Lewton, Frederick L. (Frederick Lewis), 1874-1959

Frederick Lewis Lewton (1874-1959) was a well-known botanist, businessman, historian and author. Briefly a student at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and Drexel University in Philadelphia, Mr. Lewton finally acquired his B.A. from George Washington University in 1922. In the interim, he served as a curator for the Philadelphia Commercial Museum and as the curator for both the Division of Textiles (Department of Arts and Industries) and the Division of Medicine for the United States National Museum (now part of the Smithsonian). During his tenure there, Lewton did research and wrote reports concerning various strains of boll weevil-resistant strains of cotton. Additionally, he authored The Servant in the House: A Brief History of the Sewing Machine, which is still considered a watershed publication in the fields of sewing machine and textile production, as well as The Cotton of the Hopi Indians: A New Species of Gossypium, Samuel Slater and the Oldest Cotton Machinery in America, and Kokia: A New Genus of Hawaiian Trees. Lewton received an honorary doctorate from Rollins College in 1930, and he was appointed Archivist and Historian for that institution in 1951.

From the guide to the Frederick Lewis Lewton papers, 1883-1898, (USF Tampa Library - Special & Digital Collections)

Frederick L. Lewton (1874-1959) was born on March 17, 1874, in Cleveland, Ohio. His family relocated to Florida when Lewton was two years old. He graduated from Rollins College in 1890, and went on to Philadelphia to attend an engineering school. After a year, he transferred to Drexel University. He was appointed as the instructor for chemistry during night school and was a laboratory assistant in chemistry and physics during the day. In 1896, Lewton became an economic botanist at the Commercial Museum. There he investigated the chemical composition, solubility, and botanical affiliation of over five hundred specimens of gums and resins. His research resulted in publications in German and American science journals. He then returned to school to take the Civil Service exam, and began his work as a scientific assistant of botany for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While he was working, he attended George Washington University and graduated in 1922. He then went to the South and studied pests for eight years. After that he went to the United States National Museum and became curator of Textiles and Medicine. In 1929, Lewton's wife died, and after remarrying, he moved to Florida. In May 1954, Lewton was appointed part-time archivist and historian at Rollins College. He worked there until his death on May 7, 1959.

Smithsonian Institution Archives Field Book Project: Person : Description : rid_471_pid_EACP468

Botanist, businessman, historian, and author.

Frederick Lewis Lewton (1874-1959) was briefly a student at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and Drexel University in Philadelphia; he acquired his B. A. from George Washington University in 1922. In the interim, he served as a curator for the Philadelphia Commercial Museum and as the curator for both the Division of Textiles (Department of Arts and Industries) and the Division of Medicine for the United States National Museum (now part of the Smithsonian). During his tenure there, Lewton did research and wrote reports concerning various strains of boll weevil-resistant strains of cotton. Additionally, he wrote The servant in the house: a brief history of the sewing machine, The cotton of the Hopi Indians: a new species of Gossypium, Samual Slater and the oldest machinery in America, and Kokia: A new genus of Hawaiian trees. Lewton received an honorary doctorate from Rollins College in 1930 and was appointed as their Archivist and Historian in 1951.

From the description of [Papers] 1883-1898. (University of South Florida). WorldCat record id: 639223010