Raup, Hugh M. (Hugh Miller), 1901-1995

Hugh Miller Raup was born on his family's farm in Springfield, Ohio on February 1, 1901 to Gustavus Phillip and Fannie (Mitchell) Raup. He attended Wittenberg College, receiving an A.B. in 1923. He arrived at Harvard as a Research Associate in 1932. Raup's association with Harvard included the Arnold Arboretum, the Black Rock Forest, the Harvard Forest, and the Department of Biology. In 1935, Raup published "Notes of the Early Uses of Land Now in the Arnold Arboretum." This study examined the historical influences, both natural and man made, that shaped the landscape. He challenged prior conceptions about the ecological history of the Arnold Arboretum, particularly the notion that historically, Hemlock Hill had been a pristine section of land. Much of Raup's work revolved around such an examination of historical influences on New England, Honduran, and Cuban landscapes, which was a relatively revolutionary approach. Following his tenure as research associate, Hugh Raup held a succession of professoral appointments at Harvard. He was appointed Assistant Professor in Plant Ecology in 1938, and rose quickly up the academic ranks, receiving a promotion to Assistant Professor of Plant Geography associate professor in 1945. In 1949, he was promoted to full professor with an appointment as Bullard Professor in Forestry. He became director of the Harvard Forest in 1946, thereafter devoting much of his energies to the Forest through his retirement in 1967. He remained an active figure in his field, corresponding through lengthy and thought-provoking letters. Hugh Miller Raup died on August 10, 1995 at 94 years of age.