Scope and Contents
The Richard E. Weaver, Jr. Papers and Correspondence Archival Series consists of 8 boxes. Weaver arranged the 108 folders alphabetically beginning with "A" in Box 1 to "Su" in Box 8. The collection includes manuscripts, corrspondence, plant lists, and records of plant expeditions. The majority of the contents include plant information regarding the Arnold Arboretum, R. Weaver's correspondence with colleagues and to those with plant inquiries, and also Arboretum and Case Estate business and work notes.
Dates
- Creation: 1971-1983
Conditions Governing Access
Researchers seeking to examine archival materials are strongly encouraged to make an appointment. The Director, or an office of origin, may place restrictions on the use of some or all of its records. The extent and length of the restriction will be determined by the Director, office of origin, and the Archivist and will be enforced equally for all researchers.
Conditions Governing Use
The copyright is held by The President and Fellows of Harvard College for the Arnold Arboretum Archives of Harvard University. The copyright on some materials in the collection may be held by the original author or the author's heirs or assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining written permission from the holder(s) of copyright and the Arnold Arboretum Archives prior to publishing any quotations or images from materials in this collection.
Photocopies may be made at the discretion of the Arnold Arboretum Archives staff. Permission to make photocopies does not constitute permission to reproduce or publish materials outside the bounds of the fair use guidelines.
Extent
0.22 linear feet (8 boxes)Biographical / Historical
Richard Weaver, Jr. was born in Richland, Pennsylvania on July 6th, 1943. In 1965, Weaver received his B.S. in Biology from Millersville State College in Millersville, PA and his M.S. in Plant Taxonomy from Duke University. He continued studying botany at Duke until 1971, earning his doctorate with the thesis, "Monographic studies in the genus Lisianthius (Gentianaceae)."
On November 1st, 1970, while nearing the completion of his thesis, Weaver began his work as a Horticultural Taxonomist/Assistant Curator for the Arnold Arboretum. He worked under the director, Richard Howard, and alongside taxonomist, Stephen A. Spongberg and horticulturalist Gary Koller. With Weaver and Spongberg on staff, the study of ligneous genera of eastern North America and eastern Asia was revived.
As Assistant Curator, Weaver worked closely with the Living Collections, playing a key role in shaping the grounds. One of his main duties was to respond to plant information inquiries. He did so for the duration of his Arnold Arboretum tenure. Weaver organized and carried out several plant collecting trips, the first to collect tropical species in Columbia, South America from 1971 to 1972. He then collected in Korea and Japan with Stephen A. Spongberg in 1977. He also taught many Arnold Arboretum classes as well as Harvard University Summer School courses in plant taxonomy. . Here he stayed until After he left the arboretum in 1983, Weaver and his partner, Rene Duval, started the We-Du nursery in Marion, North Carolina. The nursery specialized in wildflowers from eastern North America and eastern Asia, both areas of horticultural interest to Weaver. In 1997 they sold the nursery and relocated to Puerto Rico where they purchased a coffee finca.
Other Finding Aids
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Richard E. Weaver, Jr. archival series was primarily organized by Richard E.Weaver, Jr. Upon Weaver's departure from the Arnold Arboretum in 1983, he gave his files to the Arnold Arboretum archives. The HOLLIS # for this collection is 000603229 and the file name is ajp00027.
General note
Access to Finding Aid record in HOLLIS.
Processing Information
Processed by Sheila Connor
June 1999
- Title
- Richard Edwin Weaver (1943-) papers, 1971-1983.
- Author
- Archives of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- ajp00027
Repository Details
Part of the Arnold Arboretum Archives Repository
The Arnold Arboretum Horticultural Library is a specialized collection devoted to the study of temperate woody plants. We collect works on botany, horticulture, floras, urban forestry and taxonomy. The library contains more than 25,000 volumes and 40,000 photographs, and includes an archive that both documents the Arboretum's history and is a repository for 19th, 20th, and 21st century horticultural and botanical collections.