3730300 http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6x06rfd revised SNAC: Social Networks and Archival Context English VIAF revised 2015-09-20 machine CPF merge program Merge v2.0 revised 2016-08-09T19:58:42 machine SNAC EAC-CPF Parser Bulk ingest into SNAC Database revised 2016-08-09T19:58:42 human System Service (system@localhost) created 2026-05-27 machine SNAC EAC-CPF Serializer SNAC Identity Constellation serialized to EAC-CPF /data/source/findingAids/aps/Mss.B.K136-ead.xml Thimann, Kenneth Vivian, 1904-1997 /data/source/findingAids/crnlu/RMM06776-T.xml Thimann, Kenneth V. /data/source/findingAids/harvard/gra00008.xml Thimann, Kenneth V. /data/source/findingAids/oac/ucsc/spcoll/ms71.xml Thimann, Kenneth Vivian, 1904- person Thimann, Kenneth Vivian, 1904-1997 presumed Thimann, Kenneth Vivian, 1904- presumed Thimann, Kenneth V. presumed Thimann, Kenneth V. 1904-1997 presumed ティーマン, ケネート・V presumed Thimann, Kenneth Vivian presumed 1904-08-05 1997-01-15 English Bacteria Botany Growth (Plants) Plant hormones Plants Americans

Thimann taught biology at Harvard from 1935 to 1965.

From the description of Papers of Kenneth V. Thimann, 1929-1988 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 76973199

Biography

Biographical Narrative

Kenneth V. Thimann was a pioneering researcher in the field of plant physiology. He was best known for describing the functions of hormones in the control and development of plants. In particular, he identified the growth hormone known as auxin and characterized its chemical structure, a discovery of critical importance to the agriculture and horticulture industries. He also was highly regarded for his research on the biosynthesis of pigments responsible for the colors of flowers and fruits, and the action of various zones of the light spectrum on photosynthesis. Later in life, he began to focus on the factors controlling the mechanisms of plant senescence, especially the aging of leaves.

Thimann was born in Ashford, England, on August 5, 1904. He earned his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in chemistry and biochemistry from Imperial College, University of London, and a diploma from the University of Graz, Austria. He taught at the University of London for several years before coming to the California Institute of Technology in 1930 as an instructor in bacteriology and biochemistry.

Thimann joined the faculty of Harvard University in 1935 and remained there for 30 years. He was director of Harvard's Biological Laboratories from 1946 through 1950 and was Higgins Professor of Biology from 1962 to 1965. He was an associate at Eliot House, and in 1962 he became the first master of East House at Radcliffe College when Radcliffe organized its women's residences along the lines of the Harvard houses.

During World War II Thimann was a technical consultant to the U.S. Navy. He worked with the Navy's operations research group in Washington, D.C., London, and Pearl Harbor.

In 1965 Thimann moved west at the urging of UCSC's founding chancellor, Dean McHenry, to become professor of biology and the first provost of Crown College, the third of UCSC's eight academic colleges. Thimann retired as provost in 1972 but remained active in research and university affairs for many years. He moved to Haverford in 1989, where he set up an active research collaboration at the University of Pennsylvania with the eldest of his three daughters.

Among Thimann's most noteworthy contributions to the campus was his nurturing of the UCSC Arboretum into an internationally known collection of plants from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. He chaired the chancellor's committee on Arboretum and plantations for 15 years and helped to launch the Arboretum Associates, a community support group, in 1977. He also was an accomplished amateur pianist and founded the Crown Chamber Players with his wife, Ann Mary Bateman Thimann, a skilled weaver who died in 1987.

