University of Minnesota. Division of Entomology and Economic Zoology

Entomology was first listed as a collegiate-level course in the 1874-1875 University Bulletin for the College of Agriculture. In the 1877-1878 Bulletin, Economic Entomology was listed in the description of the College of Agriculture’s scope of instruction, noting the subject included “general characters of insects; characters and peculiarities of those families containing useful or injurious members; together with a special study of the more important individuals of these families.”

The 1889-1890 University Course Catalog for the College of Agriculture listed Entomology as a course of instruction, and the following year’s Catalog listed Otto Lugger as both botanist at the Agricultural Experiment Station and Professor of Entomology and Botany for the College of Agriculture. Frederick L. Washburn was named as Entomologist for the Station and Professor of Entomology in the 1901-1902 Catalog.

“Entomology” and “Economic Zoology” were used interchangeably in University publications during the 1910s. Entomology was considered a Course of Study in the College of Agriculture. Professor Washburn was sometimes listed as Chief of the Division in University Catalogs and Bulletins. He was appointed as Chairman of the Division of Economic Zoology by the Board of Regents at their June 7, 1916, meeting.

The Regents’ Agricultural Committee voted at their January 18, 1918, meeting to “change the name of the Division of Economic Zoology to Division of Entomology and Economic Zoology, and that the Division be organized under four sections known respectively as Parasitology, Economic Vertebrate Zoology, Economic Entomology, and Insecticidal Investigations.”

The Division of Beekeeping was combined with the Division of Entomology and Economic Zoology by approval of the Board of Regents at their October 1, 1928, meeting. The combined division was named the Division of Entomology and Economic Zoology within the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Home Economics.

In 1962, the Department’s name was changed to the Department of Entomology, Fisheries and Wildlife to better reflect its curriculum, which included courses such as Principles of Beekeeping, Entomological Techniques, Fishery and Wildlife Populations, Insect Morphology, and Medical Entomology.

On recommendation of the Regents’ Educational Policy and Long-Range Planning Committee, the Board of Regents, at their June 10, 1983, meeting, approved the formation of the Department of Entomology in the College of Agriculture and the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife in the College of Forestry.

Heads of Department/Division

From the guide to the Division of Entomology and Economic Zoology records, 1885-1991, (bulk 1920-1951), (University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc])