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Merritt Lyndon Fernald (1873-1950)
Papers

Merritt Lyndon Fernald was born in Orono, Maine, on October 5, 1873. His father taught and served two terms as president of the Maine State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, which later became the University of Maine. Fernald began his college studies at the State College in 1890, and shortly thereafter had his first botanical publication appear the the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. Based on the strength of these writings and a letter he wrote to Sereno Watson in 1891, on the subject of Juncus (J. bufonius), Fernald was offered a position at the Gray Herbarium. An arrangement was made that allowed Fernald to work part time at the Herbarium while taking two academic courses per year. In March of that year Fernald traveled to Cambridge and began his work at Harvard. In the fall of 1891, he enrolled in the Lawrence Scientific School, graduating with his S.B., magna cum laude in 1897. Fernald would continue working for the Gray Herbarium in one capacity or another for the rest of his life. He worked as an assistant in the herbarium from 1891 to 1902; as an instructor of botany from 1902 to 1905; as an assistant professor from 1905 to 1915; and as Fisher Professor of Natural History from 1915 to 1947. He was also curator of the Gray Herbarium, 1935-37, and director, 1937-1947.

Fernald is known for his work on phytogeography. He combined extensive field work with his herbarium work, concentrating on the flora of eastern North America. He did much exploring in Quebec in his younger years; when older, he worked in Virginia. During his lifetime Fernald produced over 750 papers and memoirs. Within a year of beginning his work at Harvard, he completed the second edition of the Portland Catalogue of Maine Plants, publishing supplements in 1895 and 1897 (Pease 34). With Benjamin Lincoln Robinson he produced the 7th revision of Gray's Manual, which appeared in 1907. He wrote Edible Wild Plants of Eastern North America with Alfred C. Kinsey, published in 1943. His major work was the 8th revision of Gray's Manual, published in 1950. Before his death, he was planning "a large work on plant distribution." (Pease 36). He was active in the New England Botanical Club, serving as president from 1911-1914 and as associate editor of Rhodora from 1899 until 1928, when he succeeded B. L. Robinson as editor-in-chief. He was a member and served as president of the American Society of Plant Taxonomists, and was an active memeber in a number of other scientific associations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Linnaean Society (London) and the Torrey Botanical Club. He received honorary degrees from Acadia University (D.C.L., 1933) and the University of Montreal (D.Sc., 1938).

Fernald married Margaret Howard Grant in 1907. They had three children, one of whom died young. Fernald died on September 22, 1950.

References:

Bartlett, Harley Harris. "Fernald as a Reviser of Gray's Manual." Rhodora. 53(626): 44-55.
Fogg, John M. "Fernald as a Teacher." Rhodora. 53(626): 39-43.
Griscom, Ludlow. "Fernald in the Field." Rhodora. 53(626): 61-65.
Pease, Arthur Stanley. "Merritt Lyndon Fernald 1873-1950." Rhodora. 53(626): 33-39.
Rollins, Reed C. "Fernald as a Botanist." Rhodora. 53(626): 56-61.

Scope and Content:

There are several distinct categories of Fernald materials in the archives:

There are also 17 folders in the Semi-Historic files which contain letters written and received by Fernald; biographical information; drafts for Milton/Clark travel grants; small manuscripts; correspondence relating to the publication of the 8th edition of Gray's Manual; correspondence, reviews and advertisements pertaining to Edible Wild Plants; etc. There are also a couple early plant lists in the inactive plant list file and in Plant List Book 3.

Provenance:

Most of the Fernald papers probably accumulated at the Gray Herbarium during his years here. No record has been found of any major gifts or bequests, by Fernald or others.

25B. Description of Antennaria megacephala Fernald in Raup, Contr. Arnold Arboretum 6: 208 (1934)

See Also:

Historic Letter Collection
Semi-Historic Letter Collection
Gray Archives Photograph Collection: #0142-0152, #0154-0159, #0161-0162, #0528-0533, #0559-0564, #0585-0586, #0589, #0613, #0754, #1007, #1048, #1086, #0932, #1138, #1514-01 thru -06, #1515-01 thru -04, #1516-1520, #1521-01, -02, #1524-01, -02, #1526, #
Jane Gray Autograph Collection