Dr. August E. Kehr Papers 1930-1986

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
170 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Special Collections Public Services & Reference Staff
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Dr. August E. Kehr Papers, Accession 10553-b, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Summary

Creator:
Dr. August E. Kehr
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Dr. August E. Kehr Papers, Accession 10553-b, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains ca. 2600 items (8 Hollinger boxes, 2.5 linear shelf feet), 1930-1986, chiefly the correspondence of Dr. August E. Kehrwith nurserymen and other members of the American Rhododendron Societyconcerning the many facets of growing various species of azaleas and rhododendrons.

In addition to correspondence, the papers include articles, diagrams of the chromosome structure of azaleas, notes for speeches and talks, a journal of a 1977 trip to Chinacontaining notes on Chinese agriculture, newsletters, a brief history of the American Rhododendron Society, nursery price lists, photographs, a group of completed questionnaires on rhododendron breeding, and issues of the magazine Rhododendron, 1961-1970.

General topics of discussion in Dr. Kehr's correspondence include: exchanges of seed, pollen, cuttings and plants; registration of new hybrids, research on rhododendrons; publications; gardens; botanical expeditions; plant crosses; rhododendron subjects for talks at meetings; rhododendron controversies and disagreements; plant shipments; plant diseases; azaleas and other flowering plants; tissue culture; the merits of various rhododendrons, and magnolias.

Other particular items of note include: studies of rhododendron genetics(Bump, 1981 Jan 28; Green, 1981 Jan 21 & Feb 3); research & literature on rhododendrons(Binford 1980 Nov 24, 1983 Jan 28; McDonald 1983 Mar 18); handbooks and articles(Binford, 1983 Feb 7; McDonald 1984 May 8); The American Magnolia Society(Hickman 1980 Aug 26; Heineman 1980 Aug 11; Hopkins -many; Johnson -all; Melnick -most); a translation of a Chinese book on Chinese rhododendrons(Gambrill 1978 Nov 24, 1980 Mar 5; Young 1978-1980); Kenyan culture and agriculture prior to its independence from Great Britain(Cook -all); a reprint of the Royal Horticulture Societycolor chart (Egan 1983 Jul 1); Malesian Rhododendrons (Deul 1976 Sep 1 & 21); importing plants from England(Frisbie 1967 Aug 15, 1968 Apr 15, 1968 Oct 30, & 1968 Dec 29); Hardgrove hybrids (Hager 1975 Aug 18); Rhododendron Species Foundation(Hatheway 1980 Jan 23); and a Kehr genealogy (Purtak 1967 Oct 4 & Dec 11).

Biographical / historical:

See World Who's Who in Science, page 916, and American Men and Women of Science, (12 edition), page 3214.

Acquisition information:
These papers were given to the University of Virginia Library on July 17, 1986, by Dr. August E. Kehr of Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Processing information:

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Arrangement:

The collection has been arranged into two series, correspondence and topical files. The correspondence files are arranged alphabetically by last name of correspondent, all of whom are listed separately in the guide; topical files are arranged alphabetically and chronologically within each folder.

Physical location:
Physical description:
ca. 2600 items