence)
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n.d. |
1.63 |
Laboratory notes, miscellaneous |
1963-1965 |
1.64 |
Mucorales / Trisporic Acid, reprints, notes, correspondence
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n.d. |
1.65 |
Oil stocks and stocks in liquid nitrogen
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n.d. |
1.66 |
Nuclear staining in A. heterosexualis, laboratory notes
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n.d. |
1.67 |
Weekly schedule for production of Hormone A, laboratory notes |
1969 |
1.68 |
Laboratory notes on photographic exposures
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n.d. |
1.69 |
Testing of A. bisexualis strain
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n.d. |
1.70 |
Susan Yost lab notes, April |
May 1975 |
1.71 |
Sexual hormones in Achlya, lab notes and graphs |
1967 |
1.72 |
Notebook #1 |
Feb 17, 1955 - June 11, 1956
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1.73 |
Notebook #2 |
July 18, 1956 - Feb 29, 1960 |
2.1 |
Notebook #3 |
Dec, 1957 - Aug 8, 1962 |
2.2 |
Notebook #4 |
Apr 29, 1958 - July 28, 1960; Apr 9, 1962 - May 13, 1964; Aug 31, 1970 |
2.3 |
Notebook #5 |
July 28, 1964 - Feb 15, 1967; June, 1967; Mar 30, 1971
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2.4 |
Notebook #6 |
Oct 5, 1951 - Apr 6, 1953 |
2.5 |
Notebook #7 (Paper Chromatography)
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Jan, 1953 - Aug, 1953 |
2.6 |
Notebook #8 |
Apr 25, 1960 - Aug 3, 1961
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Series 3. Manuscripts & Lecture Notes
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Scope and Content:
There are 22 files consisting of manuscripts and lecture notes for seminars and conferences. Two of the manuscripts include
Dr. Barksdale’s M.A. and Ph.D. theses.
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Folder |
Title |
Date |
2.7 |
M.A. Thesis “The Cytology of Octomyxa Achlyae”; University of North Carolina
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1939 |
2.8 |
Ph.D. Thesis “Culture Studies in the Chytridiales with Relation to Growth on Synthetic Media and Decomposition of Cellulose”
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1941 |
2.9 |
Mss. “Production of Hormone B by Achlya heterosexualis 8-6”, Barksdale and Lasure
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ca. 1939-1971 |
2.10 |
Mss. “Hormone Activity of Steroids in A. amibsexualis”
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ca. 1939-1971 |
2.11 |
Mss. “Response of Achlya ambisexualis E87 to the Hormone Antheridiol…”
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ca. 1939-1971 |
2.12 |
Mss. and correspondence, “A Comparative Study on Hormone A and Sirenin”
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ca. 1939-1971 |
2.13 |
Bacteriological Review: Correspondence and notes on “Fungous Sex Hormones”
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ca. 1939-1971 |
2.14 |
First International Mycology Congress, Exeter, England |
1971 |
2.15 |
First International Mycology Congress, Exeter, England |
1971 |
2.16 |
Draft paper “Meiosis in the Antheridium of Achlya ambisexualis E87” NYBG |
1967 |
2.17 |
Seminar, University of Kansas |
1969 |
2.18 |
Seminar, University of North Carolina |
1969 |
2.19 |
Symposium, International Botanical Congress XI, Seattle, 1969; IUIC |
1969 |
2.20 |
Seminars, University of Iowa, NYU Medical School, University of Wisconsin, NYBG-Lehman College |
ca. 1939-1971 |
2.21 |
Seminar, Boyce Thompson Institute |
1971 |
2.22 |
Symposium, AIBS Meeting |
1967 |
2.23 |
Seminar, University of California at Berkeley |
1967 |
2.24 |
Seminars, Amherst and Storrs
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ca. 1939-1971 |
2.25 |
AIBS Lecture, Indiana University, 1970; NYBG Members’ Evening |
1971 |
2.26 |
Seminar, University of Rhode Island |
1971 |
2.27 |
“Induction of Gametangial Phenotypes in Achlya” Barksdale and Lasure
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ca. 1939-1971 |
2.28 |
Review of manuscripts for books and articles
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ca. 1939-1971 |
2.29 |
Miscellaneous lectures and seminars
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ca. 1939-1971 |
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Series 4. Grant Records.
