Finding Aid
Submit Reference RequestPrintDownload PDF

Reference Request

* required
Please succinctly provide us with any information pertinent to your inquiry. If you are writing to us about a research request, provide as much detail as possible about the collections in which you are interested (including collection numbers, box numbers, and folder titles).
(if known)

The Smithsonian Institution Archives is using Constant Contact, a third-party contact management software vendor, to manage contacts and send eNewsletters. Please be advised that Constant Contact's Privacy Statement and Terms and Conditions apply to your use of these services. The Smithsonian Institution Archives has access to your name and email address which is subject to our privacy statement.

Finding Aids to Personal Papers and Special Collections in the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 7356

Cowan, Richard S., 1921-1997

Richard S. Cowan Papers, circa 1952-1985 and undated

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:Cowan, Richard S., 1921-1997
Title:Richard S. Cowan Papers
Dates:circa 1952-1985 and undated
Quantity:6 cu. ft. (6 record storage boxes)
Collection:Record Unit 7356
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

This collection documents Cowan's career as a systematic botanist at the New York Botanical Garden, USNM, and NMNH. Included is incoming and outgoing correspondence concerning the identification of specimens, the preparation of scientific papers and monographs, and professional activities; a subject file mostly documenting his research; and files relating to his work as Secretary of the National Committee of the International Botanical Congress, 1969.

For additional materials documenting Cowan's botanical research and administrative career at NMNH, see Record Units 155, 197, and 9501.

Historical Note

Richard Sumner Cowan (1921-1997), a systematic botanist specializing in neotropical flora, received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1952. From 1952 to 1957, he served as Assistant Curator at the New York Botanical Garden. Cowan joined the United States National Museum (USNM) in 1957 when he was appointed Associate Curator in the Department of Botany. In 1962, he was appointed Assistant Director of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), and, in 1965, Director. Cowan retired from administration in 1973 and resumed his research as a Senior Botanist at NMNH. He remained in the position until his retirement in 1985. Cowan's primary research interest is the systematics of legumes in tropical America.

Top of Page

Descriptive Entry

This collection documents Cowan's career as a systematic botanist at the New York Botanical Garden, USNM, and NMNH. Included are incoming and outgoing correspondence concerning the identification of specimens, the preparation of scientific papers and monographs, and professional activities; a subject file mostly documenting his research; and files relating to his work as Secretary of the National Committee of the International Botanical Congress, 1969.

For additional materials documenting Cowan's botanical research and administrative career at NMNH, see Record Units 155, 197, and 9501.

Top of Page

Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7356, Richard S. Cowan Papers

Top of Page

Container List

Box 1

Folder 1 A

Box 1 of 6

Folder 2 AIBS (American Institute of Biological Sciences) Washington Council

Box 1 of 6

Folder 3 Annual Reports

Box 1 of 6

Folder 4 Archives Committee

Box 1 of 6

Folder 5 Aristiguieta, Dr. Leandro

Box 1 of 6

Folder 6 Arnold Arboretum Visiting Committee

Box 1 of 6

Folder 7 ASPT (American Society of Plant Taxonomists)

Box 1 of 6

Folder 8 B

Box 1 of 6

Folder 9 The Bean Bag (newsletter)

Box 1 of 6

Folder 10 Botanical Congress (International)

Box 1 of 6

Folder 11 The Botanical Society

Box 1 of 6

Folder 12 Brenan, Dr. J. Patrick M.

Box 1 of 6

Folder 13 C

Box 1 of 6

Folder 14 D

Box 1 of 6

Folder 15 Dugand, Dr. Armando

Box 1 of 6

Folder 16 Dwyer, Dr. John D.

Box 1 of 6

Folder 17 E

Box 1 of 6

Folder 18 F

Box 1 of 6

Folder 19 G

Box 1 of 6

Folder 20 Grants

Box 1 of 6

Folder 21 H

Box 1 of 6

Folder 22 Howard, Richard A.

Box 1 of 6

Folder 23 I

Box 1 of 6

Folder 24 ICSEB, correspondence

Box 1 of 6

Folder 25 ICSEB - II

Box 1 of 6

Folder 26 Irwin, H.S.

