North Carolina State University. Dept. of Genetics.

No formally organizated of genetics department existed at North Carolina State University until 1951. Until that time, the subject of genetics was distributed to several long-established departments within the School of Agriculture. By the 1930's, departments such as Agronomy, Zoology, and Plant Pathology (among others) were beginning to take an interest in genetics and the possible ways in which it could be integrated into their coursework and research projects. In 1951, the Department of Genetics was formally organized.

From the description of North Carolina State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Genetics records, 1941-2001 [manuscript] (North Carolina State University). WorldCat record id: 516462420

No formally organization of a genetics department existed at North Carolina State University until 1951. Until that time, the subject of genetics was distributed to several long-established departments within the School of Agriculture. By the 1930's, departments such as Agronomy, Zoology, and Plant Pathology (among others) were beginning to take an interest in genetics and the possible ways in which it could be integrated into their coursework and research projects. These departments had for some time employed geneticists on an individual basis to help conduct research projects and teach courses (such as cytology) in Agronomy and other biological sciences that focused on subjects such as plant and animal breeding. Eventually, the University decided that the field had becomre important enough to create a department devoted entirely to genetics for graduate degrees and more basic research.

In 1951, the Department of Genetics was formally organized with Dr. S. G. Stephens as chairman. The faculty consisted of many professors who had taught and conducted research in other departments in the School of Agriculture. The department was temporarily housed with the Botany Department in Winston Hall, and relocated to the newly built Gardner Hall in 1952. During Dr. Stephens' tenure as chairman, the graduate program, including the Ph.D. degree, new faculty, a genetics garden, greenhouse and an experimental station were added to the department. In 1958, Dr. H. F. Robinson became the new head of the department, and established a genetics nursery and obtained a significant amount of funding for increased research. In that same year, Genetics became the first North Carolina State College department to employ an African-American woman, Justina Williams, who worked in the Drosophila research lab.

In 1964, Dr. T. J. Mann took over leadership of the department after Dr. Robinson's promotion to Director of Biological Sciences. Dr. D. F. Matzinger became acting department head after Dr. Mann's departure in 1974 and in 1975, Dr. John G. Scandalios became the new department head. Under the leadership of these individuals, the department expanded and earned national recognition and distinction. Today the department maintains a strong research and academic presence, including a nationally-ranked graduate program.

Additional information and resources on the history of the Department of Genetics can be found through the NCSU Historical State website .

• 1951 - 1958 : S. G. Stephens
• 1958 - 1963 : H. F. Robinson
• 1964 - 1973 : Thurston J. Mann
• 1974 - 1975 : Dale F. Matzinger
• 1975 - 1985 : John G. Scandalios
• 1985 - 1986 : Dale F. Matzinger
• 1986 - 1988 : William Atchley
• 1989 - 1991 : Dale F. Matzinger
• 1991 - 1993 : Dale F. Matzinger
• 1994 - 1994 present : Stephanie Curtis

From the guide to the North Carolina State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Genetics Records, 1941-2001, (Special Collections Research Center)