Coville, Frederick V. (Frederick Vernon), 1867-1937

Frederick V. Coville (1867-1937), a botanist for the United States Department of Agriculture, was considered an authority on North American rushes, wild currents, and blueberries. His "Botany of the Death Valley Expedition" was a classic study. He participated in the 1899 Harriman expedition to Alaska. Coville was the first curator of the National Herbarium and was chairman of the research committee of the National Geographic Society from 1920 to 1937.

From the description of Papers, 1891-1944. (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 27410907

Frederick Vernon Coville (1867-1937), botanist and blueberry breeder, was born in New York and educated at Cornell University (B. A., 1887). His important field work included the Geological Survey of Arkansas, 1888; the Death Valley Expedition, 1891; and the Harriman Alaska Expedition, 1899. Most of his career was spent at the United States Department of Agriculture, where he served as Assistant Botanist, 1888-1893, and Botanist, 1893-1937. He was also Honorary Curator of the United States National Herbarium, 1893-1937, and was instrumental in the establishment of the National Arboretum in 1927. More extensive biographical material can be found in Science, Volume 85, 280-281.

Smithsonian Institution Archives Field Book Project: Person : Description : rid_176_pid_EACP173