Box 1 of 6

Folder 27 J

Box 1 of 6

Folder 28 K

Box 1 of 6

Folder 29 Keck, David D.

Box 1 of 6

Folder 30 Klawe, W. L.

Box 1 of 6

Folder 31 L

Box 1 of 6

Folder 32 Leonard, J. (Address to Residence)

Box 1 of 6

Folder 33 M

Box 1 of 6

Folder 34 Maguire, Bassett

Box 1 of 6

Box 2

Folder 1 Mason, Herbert

Box 2 of 6

Folder 2 NYBG Botany Committee

Box 2 of 6

Folder 3 Moldenke, H. N.

Box 2 of 6

Folder 4 Monachino, J.

Box 2 of 6

Folder 5 Mathias, Mildred E.

Box 2 of 6

Folder 6 McVaugh, Rogers

Box 2 of 6

Folder 7 Mohlenbrock, Robert

Box 2 of 6

Folder 8 N

Box 2 of 6

Folder 9 O

Box 2 of 6

Folder 10 Organization for Flora Neotropica

Box 2 of 6

Folder 11 P

Box 2 of 6

Folder 12 Q

Box 2 of 6

Folder 13 R

Box 2 of 6

Folder 14 Rickett, Dr. H. W.

Box 2 of 6

Folder 15 Rollins, Reed C.

Box 2 of 6

Folder 16 S

Box 2 of 6

Folder 17 Schultes, Richard E.

Box 2 of 6

Folder 18 Smith, A. C.

Box 2 of 6

Folder 19 Stafleu, Frans

Box 2 of 6

Folder 20 Stearn, William T.

Box 2 of 6

Folder 21 Stern, William L.

Box 2 of 6

Folder 22 Steyermark, Julian A.

Box 2 of 6

Folder 23 St. John, Dr. Harold

Box 2 of 6

Folder 24 T

Box 2 of 6

Box 3

Folder 1 TL-2

Box 3 of 6

Folder 2 TL-2

Box 3 of 6

Folder 3 U

Box 3 of 6

Folder 4 V

Box 3 of 6

Folder 5 Wilbur, Robert

Box 3 of 6

Folder 6 Wood, Carroll E.

Box 3 of 6

Folder 7 Wurdack, John J.

Box 3 of 6

Folder 8 W

Box 3 of 6

Folder 9 XYZ

Box 3 of 6

Folder 10 A-R General File 1981- 1984

Box 3 of 6

Folder 11 S-Z General File

Box 3 of 6

Folder 12 Leslie Watson, old material

Box 3 of 6

Folder 13 Miscellaneous - Administrative

Box 3 of 6

Folder 14 Miscellaneous - Botanical Societies

Box 3 of 6

Folder 15 Legume Meetings

Box 3 of 6

Box 4

Folder 1 Correlation (Vegetation-Ore)

Box 4 of 6

Folder 2 Cowan Personal Papers, 1951-1969

Box 4 of 6

Folder 3 Cowan Personal Papers, 1970-1979

Box 4 of 6

Folder 4 Cowan Personal Papers, 1980-1982

Box 4 of 6

Folder 5 Cowan Personal Papers, 1983

Box 4 of 6

Folder 6 Cowan Personal Papers, 1984

Box 4 of 6

Folder 7 Cowan Personal Papers, 1985

Box 4 of 6

Folder 8 Library (Liasion) Committee

Box 4 of 6

Folder 9 FNA

Box 4 of 6

Folder 10 Photographic Lists (copies)

Box 4 of 6

Folder 11 Policy/Planning

Box 4 of 6

Folder 12 SRF - 460102

Box 4 of 6

Folder 13 SRF - Grant (SRF - 450102) (SIR Award)

Box 4 of 6

Box 5

Folder 1 Directory of Scientists in the National Museum of Natural History

Box 5 of 6

Folder 2 Identifications

Box 5 of 6

Folder 3 Cowan, Dr. R. S. (Pers. File) 5 Purch. Trans. 1965 thru (1975)

Box 5 of 6

Folder 4 Cowan, Dr. R. S. (Pers. File) 2 Res. & Pub. 1968

Box 5 of 6

Folder 5 Personal & Travel - 1981

Box 5 of 6

Folder 6 Cowan, Dr. R. S. (Pers. File) 5 Purch. Trans. 1964 & Earlier

Box 5 of 6

Folder 7 Cowan, Dr. R. S. (Personal File) 1 General Correspondence 1969- .