From the guide to the Kenneth V. Thimann Papers, 1920-1980, (University of California, Santa Cruz. University Library. Special Collections and Archives) Bailey, I. W., 1884- Crown College (University of California, Santa Cruz) Harvard University Kaplan, Norman, 1923-1976. Online Archive of California. Provine, William B. Radcliffe College. Raper, Kenneth B. (Kenneth Bryan), 1908- Thimann, Kenneth Thimann, Kenneth Thimann, Kenneth Vivian, 1904-1997 Thimann, Kenneth Vivian, 1904-1997. Kenneth V. Thimann Papers, ca. 1920-1980. Thimann, Kenneth Vivian, 1904-1997. Online Archive of California. Kenneth V. Thimann Papers, ca. 1920-1980. 45 cartons. This collection contains correspondence files, notebooks, field notes and research files. University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC Radcliffe College. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1964. Radcliffe College. Thimann, Kenneth Vivian, 1904-1997. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1964. 2 items (4 l.) Comprises 2 items, 2 letters from Kenneth V. Thimann. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library Thimann, Kenneth Vivian, 1904-1997. Papers of Kenneth V. Thimann, 1929-1988 (inclusive). Thimann, Kenneth Vivian, 1904-1997. Papers of Kenneth V. Thimann, 1929-1988 (inclusive). 8.5 linear ft. of mss. Contains correspondence and other papers relating to teaching, research, and other activities. Includes material relating to Thimann's publications, professional societies and other organizations, conferences, grants, and other topics. Also includes biographical materials, and early correspondence (1929-1937) relating to his affiliation with the California Institute of Technology as well as with Harvard University. Related publications and reference material also available in repository. For information on component parts of collection, see Harvard Archives LOCATION below. Harvard University Archives. Raper, Kenneth B. (Kenneth Bryan), 1908-. Kenneth B. Raper papers 1925-1986. Raper, Kenneth B. (Kenneth Bryan), 1908- Bonner, John Tyler. Clark, William T. Coghill, Robert D. (Robert De Wolf), 1901- Fennell, Dorothy I. Florey, Howard, Baron Florey, 1898-1968. Heatley, Norman George, 1911- Olive, Lindsay S. Thimann, Kenneth Vivian, 1904-1997. Thom, Charles, 1872-1956. Weston, William H., b. 1890. Kenneth B. Raper papers 1925-1986. 106 boxes (53.7 lin. ft.) Collection documents Raper's career with the USDA Bureau of Chemistry and Soils and Bureau of Plant Industry (1929-1940); his association with the USDA Northern Regional Research Laboratory (1940-1953), and his faculty appointments at the University of Illinois (1946-1953) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1953-1979) and his research on the Dictyosteliaceae, Aspergilli and Penicillia and his publications on those fungi. New York Botanical Garden, The LuEsther T. Mertz Library Kenneth V. Thimann Papers, 1920-1980 Thimann, Kenneth Vivian Kenneth V. Thimann Papers, 1920-1980 64 cartons This collection contains correspondence, field notebooks, and research files. English University of California, Santa Cruz. . University Library Special Collections and Archives Papers of Irving Widmer Bailey, 1918-1967 (inclusive); 1966-1967 (bulk) Papers of Irving Widmer Bailey, 1918-1967 (inclusive); 1966-1967 (bulk) 6 folders Gray Herbarium Library William B. Provine collection of evolutionary biology reprints, 20th century. William B. Provine William B. Provine collection of evolutionary biology reprints, 20th century. Journal reprints on evolutionary biology. English Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library. Norman Kaplan papers, ca. 1950s-1970s, Circa 1950-1979 Kaplan, Norman,1923-1976. Norman Kaplan papers, ca. 1950s-1970s Circa 1950-1979 40.0 Linear feet, Ca. 40,000 items This collection of correspondence and documents concerns the sociology of science, i.e., the relationship of governments and scientific establishments, and especially the problems of organization, planning, policy-making, and productivity. There is much on scientific research and technology, especially for the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Sweden, U.S.S.R., and Yugoslavia. There is a significant series of transcripts of interviews with scientists and government officials in various countries. American Philosophical Society Bailey, I. W., 1884-. Papers of Irving Widmer Bailey, 1918-1967 (inclusive), 1966-1967 (bulk). Bailey, I. W., 1884- Papers of Irving Widmer Bailey, 1918-1967 (inclusive), 1966-1967 (bulk). 6 folders. Consists of approximately 100 letters mostly incoming and some outgoing letters which pertain to Bailey's unification plan and other topics. Also included: a looseleaf notebook with U.S. Army specifications for airplane parts, reviews and biographical notes. Harvard University, Botany Libraries Kaplan, Norman, 1923-1976. Papers, ca. 1950s-1970s. Kaplan, Norman, 1923-1976. Papers, ca. 1950s-1970s. ca. 40,000 items (40 linear ft.). This collection of correspondence and documents concerns the sociology of science, i.e., the relationship of governments and scientific establishments, and especially the problems of organization, planning, policy-making, and productivity. There is much on scientific research and technology, especially for the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Sweden, U.S.S.R., and Yugoslavia. There is a significant series of transcripts of interviews with scientists and government officials in various countries. American Philosophical Society Library