Asa Gray

Summary

Asa Gray (1810-1888), one of America's leading botanists in the mid-19th century, was appointed Fisher professor of natural history in 1841 at Harvard University and created the Gray Herbarium at Harvard. Gray advised the United States National Museum at its inception. A close friend of the first Smithsonian Secretary Joseph Henry, he was appointed Smithsonian Regent in 1874 and served until his death in 1888. In this image, Gray does not have a beard.

Subject

• Gray, Asa 1810-1888
• Regents Smithsonian Institution
• Harvard University
• Board of Regents

Category

Historic Images of the Smithsonian

Notes

Carte de visite was created by Collection of Americana, Frederick Hill Meserve, New York. Asa Gray is printed in ink on the bottom. Original negative #SA-617

Contained within

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 27B, Folder: Asa Gray #SA-617

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

c. 1855

Restrictions & Rights

No restrictions

Topic

• Botany
• Botanists

Form/Genre

• Card photograph
• Portraits

ID Number

SIA2009-1252

Physical description

Number of Images: 1; Color: Sepia; Size: 2.5w x 4h; Type of Image: Portrait; Medium: Card photograph

Full Record

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