Box 5 of 6

Folder 8 Cowan, Dr. R. S. (Pers. File) 1 General Correspondence 1968 & Earlier

Box 5 of 6

Folder 9 Cowan, Dr. R. S. (Pers. File) 6 Clubs - General

Box 5 of 6

Folder 10 Cowan, Dr. R. S. (Pers. File) 6-2 TORCH CLUB

Box 5 of 6

Folder 11 FNA

Box 5 of 6

Folder 12 Travel, 1973

Box 5 of 6

Folder 13 Travel, 1975

Box 5 of 6

Folder 14 Travel, 1976

Box 5 of 6

Folder 15 Travel, 1977

Box 5 of 6

Folder 16 Travel, 1978

Box 5 of 6

Folder 17 Travel, 1979

Box 5 of 6

Folder 18 Travel, 1980

Box 5 of 6

Folder 19 Travel, 1981

Box 5 of 6

Folder 20 Plant Press, 1982

Box 5 of 6

Folder 21 Plant Press, 1981

Box 5 of 6

Folder 22 Plant Press, 1980

Box 5 of 6

Folder 23 Plant Press, 1979

Box 5 of 6

Folder 24 Plant Press, 1978

Box 5 of 6

Folder 25 Plant Press, 1977

Box 5 of 6

Folder 26 Plant Press, 1976

Box 5 of 6

Folder 27 Plant Press, 1973-1975

Box 5 of 6

Folder 28 Personnel (Memos, 171 Forms)

Box 5 of 6

Folder 29 Post-Doc Program

Box 5 of 6

Folder 30 Requisition

Box 5 of 6

Folder 31 Loans In or Out

Box 5 of 6

Folder 32 "Wash. Biol. Field Club"

Box 5 of 6

Folder 33 Workmen's Compensation

Box 5 of 6

Folder 34 Boletin Botanico Latinoamericano

Box 5 of 6

Folder 35 Flora Venezuela Leguminosae - Caesalpinioideae

Box 5 of 6

Box 6

Folder 1 AIBS - Congress Relations (AIBS - USNC)

Box 6 of 6

Folder 2 Finance (General)

Box 6 of 6

Folder 3 Grants (Non-Federal)

Box 6 of 6

Folder 4 Publications - Newsletter

Box 6 of 6

Folder 5 IBC - NC Membership

Box 6 of 6

Folder 6 USNC - Meeting Correspondence, general

Box 6 of 6

Folder 7 IBC - INC

Box 6 of 6

Folder 8 Executive Committee Minutes

Box 6 of 6

Folder 9 Stamp Comm. (Symbol File)

Box 6 of 6

Folder 10 Publications - Notices of IBC

Box 6 of 6

Folder 11 Publications - Circulars, Registration Form

Box 6 of 6

Folder 12 Vice Presidents

Box 6 of 6

Folder 13 International Relations - PL-480 Support (General)

Box 6 of 6

Folder 14 Grants - Federal - Agencies

Box 6 of 6

Folder 15 USNC - Minutes of Meetings

Box 6 of 6

Folder 16 IBC (Blank Letterhead Paper)

Box 6 of 6

Folder 17 Bureau of Nomenclature

Box 6 of 6

Folder 18 Mailing Lists

Box 6 of 6

Folder 19 Society Participation

Box 6 of 6

Folder 20 Publications - Proceedings, Programs, Abstracts (Sales of)

Box 6 of 6

Folder 21 Financial Statements

Box 6 of 6

Folder 22 Proposals National Science Foundation (NSF) - Grant

Box 6 of 6

Folder 23 International Relations

Box 6 of 6

Folder 24 Congress Organization

Box 6 of 6

Folder 25 IBC Administrative (Correspondence)

Box 6 of 6

Top of Page