Robert Almer Harper, American botanist. Member National Academy Sciences. American Academy Arts and Sciences, American Philosophical Society, Botanical Society America, American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Background
The younger brother of Edward Thompson Harper, Robert was born in Le Claire, Iowa to Congressional Minister Almer Harper and Eunice Thompson. He matriculated to Oberlin College, his father"s alma mater, where he graduated with a A. B. in 1886.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Oberlin, 1886, Master of Arts, 1891. Doctor of Philisophy, University of Bonn, 1896.
Career
During the Fall of 1886 he performed graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University, then he was professor of Greek and Latin at Gates College in Neligh, Nebraska during 1886-1888. In 1889-1891 he was an instructor at the Lake Forest Academy. After receiving his A. M. degree from Oberlin, he was appointed professor of botany and geology in 1891-1898 at Lake Forest University.
During the period 1894 to 1896, took a sabbatical to attend graduate school at the University of Bonn in Germany where he studied cytology and mycology.
He was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in 1896. Harper became Professor of Botany at the University of Wisconsin in 1898, where he would teach until 1911.
After a stint as visiting professor at the University of California in 1911, he was named Torrey Professor of Botany at Columbia University, becoming head of the botany department. He served as president of the Botanical Society of America in 1916.
Harper remarried in 1918 to Helen Sherman.
They would have one son who became a farmer in Bedford, Virginia. Beginning in 1918, he served as head of the board of scientific directors for the New York Botanical Garden. He was named professor emeritus in 1930, then in 1938 he retired to a farm in Bedford.
During his career he was awarded honorary doctorates from Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Achievements
Membership
Member National Academy Sciences. American Academy Arts and Sciences, American Philosophical Society, Botanical Society America, American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Connections
Married Alice Jean McQueen, June 25, 1899. Married second, Helen Sherman, January 2, 1918.