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Scope and Content:
There are 16 files containing grant applications, proposals for research, renewals, accounting, fiscal reports, progress reports,
summaries, and outcomes relating to grants from the National Institutes for Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation
(NSF), and the American Philosophical Society.
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Folder |
Title |
Date |
3.1 |
NIH Grant #E-1383
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ca. 1959-1973 |
3.2 |
NIH Grant #E-1856
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ca. 1959-1973 |
3.3 |
NIH Grant #AI 01856-07, -08, -09
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ca. 1959-1973 |
3.4 |
NIH Grant #HD 00850-06, -07, -08, -09, -10
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ca. 1959-1973 |
3.5 |
NIH Grant #HD 00850-11
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ca. 1959-1973 |
3.6 |
NIH Grant #HD 00850-12, -13, -14, -15
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ca. 1959-1973 |
3.7 |
NIH Grant #HD 00850-16
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ca. 1959-1973 |
3.8 |
NIH Grant #HD 00850-17, -18
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ca. 1959-1973 |
3.9 |
NIH Grant Accounting
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ca. 1959-1973 |
3.10 |
NIH General Information and Instructions
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ca. 1959-1973 |
3.11 |
National Science Foundation Proposals
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ca. 1959-1973 |
3.12 |
American Philosophical Society Grant |
1958 |
3.13 |
Report on American Philosophical Society Grant #219-J
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ca. 1959-1973 |
3.14 |
National Science Foundation Grants |
1959-1968 |
3.15 |
National Science Foundation Grants and Fiscal Reports
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ca. 1959-1973 |
3.16 |
Grants and Miscellaneous Papers
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ca. 1959-1973 |
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Series 5. NYBG Internal Memoranda.
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Scope and Content:
There are 4 files of NYBG annual reports, a long-range planning proposal, and various NYBG memos and internal communications.
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Folder |
Title |
Date |
3.17 |
Long Range Planning |
ca. 1972 |
3.18 |
NYBG Annual Reports
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ca. 1972 |
3.19 |
Internal memos on salary and benefits
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ca. 1972 |
3.20 |
NYBG internal communications
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ca. 1972 |
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Series 6. Publications.
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Scope and Content:
This consists of 4 files of reprints Dr. Barksdale’s publications and newsletters and directories of the Botanical Society
of America.
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Folder |
Title |
Date |
3.21 |
Reprint Collection |
ca. 1938-1975 |
3.22 |
Reprint Collection |
ca. 1938-1975 |
3.23 |
Reprint Collection |
ca. 1938-1975 |
3.24 |
Newsletters and Directories, Botanical Society of America
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ca. 1938-1975 |
3.25 |
Reprints |
1938-1950 |
3.26 |
Reprints |
1960-1975 |
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Series 7. Photographic Material.
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Scope and Content:
This series consists of 7 boxes of positive and negative plates, one file book of negative plates, and miscellaneous envelopes
of positives. All are contained in Box 4.
