Biography
Frederick F. Halma was born on January 31, 1887 in Vienna, Austria. He immigrated to the United States to attend college and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida. In 1918, he relocated to Southern California and began working at the Citrus Experiment Station in Riverside, California as an assistant plant physiologist. In the early 1920s he moved to Berkeley, California to further his education and earned a doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley. Early in his career, Dr. Halma co-authored several leading publications on the chemical identification of citrus rootstock with Dr. Albert Haas. In 1935, he transferred to UCLA and became a professor of subtropical horticulture there in 1946. One of Halma's most significant contributions to the citrus industry was the discovery of the relationship between sour orange rootstocks and the citrus quick decline disease. He was also well known for the network of partnerships he formed with Southern California citrus growers to create specific plots for citrus experiments and trials. These plots became an integral part of his research and the partnerships he established with growers would continue until his retirement from UCLA in 1954. After he retired Halma moved to San Diego, California, but continued his avocado research at the Citrus Experiment Station. Frederick F. Halma died in San Diego, California in 1963.
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1887::
Frederick F. Halma was born in Vienna, Austria.
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1915::
Halma graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree.
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1918::
Halma began working at the Citrus Experiment Station in Riverside, California as an assistant plant physiologist.
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1925::
Halma earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.
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1929::
Halma co-authored several leading publications on the chemical identification of citrus rootstock with Dr. Albert Haas.
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1932::
Halma formed partnerships with citrus growers to create specific plots for citrus experiments and trials.
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1935::
Halma transferred to UCLA.
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1944::
Halma discovered the relationship between sour orange rootstocks and the citrus quick decline disease.
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1946::
Halma became a professor of subtropical horticulture at UCLA.
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1955::
Halma retired from UCLA and moved to San Diego, California.
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1963::
Frederick F. Halma died in San Diego, California.
From the guide to the Frederick F. Halma papers, 1919-1963, undated., 1933-1955, (Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.)
