Biography
Scope and Content
Indexing Terms
Access
Processing Information
Acquisition Information
Preferred Citation
Publication Rights
Creator:
Kendrick, James B. (James Blair), 1893-1962
Title: James Blair Kendrick Correspondence
Date (inclusive): 1924-1932
Extent:
0.2 linear feet
Abstract: James Blair Kendrick (1893-1962) served as Plant Pathologist and Professor of Plant
Pathology at the Berkeley and Davis campuses of the University of California from 1927-1960. The collection
contains fifty-six letters, the majority of which are written from Kendrick to Max Gardner (1890-1979). The
letters discuss the early years of the Plant Pathology Department at the University of California, Davis, among
other topics.
Physical location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many
are stored offsite.
Repository:
University of California, Davis. Library. Dept. of Special Collections.
Davis, California 95616-5292
Collection number: MC246
Language of Material: Collection materials in English.
Biography
James Blair Kendrick, Sr. was born in Clover, South Carolina on August 13, 1893. He earned a B.S. from Clemson
College in 1916, and an M.S. in 1919 from Iowa State University. From 1919-1924, he served as Assistant Botanist
in the Agricultural Experiment Station at Purdue University. In 1924 he returned to Iowa State University and
received his Ph.D. in 1925. He then resumed his career at Purdue where he remained until July 1, 1927, when he
became Associate Plant Pathologist in the Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of California.
Professor Kendrick was the pioneer plant pathologist of the Davis campus. He was the first of his profession to
be permanently located at Davis, and he established the first laboratory and greenhouse facilities there devoted
exclusively to the study of plant diseases.
Kendrick was named Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology in 1936, Associate Professor in 1938, and Professor
in 1943. In 1954 he became Chairman of the Department at Berkeley and Davis and held that position until he
retired in 1960.
Kendrick passed away on May 30, 1962.
Source:
Leach, L.D., Davis, L.D., Houston, B.R., and Wilson, E.E. "James Blair Kendrick."
In Memoriam.
[Berkeley, Calif. : Academic Senate], 1963.
Scope and Content
The collection contains fifty-six letters, the majority of which are written from James Blair Kendrick to Max
Gardner (1890-1979). Gardner served as Professor of Plant Pathology at the Berkeley and Davis campuses of the
University of California from 1932-1957. The letters by Kendrick were written from 1924-1932 while Kendrick was
at Iowa State University and the University of California and Gardner was at Purdue University. The letters
discuss the early years of the Plant Pathology Department at the University of California, Davis, among other
topics.
Arrangement of the Collection
The collection is arranged in three series: 1. Outgoing, 2. Incoming, and 3. Third Party.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public
access catalog.
Kendrick, James B. (James Blair),
1893-1962--Correspondence
Gardner, Max William, 1890-1979
University of California, Davis--Faculty--Archives
University of California, Davis. Dept of Plant
Pathology
Plant diseases--Research--California--Davis
Access
Collection is open for research.
Processing Information
Sara Gunasekara processed this collection and created and encoded this finding aid with assistance from student
employee Michelle Xie.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Edgar L. Kendrick in 2012.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], James Blair Kendrick Correspondence, MC246, Department of Special Collections,
General Library, University of California, Davis.
Publication Rights
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17, of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to
publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of
California, Davis as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the
copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.