Steward, Albert Newton, 1897-

Albert Newton Steward (1897-1959) and Celia Belle Speak Steward (1897-1992) were stationed in Nanking, China as educational missionaries under the Methodist Board of Missions. Albert taught botany at the University of Nanking. During World War II, Albert was interned at Chapei Camp, Shanghai from 1943-1945. In 1951, Albert became curator of the Herbarium and professor at Oregon State College.

From the description of Albert and Celia Steward papers, 1908-1979 (inclusive). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702148234

Albert N. Steward was appointed by Oregon State College as Associate Professor of Botany, Herbarium Curator, and Associate Botanist for the Agricultural Experiment Station in 1951. He held these positions until his death in 1959. He specialized in systematic, economic, and geographic botany, the flora of central China, and aquatic plants of northwestern America. Steward attended Oregon Agricultural College in 1917-1918 and 1919-1920 and earned a BS in Agriculture in 1921. In 1921, he became a faculty member in botany at the University of Nanking in Nanking, China, and he and his wife, Celia Belle Speak Steward, were appointed as educational missionaries by the Methodist Board of Missions. He returned to the United States for several years in the late 1920s to complete AM and PhD degrees in biology at Harvard University. Steward spent most of the 1930s and 1940s in China and was interned at Chapei Camp in Shangai from 1943 to 1945. He returned to the United States permanently in 1950.

From the description of Albert N. Steward papers, 1940-1991 (bulk 1951-1958). (Eugene Public Library). WorldCat record id: 496010564

Albert N. Steward was appointed by Oregon State College as Associate Professor of Botany, Herbarium Curator, and Associate Botanist for the Agricultural Experiment Station in 1951. He held these positions until his death in 1959. He specialized in systematic, economic, and geographic botany, the flora of central China, and aquatic plants of northwestern America.

Steward attended Oregon Agricultural College in 1917-1918 and 1919-1920 and earned a BS in Agriculture in 1921. In 1921, he became a faculty member in botany at the University of Nanking in Nanking, China, and he and his wife, Celia Belle Speak Steward, were appointed as educational missionaries by the Methodist Board of Missions. He returned to the United States for several years in the late 1920s to complete AM and PhD degrees in biology at Harvard University. Steward spent most of the 1930s and 1940s in China and was interned at Chapei Camp in Shangai from 1943 to 1945. He returned to the United States permanently in 1950.

From the guide to the Albert N. Steward Papers, 1940-1991, 1951-1958, (Oregon State University Libraries)

• 1897: Albert Newton Steward born in California
• 1897: Celia Belle Speak born in Kentucky
• 1918: ANS and CSS married (Children: Margaret, 1919; Newton, 1920; Leland, 1922; Virginia, 1924; Ruth, 1937; David, 1938)
• 1921: ANS - B.S. from Oregon Agricultural College
• 1921 - 1926 : Stationed in Nanking as educational missionaries under the Methodist Board of Missions; ANS taught botany at University of Nanking.
• 1926 - 1930 : On extended furlough in U.S.; ANS received Ph.D. in Biology from Harvard
• 1930 - 1937 : Stationed in Nanking
• 1932: Celia's mother, Sarah Speak, on year long visit to China
• 1937 Aug: Family evacuated from China
• 1938 Sep: ANS returned to China; CSS and children remained in California
• 1939 Jul: CSS and three younger children returned to China
• 1941 Jan: CSS and children returned to U.S.; ANS stayed in Nanking
• 1942 fall: ANS living in Shanghai
• 1943 Feb: ANS interned at Chapei Camp, Shanghai
• 1945 Sep: ANS released from internment camp; remained in China to look after affairs of University of Nanking
• 1946 Mar: ANS returned to U.S.
• 1947 Aug: ANS, CSS, Ruth and David to China
• 1948 Nov: Ruth and David returned to U.S.
• 1949 Oct: CSS returned to U.S.
• 1950 Sep: ANS returned to U.S.; family lived in Auburndale, MA while ANS worked on Manual of Vascular Plants of the Lower Yangtze Valley (published 1958) at Harvard's Arnold Arboretum under Guggenheim grant.
• 1951: ANS became curator of Herbarium and professor at Oregon State College.
• 1959 Jun: ANS died
• 1967: CSS chosen Oregon Mother-of-the-Year
• 1979: CSS entered nursing home in Oregon
• 1990: CSS died

From the guide to the Albert and Celia Steward Papers, 1908-1979, (Yale University Divinity School Library)