Background
Howard, Richard Alden was born on July 1, 1917 in Stamford, Connecticut, United States. Son of Charles Frederick and Augusta Grace (Barker) Howard.
Howard, Richard Alden was born on July 1, 1917 in Stamford, Connecticut, United States. Son of Charles Frederick and Augusta Grace (Barker) Howard.
AB, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 1938. Master of Arts, Harvard University, 1940. Doctor of Philosophy, Harvard University, 1942.
Doctor of Science (honorary), Framingham State College, Massachusetts, 1977.
Assistant curator New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, 1947-1948. Assistant professor botany Harvard University, Cambridge, 1948-1953, Arnold professor, 1954-1988, professor emeritus, 1988—2003. Professor University Connecticut, Storrs, 1953-1954.
Vice president New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, 1989—2003. Trustee Kampong Garden, Coconut Grove, Florida, since 1987. Collections committee Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden, Kauai, Hawaii, since 1980.
Captain United States Air Force, 1943-1946. Fellow American Academy Arts and Sciences. Member American Association Botanical Gardens and Arboreta (president 1973), International Association Botanical Gardens (president 1959), New England Botanical Club (president 1953), American Society Plant Taxonomists (treasurer 1950-1956).
Married Elizabeth Solie, February 14, 1944. Children: Jean Elizabeth, Barbara Jo, Bruce Richard, Philip George.