Background
Cleland, Ralph Erskine was born on October 20, 1892 in Le Claire, Iowa, United States. Son of Charles Samuel and Edith Eleanor (Collins) Cleland.
Cleland, Ralph Erskine was born on October 20, 1892 in Le Claire, Iowa, United States. Son of Charles Samuel and Edith Eleanor (Collins) Cleland.
Bachelor of Arts, University of Pennsylvania, 1915, Master of Science, 1916, Doctor of Philosophy, 1919, Doctor of Science, 1958. Doctor of Laws, Hanover College, 1957. Doctor of Science, Indiana University, 1970.
Assistant in botany, University of Pennsylvania, 1915-1916, Harrison fellow, 1916-1918. Instructor biology, Goucher College, 1919-1920, assistant professor, 1920-1923, associate professor, 1923-1930, professor, 1930-1938, chairman of department, 1937-1938. Professor, chairman botany department Indiana University, 1938-1958, dean of Graduate School, 1950-1958, Distinguished Service professor botany, 1958-1963, Distinguished Service professor botany emeritus, co-director aerospace applications center, 1963-1968.
Instructor botany Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, 1925.
Editor plant cytology, Biological Abstracts (trustee, 1943-1948). Consultant National Science Foundation.
Editor in chief American Journal of Botany, 1940-1946.
Member of the United States National Common for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 1958-1960. Member of the program committee United States National Committee, 1958-1960. Private, artillery, United States Army, with American Expeditionary Forces, 1918-1919.
Recording John F. Lewis award, American Philosophical Society, 1937, J. South. Guggenheim traveling fellowship, 1927-1928.
Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (member of council 1932-1937, vice president 1944), Indiana Academy Science (president 1959), American Academy Arts and Sciences. Member National Research Council (chairman division biological and agriculture 1948-1951), Botanical Society American (president 1947), Genetics Society of America (vice president 1955, president 1956), National Academy Sciences (chairman Pacific science board), National Association Biology Teachers, American Society Naturalists (secretary 1938-1940, president 1942), American Institute Biological Science (chairman 1948-1949), Society Study Evolution, American Philosophical Society (vice president 1965-1968), Genetics Society Japan (honorary foreign.
Member), Botanical Society of Korea (honorary life), Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft (corresponding.
Married Elizabeth Prentice Shoyer of East Orange, New Jersey, June 11, 1927. Children: William Wallace, Robert Erskine, Charles Frederick.