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Box |
Title |
Date |
4 |
Photographic Plates, Negative File
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ca. 1938-1973 |
4 |
Photographic Plates (3), Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society
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ca. 1938-1973 |
4 |
Assorted Photographic Plates, Achlya |
ca. 1938-1973 |
4 |
Achlya ambisexualis, Plates 2,5,9,10,11,12 |
13 April 1960 |
4 |
A. bisexualis, Plates 3,5,6 |
19 April 1960 |
4 |
A. bisexualis, Plates 2-6 |
26 April 1960 |
4 |
A. ambisexualis, Plates 11,12 |
26 April 1960 |
4 |
A. bisexualis, Plates 8,10 |
03 May 1960 |
4 |
#400, Plates 2,4,7 |
03 May 1960 |
4 |
T-5, Plates 3,5,7,8,11 |
11 May 1960 |
4 |
Achlya mucromata, Plates 10,12 |
15 July 1960 |
4 |
A. mucromata, Plates 1-4,6,8 |
03 Aug 1960 |
4 |
A. bisexualis, Plates 10-12 |
03 Aug 1960 |
4 |
#400, Plates 8 |
04 Aug 1960 |
4 |
#400, Plates 2,4 |
09 Aug 1960 |
4 |
C6, Plates 6 |
11 Aug 1960 |
4 |
#400, Plates 7 |
11 Aug 1960 |
4 |
E25A, Plates 10,12 |
11 Aug 1960 |
4 |
A. recusua, Plates 1,2 |
15 Aug 1960 |
4 |
#400, Plates 3,4,5 |
15 Aug 1960 |
4 |
A. mucromata, Plates 6,7 |
15 Aug 1960 |
4 |
A. bisexualis, Plates 8,9 |
15 Aug 1960 |
4 |
E25A, Plates 12 |
15 Aug 1960 |
4 |
B2, Plates 10 |
15 Aug 1961 |
4 |
A. bisexualis C6, Plates 1,2 |
10 Oct 1961 |
4 |
A. flexuosa N10, Plates 5,8,9 |
10 Oct 1961 |
4 |
Gemma of N-14, Plates 1-6 |
28 Feb 1962 |
4 |
Oogonia of N-14, Plates 7,9,10 |
28 Feb 1962 |
4 |
PVC 62 + “A” , Plates 8 |
21 Sept 1962 |
4 |
PVC 62 + “A”, Plates 11 |
28 Sept 1962 |
4 |
PVC 62 + “A”, Plates 1,3,5,7 |
05 Oct 1962 |
4 |
P17, Plates 11 |
05 Oct 1962 |
4 |
PVC 62 + “A”, Plates 2,4,5 |
16 Oct 1962 |
4 |
N97, Plates 2,3,5,7,8 |
07 Nov 1962 |
4 |
B15, Plates 9,10 |
07 Nov 1962 |
4 |
B13, Plates 3-6 |
08 Nov 1962 |
4 |
N97, Plates 1-4 |
14 Nov 1962 |
4 |
B14, Plates 5,6 |
15 Nov 1962 |
4 |
T5, Plates 9-12 |
16 Nov 1962 |
4 |
B9, Plates 1 |
26 Nov 1962 |
4 |
PT45, Plates 1-4 |
28 Nov 1962 |
4 |
B4, Plates 6,7,8,10 |
28 Nov 1962 |
4 |
B11, Plates 12 |
28 Nov 1962 |
4 |
P3, Plates 1-4 |
11 Dec 1962 |
4 |
P9, Plates 1,2,5,6 |
11 Dec 1962 |
4 |
P1, Plates 1,2 |
22 May 1963 |
4 |
P2, Plates 4 |
22 May 1963 |
4 |
B13, Plates 1,2,3,5,7 |
15 July 1963 |
4 |
B13, Plates 1-3,8-12 |
23 July 1963 |
4 |
B11, Plates 5,6 |
29 July 1963 |
4 |
B15, Plates 4 |
30 July 1963 |
4 |
B13, Plates 9-11 |
01 Aug 1963 |
4 |
Achlya intricata, Plates 8-10 |
14 Aug 1963 |
4 |
1 Envelope, 5 plates, Achlya heterosexualis, Plates |
ca. 1938-1973 |
4 |
1 Envelope, 12 prints, No identification |
ca. 1938-1973 |
4 |
1 Box, 5 ectachrome slides, No identification, Plates |
ca. 1938-1973 |
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